The budget presented by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves shows no stark contrast to the one presented last year. In responding to Dr. Gonsalves budget presentation on Monday opposition leader whose turn it was to respond yesterday morning said, this country’s fiscal situation will continue to deteriorate under the ULP’s mismanagement of the country resources.
Mr. Eustace said this country’s economy remains a major shrinking economy and what he heard on Monday, during Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves speech were several hours of excuses for failure.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines he added led by the ULP has ended its 4th year of negative growth, and was recently ranked last by the IMF in terms of growth in GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2011.
Mr. Eustace said this is an unprecedented moment in the country’s history where many people both in the public and private sector has lost their jobs and where many families are struggling to make ends meet.
He further stated that all of this is happening while the government continues to keep a number of retirees whose job descriptions are not clear and who continue to utilize a lot of financial resources while many young people are left unemployed. This he says shows the insensitivity of the ULP government.
Opposition leader the Hon. Arhnim Eustace yesterday morning outlined why he is the most qualify person to deal with the economic challenges that are currently facing St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In his opening remarks in parliament Mr. Eustace said in the next few months he would have served this country particularly the people of East Kingstown for 14 consecutive years but prior to that he was a civil servant for ten years rising to the level of Permanent Secretary and subsequently fiscal advisor to the government for four years, a total of 28 years in direct service to Vincentians.
He further worked as a regional public servant with the Caribbean Development Bank for 17 years, beginning as an administrative officer and for the last 8 years of his tenure as director of projects for the Caribbean countries.
In 1985 he was seconded by the CDB to the UN development program which assigned him to the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as director general of finance to review and make changes to the fiscal situation in this country.
The opposition leader said while this is no easy feat, given this experience he is the most qualify person in the House of Parliament to analyze and comment on the economic health of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
As the New Democratic Party (NDP) approaches its thirty-sixth (36th) year as an institution, it is worthwhile that we reflect on the party’s presence on the political, social and economic landscape over these years. As a political party, the NDP has touched every aspect of Vincentians’ lives over these years and continues to play an integral role. As we observe this historic milestone, it is opportune that homage be paid to what has become a household name in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The contribution of the NDP to nation building must never be underestimated. This foundation was laid during the party’s tenure in government which spanned close to seventeen years. During this sojourn, the NDP was able to attain for the people of this country many worthwhile achievements in every sphere of life.
NDP celebrates its 36th Birthday
The NDP which was founded in Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines on 3rd December 1975 will celebrate its 36th birthday tomorrow, Saturday 3rd December. The NDP was named by North Leeward businessman, the late John Smith, at one of its earlier meetings at his home in Troumaca. The first convention was also held in North Leeward in the village of Petit Bordel. The then leader was Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell commonly referred to by his peers as “Son Mitchell”.
In 1979, the NDP contested the general elections, the same year that La Soufriere Volcano had its last major eruption. The public endorsed the NDP with two seats in our then 13-seat parliament.
Five (5) years later, the NDP romped home with nine (9) of the thirteen (13) seats, making Mitchell this country’s second Prime Minister.
For four (4) consecutive terms, the NDP succeeded at the polls. So far the NDP has been the first and only political party in St. Vincent & the Grenadines to have won all the seats in national elections.
Major achievements of the NDP
Finances
The NDP on assuming office in 1984 made the management of the country’s finances a number one priority, after all no country can prosper without sound fiscal management. The NDP averaged a surplus on the Current Account of 5.28% of GDP during the seventeen (17) years in office. The government of this country boomed in all sectors, accomplished in part by the path to sustainable economic growth Arnhim Eustace designed when seconded to St. Vincent from 1985 to 1986. Development could be seen everywhere from Ashton Union Island in the Grenadines, Fancy and Fitz Hughes in the north. We were able to sustain an average growth rate of 6.03% and as high as 8.59% in 1988. Inflation remained between 0.5 and 9.2% from 1984 to 1993. Our good management of the economy of this country was endorsed by international financial institutions which from 1984 consistently stated that we have managed our affairs well.
The World Bank stated: “Since the mid 1980’s St Vincent and the Grenadines pursued sound economic policies”. Following an Article IV consultation, the IMF again praised the government with its quote “much to praise, little to fault “. We are now facing unsustainable debt levels and four (4) years of negative growth. Only a NDP government can return this nation to economic prosperity the people eagerly await such time.
Land Reform
The cardinal economic and social platform of the NDP was its land reform policy. No political party in the history of this country has secured more lands for the people both for farming and housing.
This will be our most enduring record of enhancement of the quality of life in this nation. The land reform implementation stretched across the nation from Orange Hill with 435 farms, San Souci, Colonarie, Langley Park, Grand Sable, Cane Grove, Mt Wynne, Peters Hope, Wallilabou, and Richmond. Altogether 840 farms were handed out.
Building upon its legacy of equality, women received 37 % of the farms allocated, the highest percentage allocation in any land reform program in the world. Land for the landless was a major contributor to poverty reduction.
Agriculture
The NDP during its time in office made significant gains in the area of agriculture by the following:
• Increased our share of the banana market chain with the purchasing of Geest Bananas and the establishment of WIBDECO.
• Provided more than $9 million in debt relief to the then Banana Growers Association.
• Invested heavily in the installation of irrigation systems on over fourteen hundred (1400) acres of land.
• Implemented a certification program for the development of a more competitive banana industry.
• Formulated and secured funding for a comprehensive agricultural diversification program.
These are just a few of our many accomplishments in the area of agriculture. Indeed one must never forget that on average, during the last ten (10) years of the NDP, we earned an average of $63.7 million per year from banana exports. Under the 10 years of the ULP, the average had fallen to about $20.6 million per year – less than 1/3 of the earnings during the NDP’s era. We must return a NDP government to office!
Education
The NDP created history in the area of education by being the first political party in SVG to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with teachers. The following are other significant achievements:
• Introduced professional development week.
• Introduced mandatory core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science for academic and technical and vocational schools.
• Passed a New Education Act, replaced Coutts Agreement which mandated that pregnant unmarried teachers had to resign.
• Twenty five educational institutions were built, rebuilt or refurbished.
• Increased access to tertiary education through the construction of the first phase of the Community College at Glen.
• Increased the percentage of trained teachers from 25% to more than 60%.
• Provided financial support to train over 100 teachers in the preschool system.
• Introduced a book loan scheme so that all Senior Primary School and Secondary School children had access to free textbooks.
• Launched the TVET programme along with start of the schools computerizing program. These are among many gains made in the field of Education.
Tourism
The NDP introduced a comprehensive package of fiscal incentives encouraging Vincentians to invest in small and medium size hotels. We also successfully negotiated major private sector investment for the now completed Canouan resort development which employed hundreds of Vincentians. Our development also saw the construction and improvement of airport facilities in Bequia, Union island and, Canouan and supported airport development in Mustique. The NDP during its time in office made improvements to the Vermont nature trails and eco-tourism development possibilities on mainland St Vincent. We made significant improvement in cruise tourism with the construction of a modern cruise ship and ferry berth in Kingstown.
Women in politics
During the tenure of the NDP in office women were given prominent roles in our public service. Women were not only seen as housewives but women contributed significantly to nation building as teachers, nurses, police and the bulk of the positions in the public service were and are still being held by women. The creation of the first women’s desk and then a full Ministry of Women’s Affairs were NDP-administration milestones. The Family Court and its responsibilities was an invention of the NDP. Today all the safety nets and other measures put in place to assist women, whenever necessary, were all of the NDP’s making.
Into the future with the NDP
Hon. Arnhim Eustace, President of the NDP, has led this organization since 2001. During this time, the NDP has grown and become more democratic with the Central Executive and Party delegates more involved in all of the processes of the Party.
After the 2010 General Elections which saw the NDP winning 7 of the 15 seats with the ULP holding a mere one-seat majority. The NDP has emerged as a government in waiting with a strong and effective Shadow Cabinet ready to lead and to make life better for all Vincentians, a fact of which the majority of Vincentians are now aware.
The NDP continues to say and will continue to remind the nation, that we have the direct foreign investment waiting to bring projects to the nation, development and employment. They are willing to work with a competent government. Political division is our greatest enemy blinding us against recognizing and accepting that one government has failed and another must be given a chance because the country cannot continue on this road.
This is our vision. Let us come together to give us all a chance at a resurgence to confidence in our nation and its leadership. Our country needs sober and energized, competent and capable expertise at this critical time. This is the vision. St. Vincent will recover…give NDP the chance to make things better. We want to:-
1. Implement the Spiritual and Social Redemption Charter. This will help in tackling the causes of crime by getting to the youth earlier and encouraging them in positive directions.
2. Bring us back to a surplus of 3% of GDP within three years. Our projects and programmes coming in from abroad will help to do it. The Cocoa project was not a phantom project and the ULP is hanging on to it as a lifeline.
3. Establish a ministry of the Private Sector aimed at increasing private sector growth and development.
4. Promote a Meritocracy and end victimization.
5. Pass and enforce Integrity Legislation.
6. Create meaningful employment for at least one person per household.
7. Cap the interest payable on Low Income Housing Loans.
8. Provide payment of CSEC fees for all students registered to take the examinations.
9. Reduce VAT on Basic Foods.
10. Construct and equip a modern state-of-the-art hospital and improve and restructure the management of our National Health Services.
11. Introduce a National Health Insurance Plan.
12. Regionalize agriculture and leverage Geest Investments for agricultural exports and diversification and expand cocoa production.
13. Introduce a leadership officer corps program for the police force.
14. Build a National Stadium & Indoor Gymnasium.
15. Construct three (3) new road networks: South Leeward, North Leeward and the Windward to Leeward bypass road.
16. Establish a Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
17. Provide support for Renal Failure/Dialysis Treatment.
18. Implement an aggressive Information Technology programme to attract IT businesses to the state to create youth employment in a holistic programme which will provide computers/laptops for students and teachers and Free Internet Access island-wide. Creating e-entrepreneurs not just end users.
19. Refurbish and/or construct a lighted Playing Field in every community.
20. Establish a hostel on the mainland for students from the Grenadines.
Take a serious look at where St Vincent and the Grenadines is now. Look at where the NDP wants our nation and its people to go. Give us a chance to make things better…We will do it…TOGETHER.
When your hand is in the lion’s mouth you have to ease it out. So it really is brainless at this point to attack the IMF. The Prime Minister MUST come clean about what he has been told is the pill every Vincentian has to swallow since he has mismanaged and brainlessly ruined the economy. Come Clean. A major current account deficit of $105 m according to this year’s estimates is not sustainable and ahead of this budget estimates debate, of what will be a cut and paste budget, Vincentians are NOT foolish….we are all feeling the effects of this fourth consecutive year of negative growth which the IMF indicated in its published Word Economic Outlook. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the only country of the 32 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America which is experiencing four consecutive years of decline. The NDP oversaw seventeen years of generally positive growth and development, but by 2005 the ULP and their policy shift caused us to change course and today, we are facing the IMF with our knees buckling. Indeed, during the 17 years of NDP administration and for only the first 3 years of the ULP administration, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had the highest surplus on current account for the entire OECS at 5.8% of GDP. That is such a far cry from where we are today that the answer is clear…We need a new approach. This country needs the NDP.
In his speech to the convention, Arnhim Eustace set out the mission of the NDP this way: “This party’s purpose is to re-form Vincentian government and society; to gut and refurbish the Vincentian sense of identity; to remake political office so that it answers to, rather than silences the people; to usher in sustainable growth and development; to restore the perception of other governments and peoples that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a mature polity with dignified and competent leadership; to hold every Vincentian accountable for their actions in public office; and to be fearless.”
That is the NDP agenda. Not to victimize to politicize and rationalize failure and failed policy. Now is not the time to be stupid, to beat one’s chest for public effect when in fact you can’t sleep looking at the situation you have created for an entire nation of people.
Now the problem with the Brainless being in power is this: there comes a time, when the issue surpasses even the brainless decisions and the brainless people who make them. For years the Prime Minister positioned himself as the person needed to be kept there…he made himself the story, dividing us along passionately separate political lines in his effort to hold some sway. That may have helped his politics when the economy was not in the toilet. That may have helped his party when the Prime Minister enjoyed a cushion in parliament, but today, through brainless governance, the brainless man now is not the issue.
The situation facing the country is something that the brainless have shown themselves incapable of addressing. And our nation requires a different approach in order for it to be saved. So Gonsalves…look into the mirror and understand…this is not about you. You are NOT the issue here…your brainless approach to government has removed you from the equation. You have to go. St. Vincent needs a new government with tremendous brain power, creativity, energy and will, to hold on to ALL Vincentians in order to pull our country out of the rut in which your brainless power trip has taken us. Can we in the NDP do it? You better believe it! Here’s how.
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