Marriaqua New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Philp Jackson is urging Vincentians not to be “fooled” into believing that politicians, especially Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, are personally financing government assistance.
Speaking on the NDP’s New Times program on Wednesday, Jackson declared:
> “Let me tell you now that every money spent in this country is coming out of your pocket. When your child gets a scholarship — it’s our money. When they build you a house after a disaster — it’s your money. You pay 16% VAT at the supermarket, you pay duties and taxes at customs, you pay tax at the gas station. So don’t let him tell you when he ‘catch his hand’ he would do this or that for you, giving the impression like he’s working some magic and it’s his money he’s using.”
Jackson pointed out that when the Unity Labour Party (ULP) took office in 2001, the national debt was around $600 million. “After 24 years, it’s now $3 billion — and it’s the people who have to pay it back,” he said, accusing the Gonsalves administration of being divisive and fostering the belief that nothing can happen without the Prime Minister’s personal intervention.
He also criticised what he described as political bias in the distribution of relief materials following Hurricane Beryl. “There are persons in Marriaqua who didn’t suffer damage but received materials because they are ULP supporters, while others who were affected can’t get assistance because they are NDP,” Jackson alleged.
The NDP candidate called for unity and fairness, stating, “I want to see a Marriaqua where Tom would say, ‘No, I don’t need materials — give them to Jack because he needs it.’ When elected, I will work towards building that kind of Marriaqua.”
Jackson said that under an NDP Government led by Dr. Godwin Friday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines could move forward free from political favouritism.
