Thursday, July 31, 2014

Building A Nation On Prosperity In St Lucia by Melanius Alphonse

The following is an extract taken from an article by Leader of the LPM.
The Political Facts:
 
EN ROUGE
  Two-and-half-years of labour shock and misery is a far cry from the high expectations of en rouge, better days and socialism dependency, having sold to voters what they wanted to hear, rather than what they need to hear. The fiscal deterioration that citizens are experiencing today was not expected and, as such, something they were not prepared for.
 Recently, in keeping with the hollow shell of Dr Kenny Anthony’s socialist government, he activated a delaying tactic to appoint commissions. This is a strategy used by governments when in doubt and need help. However, voters understand such and reward in kind with the power of the vote.

 Of late, the conservative ideology of change is coming is equally unbelievable. It is simply stubborn ideology that is in search of a policy of restoration and rehabilitation. Such dreamland thinking is also indefensible, since it is made up of a make-believe fabric that is worn out and more suitable for biodegradable use. Thinking and believing that change can happen without collective responsibility and a leader with nothing in common with Saint Lucian people
. The story line is that of two ideological parties are stuck in a generational style of pure old politics that is not authentic and does not rise to the current challenge to change the dynamics from a socialist government that is too fat, to a leaner government, and from decades of wasteful spending and corruption.
 Unfortunately, Peter pays for Paul, as both governments have developed annual budgets that are unable to signal fiscal management plans, set medium to long term goals and a road map for future reforms.
 Now that the rubber meets the road, water bills have increase by 66 percent, VAT is 15 percent, an even on ground provisions. We are paying more for electricity and public transportation. And fewer subsidies that unfairly hurt the working poor and create adverse effects on fixed incomes and the middle class’s ability to invest and grow.
 This is a government that does not have its priorities in order and is ill-advised, such as the Dr Kenny Anthony’s socialist government’s decision to stop abruptly all ongoing projects upon coming into office in 2011. Rather than completing them through tighter controls, closer monitoring and reporting, while taking the tough call and making the hard choices.
Instead, mindless populism and unguarded expectations gave way to irrational exuberance.
This hurts even more, now that not one major project is capable of creating an impact on job creation, and unemployment of 24.9 percent and climbing, or to improve revenue generation. The best gig government can muster is the routine maintenance and reconstruction of roads, sidewalks, (ti-canal construction) and bridges more comparable with local government operations of old time politics. And a heartless Dr Kenny Anthony’s socialist government that takes away 5% from the wages and salaries of the poor and vulnerable under false pretence of fiscal deficit reduction for political propaganda.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Are Choiseulians Proud of What They See?


  
View on entrance to Lorne's Village
  It takes a big chunk out of my heart any time I leave my abode and have to enter the Choiseul Village to do some transaction at the Choiseul Credit Co-operative.  The entrances to most of the village and towns round the island are blessed with large billboard depicting ' Welcome to ?'...the name of the district. Apart from the Credit Co-operative's billboard and another by some Security Services Company, which are strategically place a the Three-cross roads junction in La Fargue, The entrance to the Choiseul village coming in via the Police  station, is blessed with one of the most natural and creative sights one could ever imagine. Smh. (Don't believe a word of it.)
    Choiseul is blessed to have a Minister of Tourism, and one would have thought that with the Constituency Development Fund, which by the way is managed by the Rep's local office, the input of the Constituency Council, and the vigilance of the Rep's prided group, much more could/would have been done to make the entrance into Choiseul something to be proud of. Not to mention the ambiance it would create in the eyes of our overseas visitors who frequently pass through our village to visit historical sites as well as our Catholic church.
    
Delapidated building
Have not the Rep  and the relevant authorities seen this? The must have, and let me tell u why. As soon as you approach  that corner, the mashed up house looms before you, but you must slow down considerably as your vehicle maneuvers  HUGE and I mean HUGE pot holes, only  to prolong the pain of this unsightly thing before you. So don't even mention that this sight passes them unnoticed.
To add insult to injury as one travels deepen in to the village just at the corner before the Church is another gorge. What is wrong with the authorities......this is a pain it the A....!
    One may recall that the Councillors of 2011 -2012 did take  stand and had an eyesore [a garage] demolished....it was proving to be a hazard to motorists and pedestrians alike. This present council and the Rep must display some gonads and give Choiseilians a better deal than this.
  
A car in one of these pot holes 
In closing, Mr Rep, Tourism Minister are you proud of what u see when you enter Choiseul Village? Have u not felt the back and forth rocking of your vehicle as you manage this huge pot holes in the Village? The only reason that you may not have seen these two eye-sores could be that your Choiseul attendance register shows you absent, MUCHO.
   Finally with the Constituency Development Fund and the little subventions to the Constituency Council, please improve the situation of the roads and get this monstrosity out of sight.

MY EYEBALL HURTIN ME!