(NB: This is an extract from a much longer article)
ANOTHER GOOD WEEK OF ULP SUCCESSES
Last week (May 18th to May 24th) has been yet another good week for the public to assess the high quality, in practice, of the ULP government’s public policies and correspondingly the utter disarray of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP). The public are talking about the continuing successes of the ULP government and the awful mess that engulfs the NDP. Every week this is the same story. Look, read, listen!
Some highlights, last week are, as always, an admixture of government and politics — two wings of the metaphoric bird of governance in majestic flight. Those governmental include:
- The week of thanksgiving and celebration of the Freedom Day (May 21st) for the Spiritual Baptists’ Right to Practice Their Religion, the consummation of the ULP government’s legislative initiative in the declaration of a public holiday, annually, for this righteous liberation purpose.
- The continued manifestation of the ULP government’s tripartite economic approach of an efficacious partnership, in the people’s interest, of the private, cooperative, and State sectors in at least five initiatives put in the public domain:
(i) The 40th anniversary of the successful St. Vincent Brewery Limited;
(ii) The announcement by the Minister of Finance of a US $375 million investment for the construction of a 375-room family-oriented hotel at Mt. Wynne, and the imminent start-up of the 250-room Marriot International Hotel;
(iii) Extensive discussion between the owners of Palm Island Resort and the government on the significant investment to rebuild the Palm Island Resort and the Anchorage Hotel on Union Island, both destroyed by Hurricane Beryl;
(iv) The continued background work for the prospective start-up of the Kingstown Cooperation Credit Union’s construction of a substantial regional headquarters at Georgetown on lands purchased from the government;
(v) The roll-out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on a bundle of initiatives in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. - The public acknowledgement by the people, including those severely affected in the Southern Grenadines, that the government has been doing a good job in rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Beryl.
- The fruitful dialogue between the Prime Minister and his team (inclusive of officials from the Ministry of National Mobilisation) on the one hand, and the leaders of Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls (on May 19th), and the core leaders of Esther’s Promise, a local initiative to house challenged teenaged girls/young adult women (May 23rd), on the other hand. This social partnership (State and NGOs) mirrors that of the tripartite economic partnership.
- The hosting by the Prime Minister and Comrade Saboto of the Kindergarten Students and Teachers of the Lowmans Windward Anglican School on May 23rd, reflecting the joinder always between the Ministers of Government, and students, teachers, of all grades/levels.
- The formal opening on May 23rd of the buildings of the University of the West Indies Global Campus in Kingstown, a magnificent joint venture between UWI and the government for the enhanced access of tertiary education for Vincentians.
- The hosting, on May 22nd, by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary of a one-day seminar/retreat of Permanent Secretaries and Senior Public Servants at the Holiday Inn in a quest to strengthen public administration and the delivery of public services to our nation.
- The publication and presentation to Parliament, in accordance with law, of:
(i) The Report of the Director of Audit on the Public Accounts of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 2022, and
(ii) The Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority by the SVG Audit Office — modernized, far better-staffed, equipped, and housed than ever before by the ULP government. - The preparation for Parliament for May 29, 2025, likely to be postponed because of the very late submission of questions by the NDP parliamentarians for oral answers by ministers.
- The continued roll-out of the massive capital programmes of the government, including the modern port, the hospital at Arnos Vale, the sea defences at Sandy Bay, and the roads all over SVG.
During that week, Comrade Ralph delivered five speeches. Three at three events involving the Spiritual Baptists (including a substantive speech at Victoria Park on May 21st); one at the 40th anniversary celebration of the St. Vincent Brewery; and a major speech on tertiary education at the opening of the UWI Global Campus Buildings. Other Ministers including Gomery, Saboto, Orando, Curtis, Carlos, and Camillo made public interventions on matters touching on their respective portfolios. Camillo was on WE FM for two hours on May 25th.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Prince was overseas in Geneva at the World Health Organisation Conference; Keisal Peters was in New York at the Invest SVG Diaspora Forum; and Gustus was on regional duties.
As another week started (May 25th), Comrade Ralph and Luke Browne were at Sion Hill at an African Liberation Day activity organised by a local committee. From there Comrade Ralph went to the CDC’s “Ivory Soiree,” a festival of pan, at Victoria Park; the ULP’s policies on the steelband have been central to the upswing of pan.
