Many Vincentians who live abroad have told the Leader of SVG Green Party, Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O‘Neal BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, that they think it would be a big mistake for them to return to SVG to live.
Even before the volcano eruption, Vincentians abroad were appalled by the state of SVG. When they visited SVG on holiday to see family, they were amazed by how dirty Kingstown was and the extent of the poverty throughout the country. They have said that they think there is not much to do in SVG and not much opportunity.
When they compare SVG to the places where they live abroad, such as the UK, Canada and the USA, they say that SVG is lacking in facilities, and the poverty and widespread destitution is very sad. Many Vincentians whose children have received school and university education abroad say their children do not want to live in SVG, because of the lack of job opportunities and long-term career prospects.
They say that the ULP regime has really destroyed the country and taken it down to a very bad level.
They are concerned, too, about quality of lifestyle if they returned to SVG. When you compare SVG to New Zealand or Singapore, for instance, there is a big difference in lifestyle. People in New Zealand and Singapore experience a high-quality lifestyle and living environment. New Zealand or Singapore is better for raising and educating children and can provide better job opportunities.
New Zealand and Singapore have built free, high-quality education from pre-school to their own universities for every child, and their economies are driven with a high rate of return on investments and knowledge-based services. New-Zealand and Singapore have greater equality, also, for its people. You will not find racists tax policies in these countries that disadvantage local people in favour of super-rich foreigners, such as the Mustique Act No 48 of 2002.
New Zealand and Singapore are countries with very low crime rates and unemployment of only about two per cent. They have good health and leisure facilities and their people are equipped to compete for jobs in the global workplace.
SVG needs to change a lot for us to attract skilled and educated Vincentians abroad, to come back to SVG to live and invest their money and ability in improving SVG. We need equal rights and equal opportunity, but more importantly, we want a fair tax system that will provide resources to give all our children equality in education and employment, and significant opportunities to have a high quality lifestyle.
It is important that we provide incentives to encourage Vincentians abroad to come back to SVG and help our economy develop as to become a modern economy. Work must be done to tackle the poverty that has been caused by the ULP regime’s economic incompetence evidence of which is prevalent throughout the country.
We need to stop generational poverty and create generational university-educated families and households.
1 Comment
Instead of spouting your usual crap why not speak out about what is happening to Cornelius John?