WEEKLY COLUMN

BY UNITY LABOUR PARTY

 

 

There can be no doubt in the minds of many Vincentians that the NDP convention on July 18^th 2010, was a failure, a disappointment, and an indication that the NDP is not fit for, nor ready for government in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Their supporters were unhappy with the pronouncements of their leaders, particularly Arnhim Eustace and James Mitchell. For sure, their convention has demonstrated that the Unity Labour Party is better by far, and is the party of choice of Vincentians, to take the country forward.

 

As far as Vincentians are concerned the NDP has no plans for the advancement of the citizens of this country, accept to put forward some nebulous plans for the return of the cocoa industry, and the provision of computers for school children in the “ median term”. There was nothing on the economy, and the vital sectors like education, health, the social services, security and crime, agriculture, diplomatic relations, and the list goes on. Here is party on the verge of a general election, and it cannot provide the country with it’s strategy, it’s vision, and it’s plans to govern the country.

 

But there is a very good reason for this. The NDP wants to unleash a reign of economic terror on Vincentians, the likes of which we have never seen before. Eustace and the NDP will reduce the civil service, the police force and the hardworking nurses. He and his sidekicks have already said that the civil service is too large, so there will be layoffs, salaries will be frozen and unemployment will rise dramatically.

 

Eustace has already warned Vincentians that his party will adopt some harsh economic measures. What does this mean? It means that Eustace and the NDP have no clue as to how to govern the country, that they are coming back to finish the job of ruining our beloved state. They want to get their hands on the National Treasury, on the National Commercial Bank to provide more sweet heart deals. They want to get their hands on state lands to sell to their cronies cheap cheap cheap (Eustace and Mitchell are familiar with this).

 

Make no mistake Vincentians, the NDP will dismantle all the good work that the ULP, led by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has done. The Education Revolution will be dismantled and the country will return to the days when only 39 percent of the children who write the Common Entrance, will go to secondary school. They will reduce the number of nurses who are being trained. They will reduce the number of scholarships being offered to Vincentians, and in some cases, some of you will lose your scholarships.

The Housing Revolution will be a thing of the past and the country’s poverty level will begin to rise. The Ottley Hall inquiry will go away, and Vincentians will never learn the facts abut the most corrupt project in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

 

Most important, Vincentins will see their dream of an international airport disappear. Eustace and the NDP have already described the project as a “phantom”  even while construction is proceeding at top speed before our very eyes. Only the ULP can build the international airport at Argyle.

 

By contrast the ULP has already articulated some important policies, projects and strategies for the third term. These include

 

1. The further deepening of the education revolution
2. The expansion of the health service at a cost of over 35 million dollars to include the construction three polyclinics.
3. The relocation of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital
4. The creation of a new modern city at Arnos Vale
5. The Cross Country Road
6. The International Airport Project at Argyle
7. The further rejuvenation of the Agricultural sector
8. The Rabacca recreational park
9. The North Leeward Tourism Development Project
10. More low income and no-income housing projects
11. The Kingstown Development Project
12. The Rural Community Markets
13. The Rural Schools Science Laboratories Project
14.  The continued rehabilitation of government buildings to include police stations, clinics, educational facilities and administrative buildings
15. The projects for wind, solar and geothermal energy.
16.  The construction of the Coast Guard base in Canouan

 

We have only listed sixteen of these projects and the list is long. So far, the ULP administration has completed over 180 national projects since it assumed power in 2001. Another 50 are in the pipeline. What a record by the ULP led by Comrade Ralph.

 

It is this record that is a thorn in the side of Eustace and the NDP. They cannot criticize the ULP on it’s performance, in which there was a massive turnaround in the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Every sector was affected in a positive way and ALL Vincentians have benefited in a tangible way, from the development efforts of the ULP.

 

Against this record the NDP has resorted to some personal attacks against Comrade Ralph and other officials of the ULP administration. They have descended into the lowest gutter politics ever because they have no answer to the ULP. They talk about corruption, but they forget that it is the NDP that has defined “corruption” in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines. We cannot forget the history of the NDP in their 17 year period of governance, during which they made a shambles of this country. We must not forget their record, and all Vincentians, particularly those members, supporters and admirers of the ULP must be proud of the record of this great party. We must stand firm for a third term. We Nah turn Back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPTY NDP CONVENTION

 

 

The much-hyped Convention of the opposition NDP last weekend was devoid of substance, empty to the core.  Every reasonable person would so acknowledge.  Of course, the NDP die-hards are busy trying to convince themselves that they had a “great” Convention but they do so without any conviction whatsoever.  Further, the gathering numbers were way below the NDP’s reasonable expectation; and the composition of the small crowd was more dispiriting – some old Joshuaites and Junta folks, assorted opportunists, plus Kenneth John’s handful of old Ralph-haters from the DFM known in political history as “Damned Foolish Men!”  Only a tiny smattering of young persons were to be seen.

 

The feature speaker, James Mitchell, did not once endorse Arnhim Eustace or his team.  Instead, Mitchell as usual blew his own trumpet, insulted people, and made utterances to suggest that senility has probably set in.  Eustace’s speech was boring, uninspiring, and, in many parts, plain dishonest.  His speech lacked focus.  He did not articulate a vision, philosophy, policy or programme.  There was no compelling narrative from him that he and his party possessed something different and better for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Frankly, Eustace was at his worst.  He offered no hope while proclaiming an empty slogan “Project Hope” – Hope meaning “Help Our Party Endure”.  Not, help our country improve; help his party to endure; that is his base concur.  And he calls himself a leader!  God help us!

 

 

MITCHELL RAMBLES

 

James Mitchell helped the ULP very well in his speech.  Let’s identify some of the highlights.  He said the following:-

 

ü  That in 1984 when he came to power, teachers, civil servants and policemen were going to work stink because there was no water for them to bathe.

 

ü  In this Mitchell was both insulting and dishonest.

 

ü  That he jailed Arthur Williams and that nobody could jail him.

 

Mitchell gives us an insight into his political interference in the Police and Judiciary.  A Prime Minister has no power to jail anyone; he cannot also advise any official or judge to jail him for Ottley Hall.  All we ask is that he stops his legal maneuvers which he is using to avoid testifying before the Commission of Enquiry.

 

ü  That the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and agriculture lies in cocoa cultivation.

 

In 17 years in office, Mitchell’s NDP never advocated cocoa production.  All of a sudden it is our saviour.  To be sure, cocoa has a niche role in agriculture and agro-processing and the ULP has been pursuing this.  But SVG’s saviour it is not.  Perhaps, Mitchell has a little too much cocoa in the sun, so to speak.

 

ü  That he would study the international airport further.  Mitchell has lost his marbles on this.  The international airport is an on-going reality.  It is happening before our very eyes.  Mitchell and the NDP want to stop it.  Eustace calls it a “phantom project”.  But the ULP will finish it by July 2012.

 

ü  That Burton Williams must apologise for running against NDP in 1994; Burton’s apology to him and the party internally is not enough.  He must do so publicly at the Convention.  Opportunist as ever Burton did as his master divined; he said his three “James Mitchells” to atone for his sin of betrayal.  Burton would learn in the elections the consequence of all this.

 

 

EUSTACE’S EMPTINESS AND DISHONESTY

 

Eustace’s focus was his beating up on Desmond Morgan for owing the NCB just over $2 million for which the NCB has a court judgment.  Eustace did not say that the NCB was holding nearly $4 million worth of property (3 pieces of land and a house) by way of legal mortgage for the debt.  Eustace’s omission here was deliberately dishonest; he wanted to create the impression that the loan was unsecured.  He did not say, too, that the interest rate was commercial; there was nothing preferential about the loan for the Blue Sky Centre business. 

 

Ralph’s removal of Morgan as Chairman of the NCB Board in November 2008 after learning that Morgan was in arrears in his loan was “good governance” at the centre of government.  The NCB’s action is “good corporate governance”.  Contrast all this with the sweet-heart mortgages for ministers of government during the NDP days and the refusal of the NCB then to put any NDP high-up in Court for default.  Why Arnhim does not explain how he and Mitchell got land in “secret” at preferential prices.

 

Eustace’s attack on the Education Revolution was pitiful.  The simple fact is that the ULP has transformed Education in SVG for the better.  Every aspect of education has prospered.  He is very late in the day talking about laptops for students. The ULP is way ahead on this as Ralph pointed out in his press conference last Tuesday.

 

Eustace’s ploy about a 5 percent salary cut in the future for his ministers if he gets into office is pure bramble.  In October 2001, after 9/11, the ULP ministers took a 5 percent salary cut; the PM called on Eustace to do the same but he and his opposition members refused.  We say to him:  Take the salary cut now and Ralph would take one twice as big!

 

 

PROJECT HOPE

 

Eustace wants “Help Our Party Endure” (Hope). This is infantile and with no substance.  In any event of virtues, Hope, Faith and Love, the greatest is Love.  And Frank Da Silva has said what everybody knows that Eustace has no love in his heart.  Frank rightly stated that Ralph is the one who has love.  And love is the answer.

 

 

 

 

A BOOK ON LIAT

 

On Wednesday July 14, 2010, a book of historical and contemporary significance on LIAT was launched in Barbados.  It is entitled Don’t Burn Our Bridges: The Case for Owning Airlines and published recently by the University of the West Indies Press.  It is authored by Dr. Jean Holder, the former distinguished head of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and currently the innovative Chairman of the Board of Directors of LIAT.  By training and experience Dr. Holder has no equal in the Caribbean or elsewhere to write such a book, a point made in the volume’s Foreword by Professor Hilary Beckles, the Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the UWI.

 

The book, too, is about more than LIAT since it also examines broadly the state of the airline industry in the Caribbean and its umbilical connection to tourism.  But it is largely about LIAT.  The volume reeks with a robust, thoughtful nationalism and its title reflects, summarily, that perspective in the interest of our Caribbean civilisation.  It is a “must read” to anyone interested in public policy in our region.

 

Over thirteen chapters and nine appendices, Dr. Holder enriches immeasurably our understanding of LIAT and the regional air transportation industry.  The chapters traverse the following subject areas: The case for Caribbean carriers; the history of the main regional air carriers; comparative financial performance of Caribbean and international airlines; the options for cooperation between regional airlines; the LIAT case study; the LIAT-Caribbean Star merger and the negotiations with Star’s owner, Sir Allen Stanford; the issue of the circumstances when an airline monopoly is justifiable; deregulation, fare setting, and oil prices; the year 2008, the worst in civil aviation history; the 2008 economic crisis and the region’s response; Caribbean tourism and air transport; and air transportation in the CSME’s future.

 

The nine appendices cover a range of statistics relevant to LIAT, air transport, tourism, airplanes, and LIAT itself.  They constitute a rich harvest of relevant information for policy makers and the general public.

 

 

 

 

 

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES AND SAVING LIAT

 

Dr. Holder rightly highlights the roles of the ULP administration in ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in the saving and restructuring of LIAT.  Let Dr. Holder’s words speak:

 

“In reality, LIAT became largely dependent on the Antigua and Barbuda government until a government led by the Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was elected in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Prime Minister Gonsalves became a strong supporter of LIAT and won the support of Barbados for the cause.  Speedwing’s call for EC $26 million from governments only yielded EC $2.6 million from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Prime Minister Gonsalves was also responsible for bringing other private sector resources on board.  He later took the lead in the hiring of Zwaig Financial Consultants of Canada, whose sound advise, delivered  largely through Cameron Mc Caw, was to prove a major turning point for LIAT.  By 2004, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had become LIAT’s largest shareholder with 25.26 percent of the shares, ahead of Barbados with 22.19 percent, and Antigua and Barbuda with 18.38 percent”.

 

In fact Dr. Holder does not record everything here about ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES’s initial material contribution: The figure is not $2.6 million but $2.9 million in equity plus $2 million in LIAT’s bonds purchase by the state-owned VINLEC, and some $6 million, which LIAT owed ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES in landing fees and taxes was converted into preference shares in the company for ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES.  Nevertheless, we thank him for highlighting the role of the ULP government and the Comrade in saving LIAT in those dark, rough days.

 

Dr. Holder goes on further to state:

 

“The period from 2000 to 2004, which included the horrors of 9/11, was one of the most difficult on record for regional and international air transport.  Cost inputs into air transportation, especially those relating to safety, security and insurance, began to escalate exponentially.  The launch of Caribbean Star in 2000 had been followed by that of Caribbean Sun in 2003, operating out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and also competing with LIAT on some of its routes.  It was later discovered that both Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun were suffering huge losses; but thanks to Sir Allen Stanford’s deep pockets, seemed totally unaffected by their losses”.

 

In the light of some recent negative sounds emanating from Trinidad and Tobago about the use of the CARICOM Petroleum Stabilisation Fund (also known as the CARICOM Petroleum Facility), it is useful to record its assistance to a vital regional entity.  Dr. Holder addresses this matter, thus:

 

“In 2004, LIAT’s Shareholder governments (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) provided LIAT with EC $21 million; and in the first quarter of 2005, they persuaded the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, with the approval of the CARICOM governments, to provide LIAT with a grant of EC $44 million from the CARICOM Petroleum Stabilisation Fund.  This was a major achievement by Prime Ministers Arthur, Spencer and Gonsalves, since initially, Prime Minister Manning was adamant that his government would provide no further support to LIAT.  What brought about the change of heart in a session behind closed doors would probably be interesting to listen”.

 

Actually, Ralph Gonsalves was the person who was primarily responsible for persuading Manning.  Arthur and Manning had clashed verbally in the wider meeting with government officials and LIAT’s Board.  Ralph called for “time out” and a private session.  He placed LIAT within a regional context, raised the possibility of a nexus between LIAT and BWIA, and traced the historic role of the Caribbean’s titans including Dr. Eric Williams in keeping LIAT in the air.  Ralph’s personal friendship with Patrick Manning since university days helped.  Later, Owen Arthur was to applaud Ralph for a splendid performance.  Our Prime Minister, as Chairman of LIAT’s shareholders, was entrusted with the task of persuading all the CARICOM Heads of Government about using EC $44 million for LIAT.  It was quite a task.  It took PM Gonsalves ten days to do so.  This experience told him a lot, positive and negative, about CARICOM.

 

 

PURCHASE OF CARIBBEAN STAR

 

In 2007, the losses incurred by Caribbean Star, in excess of US $35 annually, compelled Stanford to “sue for peace” with LIAT.  He realised that he was unable to win in a battle with three strong-willed Prime Ministers and the people of the region.  All of Stanford money could not purchase our nationalist leaders.  To buy the assets of Caribbean Star (which did not cost a great deal) and to assist in LIAT’s further restructuring, LIAT’s three shareholder governments borrowed US $60 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).  Barbados was responsible to repay US $35 million; Antigua and Barbuda, US $20 million; St. Vincent and the Grenadines, US $5 million.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines insisted on the application of the principle: Equity among equals, proportionality among unequals.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines had taken LIAT out of trouble, seen off a dangerous competitor in Stanford, and was now prepared to assure a lesser though still significant financial burden.  In the process Barbados became the largest shareholder; Antigua-Barbuda, the next; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the smallest shareholder government.  Ralph Gonsalves remained the Chairman of the Shareholders, given his historic role in the saving of LIAT.

 

All of this and more is in this informative book by Dr. Holder.

 

 

 

LIAT AS A MONOPOLY

 

Dr. Holder defends the near-monopoly status of LIAT as a good thing for the region.  Some monopolies are good; others are bad.  Holder’s case for LIAT is overwhelmingly strong and convincing.

 

It is more than time for the other Caribbean governments to provide LIAT with market support or to put equity capital in it.  LIAT is too vital to be left to three governments.  More money is needed right away for fleet renewal!

 

 

 

 

 

[Excerpts from the Prime Minister’s 2010 Budget Address delivered on May 25, 2010 at the House of Assembly]

 

SUPPORT FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR

 

Mr. Speaker, in every Budget speech that I have delivered and in every set of Estimates I have presented to this Honourable House, I have highlighted my government’s unequivocal support for the private sector and its quest to build a strategic partnership between the private and cooperative sectors and the State.  Every objective observer recognizes all this.

 

There is, however, an antiquated, anachronistic ideological divide of no relevance to our national condition in which some persons are still imprisoned, and who hold that a government that defends and uplifts the poor and the working people is automatically against the private sector and wealth creation.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Indeed, economic successes recorded by the private sector and the macro-economy as a whole during the past nine years stem, in part, from the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the private and cooperative sectors and the State.  To be sure, the State has been a force for good in our Caribbean and cannot retreat from a role as a producer of public goods and services and as a robust facilitator and staunch supporter of private enterprise in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, banking, insurance, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, telecommunications, and an assorted range of other services.

 

Mr. Speaker, simply put, the private sector is central to wealth and job creation.  It commands a pivotal role in the on-going quest to build a modern, competitive, many-sided, post-colonial economy which is at once local, national, regional, and global.

 

 

GOOD INVESTMENT CLIMATE

 

My government is determined to maintain and further enhance a Good Investment Climate.  The central elements in this regard revolve around:  The maintenance of the macro-economic fundamentals of a stable currency, relatively low inflation, fiscal soundness, enhanced competitiveness, and increased productivity; an effective and efficient state administrative apparatus; political stability, safety and security; sensible and practical, but not overbearing Regulations; a fair, balanced and facilitating regime of taxation; a well-functioning, accommodating financial and banking system; a sound and competitively-priced infrastructure of communications (air, sea and land), telecommunications, water, electricity, education, health, and other social services;  a democratic system of good governance, including a sound judicial system; and a trained, and trainable, workforce and a flexible labour market.  My government has been focused on securing these essentials, and more, for the private sector and the nation as a whole.  But as always, much more, can and should be done.  In respect of specific sectors or types of business, there have been, too, targeted strategic interventions to facilitate private sector development.

 

 

OUR RECORD

 

Across the board there has been a reduction of the standard rate of company tax and personal income tax from 40 percent in 2001 to 32.5 percent at present.  My government intends to reduce this further as soon as the economic circumstances permit.  Exporters to CARICOM and extra-regional markets have taxation rates as low as 15 percent.  Tax incentives or reliefs of all kinds abound for producers in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing, construction companies of residential houses, small enterprises, among others.

 

The government has created four vital institutions to facilitate business generally and in specific sectors, namely, the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED), Invest SVG (formerly National Investment Promotions Incorporated), the Tourism Authority, and the Banana Services Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture.  They do most valuable work.

 

Mr. Speaker, my government has been investing considerable time and resources to ensure that the Customs Department and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority deliver quality services at competitive prices.  I know that clients at these entities have a myriad of complaints, some justified but some not.  There have been marked improvements at both Customs and the Port but there is no room for complacency.  As Minister responsible for the Customs and the Port, I hear the complaints and I give the assurance that both entities will continue to lift their game.  In the 2010 Estimates there are significant allocations of financial resources for the further development of both Customs and the Port.

 

 

PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES

 

In 2010, important private sector initiatives are on the cards, some on-going, some about to start up.  On-going tourism investments at Buccama, Bequia, Union Island and Canouan will add significantly to the tourism capacity.  I have been advised that the first phase of 350 rooms of the 1,000-room Buccama resort is scheduled to be opened in July 2010.

 

By July 2010, too, further planned investments of at least US $100 million are to commence in the developed resort area of Canouan.  The construction of even more high-end facilities will further transform Canouan as an elite destination of choice.  There will be a huge demand for construction and other workers on this site.  The investors will make the full announcements at the appropriate time.  The proposed investments in the south of the island are now put in sequence, following the imminent investments in the north. Mr. Speaker, this additional massive investment in Canouan would not even have been considered had my government not built the Canouan Jet Airport.

 

Tourism investments are also planned for Bequia, Union Island, Mayreau, and mainland St. Vincent.  The issue of their start-up is hinged on the extent of the rebound in the real economy, globally.

 

Several important domestic private sector investments are underway or are planned, reflecting a continued confidence in our country and its governance.  The most visible is the multi-million dollar investment in the form of the construction of a huge supermarket at Arnos Vale by the owners of Aunt Jobe Supermarket.  Other domestic investments include small hotels, apartment buildings, agro-processing, and the expansion of existing business enterprises such as Bottlers Limited and Caribbean Glass and Aluminum Company.  This latter company has now commendably gone regional in its production and distribution.

 

 

FURTHER PLANS

 

Mr. Speaker, I have received a matrix, prepared by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Industry, with a list of 20 companies, sound performers, which produce high quality goods and services but which require technical and financial support of one kind or another.  I have mandated the Minister of Telecommunications and Industry to engage actively each of these companies to ensure that the Government facilitate them in their endeavours.  More generally, I am seeking to mobilise competitively-priced capital for on-lending to these and other enterprises.  My government is determined that our domestic private sector entities receive every support reasonably practicable, for their further development.

 

 

 

HAPPY TO SEE YOU

 

The Unity Labour Party (ULP) welcomes our nationals from overseas who have returned home temporarily for the Carnival season.  Many of them are facing difficulties given the economic challenges arising from the world financial crisis since September 2008 and continuing.  Some have had to make especial sacrifices to be home with us this year.  We thus appreciate their presence more than ever.  They certainly add to the gaiety and joy of our Carnival.

 

By far, most of our returning nationals would be pleasantly reassured that despite the ongoing economic challenges internationally and their impact locally, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is holding its own and making continued progress.  Our returning nationals are likely to observe that practically every Vincentian over the age of sixteen years has a cell phone; indeed, a large number of our people have more than one cell phone since there are some 120 thousand active cell phones in a country with a population of 110 thousand persons.  Our returning nationals would see more vehicles on the road than ever before: there were over seven thousand vehicles in January 2001; today there are in excess of twenty five thousand vehicles on our roads.  They would see, too, more houses, and beautiful houses, including state-built low-income houses, than ever before.  They would see our people as well-dressed as people in New York, Toronto, and London.  They would meet our Vincentians at home more self-confident, educated and sophisticated than ever before.  They would meet far fewer persons in a condition of indigence than before; they would see the elderly better cared more than ever.  They would see, too, many more churches than ever but sadly they are likely to notice that there is more crime than in their youthful days, although the crime rate has recently been falling and SVG is still the safest place in the Caribbean.  And they would know that SVG is in a dangerous neighborhood.

 

 

AS THEY LOOK AROUND

 

As our returning nationals look around, they would see a thriving private sector throughout SVG especially between Buccament and Argyle.  Regional and international fast food outlets are proliferating: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Bickles, Churches, Mario’s, and Subway.  Computers are all around us.  Water and electricity services are well-supplied.  Almost every home has TV sets, VCRs, fridges, stoves, deep freezers, micro-wave units, and water closets (flush toilets).

 

If our returning nationals go to Buccament, they would see a massive hotel resort being built, the first ever on St. Vincent itself and the largest in SVG.  By the end of 2010, it is expected that 350 cabanas/villas and rooms would be ready; by mid-2012, over one thousand rooms would be available.  This and other tourism investments are linked to be construction of the Argyle International Airport which is on-going and which is expected to be finished in 2012, so long as the ULP is returned to government.  Look around and you would see, dear returning national, the range, number and quality of public sector infrastructure projects as never before.

 

 

IN KINGSTOWN ALONE

 

Under the ULP government (March 2001 to the present time) the returning national would take not of the following capital projects in Kingstown, namely:

 

ü  The Modern National Library;

ü  The Archive and Documentation Centre;

ü  The refurbished and renovated Peace Memorial building;

ü  The transformation of the former Richmond Hill Primary School into the Thomas Saunders Secondary School which recently graduated its first batch of CXC graduates, ninety-five in all;

ü  The rebuilding completely of the Intermediate High School at Mc Kies Hill;

ü  The building of a modern API/NBC headquarters;

ü  The building of the Reigate Financial Complex;

ü  The building of the modern NIS Headquarters;

ü  The on-going construction of a modern Customs Headquarters;

ü  The construction of a new bridge at Bay Street (North River) and some shops for vendors;

ü  The building of the Leeward Bus Terminal;

ü  The new National Lotteries Headquarters;

ü  The George Mc Intosh Community Market and the cleaning up of the shacks in front of Bishops’ College;

ü  The NEMO Headquarters;

ü  The bridge next to NEMO Headquarters;

ü  The modern Technical Centre in the Bishop’s College Yard;

ü  The rebuilding and rehabilitation of the old Post Office and Ministerial Office Complex;

ü  The Forensic Laboratory;

ü  The JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School at Edinboro;

ü  The complete rehabilitation of Victoria Park and the provision of floodlights for football games at night; and

ü  The rehabilitation of the Richmond Hill Playing Field.

 

 

AROUND THE NATION

 

If the returning national takes time off to tour the country as a whole he/she would see the following among other things:

 

ü  The Argyle International Airport under construction;

ü  The Jet Airport at Canouan;

ü  The rebuilding of the Arnos Vale Sports Complex into a modern, multi-million dollar facility;

ü  The upgrade and building of playing fields all over SVG;

ü  The construction of twelve Learning Resource Centres and the on-going construction of three more;

ü  The building of modern, well-equipped Police Stations at Questelles, Biabou, Canouan, and Georgetown.

ü  The rebuilding or renovation of Police Stations at Rose Hall, Barrouallie, Layou, Retreat, Marriaqua, Stubbs, Calliaqua, Sandy Bay, and Owia;

ü  The repair of all other Police Stations;

ü  The building of the historic Rabacca Bridget;

ü  The construction of the access roads on the Windward and Leeward sides for the Cross Country Road Project.

ü  The construction of the Windward Highway from Richmond Hill to Fancy.

ü  The construction of the Argyle By-Pass Road;

ü  The construction of modern secondary schools at Peter’s Hope, Edinboro, Mc Kies Hill, Union Island, and on-going construction of a modern secondary school at West St. George;

ü  The establishment of secondary schools at Buccament, Colonarie, Sandy Bay, Richmond Hill;

ü  The expansion of every other secondary school in SVG;

ü  The building of modern primary schools at Byera, Sandy Bay, Bequia, Greggs, and Retreat;

ü  The building of a modern Polyclinic at Stubbs;

ü  The renovation of twenty-one other clinics in SVG, including the state-run pharmacies;

ü  The building of the Layou Sea Defence and Boardwalk; and

ü  The building/renovation of fifteen tourism sites.

ü   

 

PROJECTS GALORE

 

Since 2001, the ULP government has completed over 180 major physical projects and has over 50 on-going.  Further, there have been over 100 non-physical capital projects covering human development, fiscal reform, economic development, regional integration, and good governance projects. And SVG has kept LIAT in the air!

 

The returning national may hear some griping and propaganda from the Opposition.  But we say look with your eyes and se the truth!

 

 

June 25^th 2010

 

SOMETHING WRONG WITH EUSTACE

 

 

Arnhim Eustace has been in active politics for twelve years now, since 1998.  That is more than enough time for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to make judgments about his suitability for politics, his temperament and mindset, and his capacity or incapacity for leadership.  Any dispassionate analysis must conclude that Eustace has been a profound disappoint in his role of political person, his short-lived tenure as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, and as Leader of the Opposition.  Eustace just does not have what it takes.  He knows this; so, too, does his party, the NDP; and most importantly, the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines know it.  There is a lot wrong about Eustace.  He would be a disaster for our country, if by some miracle he should come to government again.

 

 

BRIEF REVIEW OF EUSTACE’S FOLLIES

 

Eustace displays a level of ignorance of basic matters touching and concerning government which is simply shocking.  Moreover, his attitude to people is plain wrong, impatient and pigheaded.  He has a closed mind and is not prepared to learn anything else or to reflect on new ideas.  He is stuck in a stubborn, anachronistic time-warp of irrelevance to today’s challenges and circumstances.  Even when he is factually wrong, he insists that he is right and proceeds to treat hard facts as though they are disputative opinions. He has no subtlety of mind or grace.  For all this, he is applauded, without any logic or rationale, on the sidelines by hypocrites masquerading as informed persons and nincompoops singing in advance for an elusive supper which is unlikely to arrive.  It’s sickening.  People like James Mitchell, Jerry Scott, Monty Roberts, Frank Da Silva, and even St. Clair Leacock have seen through Eustace’s failings, lack of capacity, and persona unsuited for a caring politics and a good-natured people called Vincentians. He has no love in his heart for people.

 

 

SOME EXAMPLES OF EUSTACE’S FOLLIES

 

In his brief period of Minister of Finance (2 ½ years), inclusive of a five-month stint as a lacklustre Prime Minister, Eustace has given us examples galore to substantiate his bad attitude and wrong conceptions.  Let us list some of them.

 

(1)        As Minister of Finance, he verbally abused public servants.  He told them on TV “not one cent more for you all”.  He said it in a manner as though he wanted to fight.  Most unpleasant! Further, he chastised the public servants as foolish in their request for 100-percent mortgages.  His response was: “You want me to bankrupt NCB.”  He had closed his mind to a sensible, workable proposal. That proposal has been successfully implemented by the ULP government.

 

(2)        As Minister of Finance, he lambasted teachers in the House of Assembly.  He said that the government was not getting results for its expenditure on education.  For this he mainly blamed the teachers when his government had no proper policy or implementation framework for education.

 

(3)        As Minister of Finance, he verbally abused the Catholic nuns and others on national TV who were demanding that government pay all the teachers in government-assisted church or private secondary schools.  He called the nuns “a bunch of foreigners” who have no idea of government finances.  The ULP government has been paying all the teachers for these schools and there is no problem with it at all.  Again, Eustace failed to listen to any voice but his own.

 

(4)        As Minister of Finance, Eustace piloted “the Greedy Bill” to increase gratuities and pensions for parliamentarians.  He even wanted their wives to get pensions.  He would not listen.  He was pig-headed.  Then he came on radio to apologise when people protested.  His insincere apology was rejected.  He simply wanted to save his butt politically.

 

(5)        As Minister of Finance/Prime Minister his role with Nano’s Banks is yet to be explained fully or properly by him.

 

(6)        As Leader of the Opposition Eustace has given us some real howlers, including:

 

(i)          He said that he did not know that poverty existed in SVG until he did house-to-house campaign for the 1998 elections.  Where was he living, cocooned on Mars?  Where did he grow up, in the skies?  Incidentally, by 1998 Kairi Consultants had already reported that SVG has a general poverty level of 37.5 percent of the population and an indigence level (“dirt poor” poverty) of 25.7 percent of the population.

 

(ii)         He said he did not know that the former estate-workers at Orange Hill, Wallilabou and Richmond, were due their severance pay.  Was this man living in SVG?  Was this man not the Fiscal Adviser or Minister of Finance?

 

(iii)        He confessed that he did not realise that the Development Corporation had passed all the bad debts onto the Development Bank which he started in the year 2000 as Minister of Finance.  Where was he looking?  Up the wrong end of the barrel of a gun?

 

(iv)       He confessed, too, that he really messed up as Minister of Finance with the Housing Project at Diamond and at Gibson Corner.  Still, he tried to wriggle out.  Mungalsingh tricked him at Diamond.  At Gibson Corner he was missing in action.  Justice Monica Joseph criticised him in her Report on these matters.

 

(v)         Eustace confessed that he lied to the people when he said in 2005, on the eve of President Chen’s visit to SVG, that the NDP candlelight march was against poverty.  He said afterwards that it was about trying to persuade the President not to give SVG any money for the international airport.  Unpatriotic!

 

(vi)       Eustace has taken anti-people and anti-national positions against SVG’s membership of Petro-Caribe, ALBA and the Non-Aligned Movement.  He supported Texaco in its conflict with the government in 2005.  He supported Allen Stanford’s Caribbean Star against LIAT.  He supported the Greaves Family over the state-owned Input Warehouse Company and the farmers on the matter of who should import sugar exclusively; the sugar profits go to subsidise the farmers’ inputs.  He is against SVG’s relations with Cuba, Venezuela, and Libya.  He asks: “What would America say?”  USA has said nothing.  Eustace’s slavish mind is sickening.

 

(vii)      Eustace recently showed his ignorance by asserting as a fact the falsehood that mainland China has a veto over a country’s membership of the United Nations’ Security Council to which SVG was exploring a bid for a non-permanent seat.  He said to avoid the veto, SVG was going to break relations with Taiwan.  Eustace does not have it to be a leader anywhere.

 

(viii)     Eustace recently got all six facts wrong about the tug to be used at the Port.  He was motivated by ignorance and malice towards Ken Boyea.  What a terrible man!

 

(ix)       Eustace recently attacked the children’s successes at the Common Entrance Exams by saying that the Government was making the tests easier.  Total rubbish!

 

(x)         Eustace got his law and facts wrong about the nature of a Coroner’s Inquest regarding the enquiry into the death of three men in Vermont during VincyPac.  Eustace does not have what it takes.

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Frank Da Silva, a member of the NDP, has openly stated that not only is Eustace not up for the job, he also has no heart.  Da Silva has stated on radio that Eustace has a bad-minded, unforgiving spirit.  Da Silva stated that he would prefer to vote for Ralph one thousand times before Eustace.  James Mitchell criticised Eustace heavily in his recent book and he is all about town “dissing” Eustace as a Leader.  Even Jonathan Peters was on TV declaring that Eustace’s leadership is a disaster and that he is no match for the Comrade.  Eustace is NDP’s leader by default.  He is a disaster!

 

 

 

 

CLEAN-BOWLED

 

Arnhim Eustace, the leader of the Opposition, NDP, was clean-bowled by a ball which he should have left alone.  Last week Monday (June 7^th), Eustace made a series of false allegations about a tug service which the SVG Port Authority has put in place for vessels of a certain tonnage entering Port Kingstown, Campden Park, and Greathead.  Within hours of Eustace’s false utterances, the Chairman of the Board of the Port Authority, Edwin Snagg, had publicly rebutted him on every material particular.  Later in the very week, Snagg and Ken Boyea, esteemed businessman and part-owner of the tug, demolished Eustace completely on radio.  Eustace has been left licking his wounds and again demonstrating that the job of leadership is way beyond him.

 

 

THE FALSEHOODS

 

The string of Eustace’s untruths about the tug service includes:-

 

1.           That the Port Authority awarded the contract for the tug service to Boyea’s company without a tendering process.

 

2.           That there was no public advertisement for any tendering process.

 

3.           That the company which was awarded the contract was registered only six days before the law governing the rates for the tug services was passed.

 

4.           That there was no need for a tug service and towage charge.

 

5.           That the private tug is being moored at Ottley Hall Marina without charge.

 

6.           That repairs are probably done to it at Ottley Hall free of charge because Boyea is the Chairman of the state-owned Ottley Hall company.

 

The last two falsehoods were raised as rhetorical queries by Eustace and no doubt amount to a defamation of Boyea.  Eustace really has it in for Boyea.  And this is not the first time:  A classic bull in a china shop!

 

 

THE TRUTH

 

The truthful position in response to each of the Eustace falsehoods is as follows:-

 

1.           A tendering process was put in place to assess bids from private persons or companies to provide the tug service for the Port Authority.  The Tenders Committee was composed of Mark Lulley (Chairman); Paul Kirby (Port Manager); R. Joseph (Chief Pilot – Port Authority); D. Robin (Director of Maritime Administration); and B. Caine (Commander of SVG Coast Guard).

 

2.           Notices of the tender were published in The News and Searchlight newspapers in the period September 26, 2008 to October 10, 2008.  Four bids resulted from these advertisements.  These bids came from: (a) Somara SAS of Martinque (represented by local agents Corea’s); (b) K Group Marine (represented by Kelly Glass); (c) W.J. Abbotts and Sons (represented by Ken Boyea); and (d) Coloured Fin Limited of Trinidad.

 

The four companies were also invited to appear before the Tenders’ Committee to make their presentations.  All of them, except the Trinidad firm, appeared.

 

3.           An old company in SVG, WJ Abbotts and Sons was awarded the Tender as a consequence of the tendering process.  The Port Authority acted on the recommendation of the Tenders’ Committee.

 

4.           The need for a tug service is based on the following:-

 

(i)          In any port a tug service is a plus.  The berthing and unberthing of vessels is much faster when the procedures are performed with the aid of a tug and not the vessels’ power.  This leads to a faster turn around time and greater efficiency.

 

(ii)         Vessels have been getting bigger and bigger.  The main shipping line, Tropical, now has vessels over 10,551 Gross Registered Tonnes (GRT); the previous vessel was 4,654 GRT.  Crowley vessels have moved from 9,000 GRT to 12,000 GRT.

 

(iii)        At the Campden Park Container Port (CPCP), the vessels now have to berth starboard side to facilitate the Mobile Harbour Crane.  All the physical and engineering circumstances demand a tug service.  For example, the wind and current at CPCP take the vessels away from the pier while berthing without a tug.

 

(iv)       Recent experiences showed the need for a tug:  In 2000, the MV Clara Marine was about to run aground off the bus terminal; the Port had to use the Pilot Launch which is not fit for the purpose; the Pilot Launch suffered major damage.  In 2009, during the hurricane season, there were two vessels without power but the Port was unable to move them.  One of them, the Caribbean Rose, was anchored in the Port Harbour and had stated to list; it was a hazard to the Port and there was no tug to remove it.

 

(v)         A tug service assists in providing fire fighting services from the sea; insurance risks are reduced; it supports vessels without bow thrusters.

 

The new regulators exempt the banana boats and the cruiseships from mandatory tug service; it is optional for them.

 

5.           W.J. Abbott and Sons pay for its use of the Ottley Hall Marina.  Anyone can ask Paul Cyrus, Ottley Hall’s Manager, about this.

 

6.           Repairs are paid for on the tug done at Ottley Hall.

 

 

PRIVATE SECTOR ISSUE

 

Eustace is a wholly inconsistent man on the issue of the role of the state and the private sector.  He suggests that if a Tug Service was required, the State should have done it.  We beg to differ.  This is an activity well-suited for the private sector.  Indeed, if the private tug service breaks down, the private sector company which is contracted must provide alternative tug services at its own cost.  Under the contractual arrangements with W.J. Abbott, the Port Authority receives 10 percent of the changes.  Before when Corea’s brought in the tug service, especially for the “car boats”, the Port Authority got not one cent of the tug charges.  The tug service for each of those car boats was US $8,000; the new tug service costs US $6,500.  The Corea’s tug boats were brought in from Martinique and St. Lucia.  So, the money went out; now, it stays in SVG.

 

It should be pointed out that, generally-speaking, freight rates for vessels coming to the Caribbean are normally calculated on the assumption that all vessels will be utilising a tug service since all other Caribbean ports have a mandatory requirement for tug services for vessels above a certain GRT.

 

 

EUSTACE’S LETTER TO PM

 

After Edwin Snagg took Eustace apart on Tuesday on radio, and the Prime Minister made it plain on his Tuesday night radio programme that he would deal with Eustace on this matter after Snagg and Boyea had done with him, Eustace lamely wrote a letter on the subject to the PM on Wednesday June 9^th.  The letter was now lamely posing questions.  He was climbing down from his high accusatory horse when he was egged on by his real leader, Elwardo Lynch.  Eustace panicked and rushed the letters in on Wednesday afternoon, more than 24 hours before he delivered the letter to the PM’s Office.  The PM saw through Eustace’s nonsense.  This article surely is more than a full reply to dotish, irresponsible, reckless Arnhim!  He has been bowled by a ball which he should have left alone.

 

 

 

 

HEROISM AT SEA

 

Last Friday (June 4^th), a prayerful and happy nation received the good news that the three fishermen (Mark Dennie, Walter Lynch and Amron Thomas) who were adrift at sea some eleven days before were found alive and well in Puerto Rican waters by that territory’s Coast Guard.  Their survival, in a small fishing boat, represents a heroic triumph of the human spirit over adversity.  They did not succumb to doubt and negativism; they confronted their challenges