By Duggie Joseph
Caribbean Net News St Vincent Correspondent
Email: duggie@caribbeannetnews.com

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: St Vincent and the Grenadines Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has issued a call for the business community in Kingstown to close its doors and for the owners of the nation's privately owned public transportation to join his New Democratic Party in a "massive" demonstration on Friday June 8, 2007.

In a nationally televised broadcast, Eustace announced Friday June 1 as the date for the demonstration, but changed the date the following morning, after it was revealed Friday June 1 was the date scheduled for children to write the Common Entrance Examinations.

All children taking the exams will move from the primary schools into the secondary school system as part of the government's 'Education Revolution'.

Eustace set the tone for his address by claiming the country is lurching "from crisis to crisis, like a ship without a rudder" battered by rough seas and high winds associated with 'hurricane Ralph'.

"Our country, as the ULP (the governing Unity Labour Party) had wished, is surely becoming ungovernable. We face, and are experiencing, great hardships while our poor become poorer and our middle class declines," Eustace told the nation.

He said some of the issues confronting the country are the poor implementation of the Value Added tax, VAT; the 'departure tax' to the Grenadines; the closure of the Kingstown Medical College; the wanton destruction of homes in Canouan; ballot boxes that can walk; the inability of Parliament to meet because the Prime Minister is ill; the deteriorating crime situation, even at the level of our schools and plant disease now affecting the banana Industry.

"While all of the issues are important, tonight I wish to concentrate on the departure tax to the Grenadines, the closure of the Medical College, the ballot box fiasco, the destruction of houses on Canouan, the new threats to the banana industry and the implementation of VAT," Eustace said.

"The government has introduced what it calls a user charge for travel to the Grenadines. This charge, which amounts to a departure tax, is to be used, we are told, to recover the cost of renovated facilities for use by passengers."

Eustace said his NDP regard the user fee charge of EC$1 as "unfair", since it targets only one part of our multi-island state, namely, the Grenadines. Lawyers working on behalf of the NDP, according to Eustace, have already filed a constitutional motion for the matter to be heard in the courts.

He stated persons have to pay the EC$1 charge, even if they do not use the facilities at the Grenadines Wharf when travelling to the Grenadines by boat.

"Why is the government forcing persons to pay for a facility they do not use? The passenger does not have a choice. We regard this as grossly unfair," Eustace said.

"The New Democratic Party has expressed its opposition to this measure in many forms. These include call-in programs (on radio) and a protest demonstration at the Port, during which violent action was taken by the police against our citizens, including an elderly lady and Parliamentarians, who refused to pay the tax. In addition, a march and rally was held in Bequia. We have also prepared a constitutional motion on this matter and other protests are coming."

Eustace also used his televised address to highlight the use of the state powers, which was used on the Grenadines resort of Canouan to "destroy some homes."

The authorities claim these homes were built on state lands and the persons who built them had become landlords, as they collected rent from other persons.

As a result of the homes being destroyed, Eustace said several persons were left homeless, "with the human suffering that accompanies such actions." "What kind of government treats its citizens in this manner? It was a wicked and inhumane act. Even if the land is government's and was needed for a public purpose could they not have negotiated with the residents to assist in finding alternative land and provide government's assistance to rebuild?" Eustace asked.

Ballot box found

"Recently school boys playing at the old Government Printery found a ballot box used in the last elections. We are no longer sure whether two ballot boxes were found, since last week's ULP column in the newspapers made reference to two boxes. The box contained, inter alia ballots for the North Windward constituency. "The matter has raised concerns in many sections of the Vincentian society. Many formed the view that given the numerous irregularities identified at the last general elections, that this was yet another example of the ineptitude, inefficiency and carelessness of the office of the Supervisor of Elections," Eustace said. "Even the Prime Minister himself condemned the carelessness."

Following the discovery of the ballot box, Eustace's NDP called for the resignation of the Supervisor of Elections, Rodney Adams, who is working on contract with the government. Adams' contract comes to an end in July but Eustace wants to the government to end it with immediate effect.

While in Cuba, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves called in to a radio programme, stating Adams had already indicated he did not wish a renewal of his contract.

Bananas

Eustace touched on the ailing banana industry, stating prices have fallen and for more than a year, there is an unidentified disease that is plaguing farmers here.

"I am aware that only recently a team was brought to St Vincent and the Grenadines to identify this disease. Why did it take so long? The results of the tests have not yet been reported but indications are, from reliable sources, that the disease displays the characteristics of the dreaded Moko disease, which destroys plants almost overnight," Eustace said.

He said the government and the Banana Growers Association remained silent on the matter, stating every effort must be made to identify more expeditiously the nature of the disease and to keep the farming community informed. Medical College issue

"Over the last few years, and particularly in 2006 and 2007, we in the New Democratic Party have been speaking out against the growing crime in St Vincent and the Grenadines. We spoke about crime whether it is drug related or not, where it is theft, rape or murder. We have also spoken about the negative impact of crime on investment in our country," Eustace said.

"We are now hearing that the Medical College (an offshore medical school) at Ratho Mill, which has been operating here since the 1970's, is closing its doors after twenty-seven (27) years. The reason being advanced for this closure is the extent of the crime situation in our country including rape and burglary."

Eustace said the closure will have a negative impact on the economy of the country, which could tarnished the country's image and send a negative message to foreign investors.

Eustace went on to explain further how closure of the Medical College could impact negatively on the economy.

"At the commencement of the current school year there were some three 340 students registered at the college, in addition, there are professors and their families and about forty three 43 local staff members. The students and faculty spent a lot of money in St Vincent and the Grenadines," Eustace said.

"Let us look at some examples; students pay approximately US$500.00 each per month; that amounts to approximately $3.8 million dollars per nine-month year. That $3.8 million dollars represents a loss in rent only and does not include the rent paid by the faculty and their families, which will also be substantial.

"Persons employed at the college would lose their jobs and could be faced with the prospect of losing their homes.

"Then there are the homeowners who have built or upgraded apartments and houses particularly for rental to the students and the professors. These homeowners have spent millions over the years to build these properties and even at this time, there are buildings being completed for rental to students and the faculty. I understand that there are about 70 such homeowners and they provide some 250 rooms for this purpose. These homeowners themselves, especially those who built relatively recently, will find grave difficulty in meeting their mortgage payments at the financial institutions," Eustace said.

He said the lone electricity company, which is owned by the state, would lose "over one million dollars per year for electricity."

"There are many other areas of impact which have not been highlighted, including the college's contribution to various institutions like the Calliaqua Clinic, the Louis Punnett Home and other voluntary contributions such as scholarships," Eustace said. "Why after twenty-seven (27) years should a college which has in the last few years spent a lot of money upgrading its facilities suddenly want to leave? Is it only crime? We in the NDP believe that the foreign policy of the ULP administration as it relates to Venezuela and Cuba is a significant reason for the pending closure of the college."

He said the Dr Ralph Gonsalves administration needs to "reduce the stridency in our relations with" Cuba and Venezuela while still maintaining diplomatic relations.

"We take very strong objection to the President of Venezuela coming on our soil and attacking other friendly countries, with whom we have good relations. This was done while our Prime Minister was in the audience and said nothing about that," Eustace said.

"I call on Prime Minister Gonsalves to review his foreign policy; many people are suffering because of it. Wake up hurricane Ralph our economy is unraveling!"