by LeRoy Providence
I have just been listening to a discussion on radio featuring Mr. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, and Mr. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture.
They were discussing the prospects of significant economic activity which this country is likely to see over the coming months.
They were evidently enthusiastic that the realization of significant earnings from fishing was on the horizon. They said that in the area of construction, several hundred jobs were going to be generated as a result of the expenditure to be done, relative to erection of a new hospital building, the construction of eight new bridges and several hotels of class. They said that the outlays on those projects represented hundreds of millions of dollars.
Hearing the gentlemen eloquently serving out the glittering prospects for economic activity, which offered hope for our citizens to realize some relief from the agonies of our strangled economy, with which they have been burdened over an extended period, I was entertained somewhat. However, when they glibly talked of addressing Feeder Roads, I was jolted back to the reality, that these are the same “untrustworthy men” who in 2001 had promised that they were going to revitalize agriculture and pay serious attention to the Feeder Roads.
Twenty-one years after those passionate promises, on the strength of which they (ULP) were given the support of the farming community, the agriculture sector is severely crippled, the banana industry is “dead” and the Feeder Roads are in the worst condition they have ever been since 1951.
These relatively young men who had seemed to be good citizens, who would have remained faithful to the mission of advancing the interests and well-being of our society, have proven ‘traitors to the cause’. They have seemingly been affected by their necessary interaction with the rogues like David Ames, who came to our shores presenting themselves as honourable men of substantial economic means. As it has turned out, they were merely rogues and smart men who hood-winked our shallow administrators, and slipped out from SVG under the cover of darkness, leaving us short by millions of dollars.
Up to a few years ago, Camillo Gonsalves seemed to have been enjoying a working relationship with Mr. Ames. It has been documented that they communicated by phone.
Ministers Gonsalves and Caesar seem to be indifferent to the fact, that they owe it to the citizens of this country, to review all those plans which they had presented to the people. Those elaborate plans which did not come to fruition. Those plans cost the tax payers money.
Those issues need to be addressed with urgency so that a logical approach could be devised.
Considering the foregoing it is understandable why a significant proportion of the farming community, strongly questions the sincerity of the ULP, when today they make big promises. They have been ‘traditionally distinctly untrustworthy’.
With Julian Francis being now significantly incapacitated and considering the central role which he had played in the ULP administration over the decades, it is hardly likely, that the ULP will be able to reverse the decline of the people’s trust in them.
The Views expressed are not those of Asberth News Network but those of the writer. All articles must be submitted to [email protected]