(Excerpts of Senator Israel Bruce’s Presentation at a recently held Public Meeting in South Central Windward)
The most chronic problem facing the young people of this country is the issue of unemployment. And that is why we in the NDP said that priority number one will be job creation. My first years in office will be laser beam focused on creating quality jobs for the young men and women in South Central Windward and right here in Chapmans.
Number one: Reduce unemployment by at least 40%, moving it from the estimated 60 % of youth unemployment in Chapmans and South Central to about 20 %. Number two: Create opportunities for young people to become businessmen and businesswomen. You heard me talk about the Development Bank and its capitalization. We in the NDP will capitalise that bank for you, the young people. Number three: Establish a major tourism earning project in South Central Windward. Diamonds has spoken to me about a possible project. I don’t want Greiggs to get upset with me because, there is a full plan in place to develop Pavement.
Number four: I promise you that I will pilot and support legislation to reduce praedial larceny in South Central Windward. For those farmers who have to tie their goats and sheep in the porch to avoid thieves, the laws are going to get stiffer. The penalties are going to be harsher. So, I want my voice to be crystal clear on this subject matter.
Number five: Engage intergovernmental departments and ministries to deliver a robust infrastructure program in South Central Windward. With all these dilapidated roads, we will roll out a massive robust roads program in the first one hundred days of an NDP government and South Central Windward, you will get your share.
Number six: I will advocate and support the immediate return to employment of all constituents who have lost their jobs to the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate, ensuring that all their benefits are intact.
Number seven: To develop at least one sporting facility in the constituency that can host national, regional or possibly international sporting events. Number eight: Ensure that a clinic is provided for the people of Chapmans and New Adelphi. There is a building already that will be made available if you elect your humble servant.
Number nine: Secure available lands through negotiation with the Daniels for their estate in Hadley’s Village, for the development of housing and to assist the ambitious people of Hadley’s Village with the establishment of youth businesses and agricultural expansion. Number 10: Develop an ecotourism project in Diamonds, incorporating the existing historical site as part of an integrated job creation strategy.
Number 11: Establish skilled training development facilities or centres across South Central Winward under the acronym STRAN. Number 12: Establish the Constituency Sports Council under the auspices of the National Sports Council to manage all sporting facilities across the constituency. Number 13: Create partnership linkages between schools in South Central Windward and schools in North America as part of a social societal exchange program called CASEP.
Number 14: Promote the adoption of a policy whereby government will encourage the private sector to adopt a policy to pay both public and private sector workers on a fortnightly basis. Number 15: Advocate (for) and support the establishment of a National Development Bank whose primary aim will be to finance youth businesses across South Central Windward. Number 16: Aggressively pursue sustainable market opportunities for agricultural produce locally, regionally and internationally, to help farmers across South Central Windward find ready market for the crops that they grow.
Last week, I had discussions with a gentleman in Tortola. I could call his name, but I’m afraid if I call his name, tomorrow his phone will ring off the hook. But he is a supermarket owner in Tortola and I said I want us to start having additional discussions about markets for agriculture produce to be sold in your supermarket right here in Tortola. I said you have too many Vincentians working in the supermarket not to be buying agricultural produce from St. Vincent. And he said, “Senator Bruce, when you come back, let’s sit down and have a conversation.” I am already working in opposition, imagine what I will do when I get into government for you.
Number 17: Seek out additional scholarships for primary and secondary school students across the constituency. Every time it comes to paying for CSEC exams parents start to put their hands on their head and they start to ‘bawl for mudda’. I am saying, where there is taxation, there must be proper representation. And when the NDP collects your tax dollar, we must properly represent you. Part of that representation is in my Number 18. We will pay for the subjects to be written by students of South Central Windward who have signed up for CSEC exams to ease the financial hardship for all parents in South Central Windward.
Number 19: Introduce an annual inter-constituency best village beautification competition in order to have a greater community spirit and to serve as a crime fighting measure. Number 20: As your representative, I will be working with you the people to introduce an annual South Central Windward Constituency Awards Program to recognize the work of outstanding constituents past and present.
Number 21: I propose to negotiate with the relevant stakeholders to deliver to the people of Mt. Grenan their community centre to facilitate community development. Number 22: The rehabilitation of footpaths and farmers’ roads across the constituency.
Number 23: Implement and introduce for the first time a system of free transportation service to our senior citizens to get them to the clinics and to community centres events. And number 24: I will give full support to the establishment of the Constituency Development Fund. I will in cabinet and in parliament give full support to the establishment of a Constituency Development Fund that has a proper transparent management system.