Senator Israel Bruce is intent on fulfilling his New Democratic Party’s mandate “to put St. Vincent and the Grenadines to work again.”
He pledged this vow as he floated several ideas that should bring “long term, quality employment” to the young people in South Central Windward.
Senator Bruce is vying for the right to represent that constituency following the 2020 General Elections results here.
According to Senator Bruce, the 2 term incumbent, MP Saboto Caesar, and his Unity Labour Party government failed to deliver on a number of things that were promised to the voting public.
He empathized with the unemployed members of the largely agricultural district while emphasizing his Party’s commitment to create jobs both locally and nationwide.
“I say therefore to you that our objective is that of creating quality jobs.
So as far as we are concerned we are about jobs, jobs, jobs! And even if you hear we talk about the different sectors, we still are talking about jobs. So my friends when I tell you that we’re looking forward to ensuring that either the Lauders playing field or the playing field down at North Union become at a standard that we can use for regional and possibly international games, I am talking job creation.
“I am talking about utilizing sports to create employment for the young people of South Central Windward. When I tell you that we are looking at Pavement up in Greiggs – going into Colonaire, to set up small cottages – to allow for ecotourism to thrive, I am talking jobs, jobs, jobs.
“When I say that we are looking to put in place for the people of Chapmans and New Grounds a clinic that would allow for the people of those areas to have access to proper health care, we’re talking jobs and health care,” Bruce promised.
Bruce remarked on the ad hoc method that persons are added to the government’s payroll here while giving a real life example which he said occurred about 2 weeks ago. This approach to providing employment, he posited, is evidence of the government’s priorities.
“I have no difficulty with these young people being offered an assignment but what I want to say to you my friends is to look at the timing of all of this. They want to have for themselves, acquired, 4 ½ years of fun, joy and proper living and then give you 2 months before the elections and then send you back to hardship for another 4 ½ years.
“I said that we would look, as part of our employment creation thrust and outlook, that we would create an employment and skills training bank for the young people of this constituency. And that we would comingle that or ensure that a national development bank, the constituency development fund and the Citizen By Investment funds are available to allow the young people of South Central Windward to move from one level to the other.
“So when they realized that this was making great moves, you hear me? What they did is that they ran ahead and they spoke to PRYME,” Senator Bruce said as he slammed the government’s latest grant funding initiative that allows Vincentians aged 18 – 40 access to monies intended to capitalize entrepreneurial ideas.
“My friends I tell you that what we conceptualized in our skills bank development using the initiatives that I spoke about is to allow for responsible entrepreneurship, growth and development for the young people of this country and this society, in particular South Central Windward.
“You know what we’re seeing now, we’re seeing the suggestion ‘come just tell us you have an idea and let’s put PRYME before you’.”
Bruce likened the capital grant programme to a situation where a parent gives his offspring a vehicle without allowing that child to manage all of the responsibilities that go with vehicle ownership.
“I am not saying that the young people of this constituency or this country is reckless. I am saying that the government is reckless in the way it is going about dealing with the PRYME programme because they are so hurry to undermine sound propositions they rush to PRYME. And when it is not PRYME they giving you lime to plant in the dry season.”
Senator Bruce, a one-time educator, reiterated his policy that Party office would not be used exclusively for Party matters.
“This is your base so when you want to know if your name is on the voters list, come here and check it out. When you want to register for the programmes that are being offered, come here and get the help to register.
“If you know that your grandma dead and they keeping your grandma name on the voters list because they want dead people to vote, come here and tell us….
If you have your school assignment to do and you’re having difficulties accessing the internet I have, with my team, provided internet access at this facility; let your child come here, conduct themselves responsibly and we would accommodate them to get their homework done.”
As of Monday June 22, “a responsible staff” manned the Lauders based Team Bruce 2020 political office as testament to the Senator’s continuing commitment to work earnestly for his electorate. Additionally every Wednesday constituents are invited to visit the office to secure an audience with the MP hopeful.