Letter: A conspiracy of silence throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines
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| Published on Saturday, July 5, 2008 |
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Dear Sir:
It is indeed a time to speak out against the wrongdoing, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, by the ruling Unity Labour Party government led by Ralph Gonsalves. This was a party that, when in opposition, saw that everything was going wrong with the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP), but they are now doing the same and even worse.
Ralph criticised the NDP for running a corrupt government, the misuse of government vehicles and government offices. He promised to clamp down on police abuse through the country. He vowed to set up an independent body to investigate abuse of citizens, by the police. Ralph promised integrity legislation within 100 days. Vincent Beach promised that he wouldn't be a part of the Government if integrity legislation didn't pass within 100 days; however, we have seen he that he has been in Parliament, retired and now on contract, but the legislation hasn't passed.
As a multi-island state, it’s difficult to fund projects; however, government should manage what little resources they have at their disposal better. St Vincent and the Grenadines has several airports -- they located in Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Union Island and on mainland St Vincent. I would like to know why Ralph didn't allow commonsense and goodwill to prevail.
It would have been a better idea to invest more money on Canouan Airport, upgrade it to facilitate large size jets and forget about constructing an airport at Argyle, which it presently seems impossible to finance. Millions of dollars have already been spent at the Argyle site, including cutting of roads, compensating of few home owners and dumping of some used equipment on the site.
I would continue my argument that the airport in Argyle would be a millstone, around the necks of Vincentians; it is another Ottley Hall in waiting. I am calling on Rudy Rudolph Mattias, to update Vincentians, step by step, on the present position of the construction of the Argyle International Airport. I hope games not been played with the finances of our country.
Agriculture has gone to the dogs in our island, in recent years our traffickers would have done business with Trinidad and Barbados weekly, hence making life better for the people. For too long our leaders made crazy, dumb and reckless statements, Agriculture is a thing of the past. While the authorities bash our youth, calling them names, we have seen our youth climb to the mountains and cultivate illegal drugs, the only way to exit from their unfortunate situation.
It needs programmes in place to tackle high unemployment in our country among the youth. How long will government continue to employ retirees, who are receiving a monthly pension? I will not identify these persons, considering the hardship and failing economy, government should send these people home.
Lavern George |
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