Wednesday, April 30, 2014

No Boxing In Paradise, Time To Box In Choiseul/Choiseul!

I have never in my entire life following Budget debates witness such obsession by a member of parliament in Government with a past minister. Read between the lines.
Inspite of not having Cable Tv service during the debate and Radio St Liar intermitently oning, offing and at times a horrible reception, I must have been blessed to be able to catch the last 15 mins of our Rep's presentation. "Honorable member, you have fifteen minutes left." the Speaker informed Choiseul's Parliamentary Rep. As if taken by surprised and hoping that he would be graced with more time by the suspension of an Order, he remarked, "Thank you" whether he was granted the extension or not this blog is unable to confirm this. Radio St Liar just cut off, this time with whizzing sound of a cricket, again! Reception was resumed in about 30 seconds.
Here is the Rep's take, in point form. The full 15 speech on Choiseul/Saltibus will be posted in due time.
The Rep said:
1. He has a formidable team on the ground that is committed. They assist,critisize him as needs be.
2. Over 30 projects were completed in Choiseul/Saltibus in 2013/14.
3. There is $18m for the constituency Development Program of which Choiseul/Saltibus will benefit.
4.The Esperance road to be opened in two weeks time.
5. Road works are ongoing at Morne Jacques presently.
6. Road leading into Piaye completed
7. Road rehabilitation of Piaye/Saltibus is ongoing.
8. The Fiette, Daban and Jetrine roads to be started soon.
9. The mongouge community Centre to be opened soon with an IT program geard towards the young people.
10. The Roblot and Piaye Community centes to be built this fiscal year.
11. thank Ministry of Foreign affairs for the batch of fertilizer for the farmers.
12. To upgrage the Piaye playing filed to a first class avenue - lighting and resurfacing
13. Attention will be given to the Choiseul Secondary school.
14.Work has been done on Saltibus Primary School, but more will be done
15. The plight of the fishermen in the village will be addressed. Talks to be held with the fishermen.
This Lorne's vision for Choiseul/Saltibus 2014/15.
This blog as had mentioned previously that the Rep is on his third strike and needs to be focussed least he strikes OUT.
It has been said that a politicians promise is a comfort to a fool. Let's hope this politician proves this old adage wrong.
ROBLOT, DABAN, FIETTE, JETRINE, PIAYE and the FISHERMEN are PRAYING and HOPING that the REP is a MAN of his WORD.
There is abosolutely no time for Lorne to to go boxing in Paradise or even going to Dubai. Its time to start throwing punches in Choiseul/Saltibus. Oh, how blessed Choiseulians would be see Lorne's BOXING RING in Constituency.
All eyes are on you Mr REP..........time to deliver.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Will Lorne Score On Strike Three?

Well, another song will be sung come the week of May 27th and all ears nationwide will be peeled, and all eyes glued to radios and TVs respectively to find out what genre of music will this group of musicians play on the political stage. It can be anything from Soca to folk, or reggae to a requiem. Whatever genre it may be, there is a lot of suspicion that the music might not be soothing to the ear drums and the blockage of the eustacian tube may very well cause Lucians to gasp in Awe.
The Choiseul/Saltibus Constituents are all hyped up to hear what good is in this year's budget for them. The Rep himself must be aware that he must come good this time around - roads, public facilities, the fishing complex problem, the elderly, the youth and jobs are some of the issues the constituents will want to hear about I'm sure.
Lorne's promises during the first two budget presentations have fallen flat on its face - Where is the playing field for the Tet Morne girls? Where is the lighting for the La Fargue playing field? Where is the communty centre for Dar Ban? Where is the starting of the Mini stadium with the $400,000 left over in 2011? What has the Constituency Council achieved? What have been done for the arts and craft workers - Lapointe, Mongouge, Debreuil Caffiere just to mention a few? What is in the pipeline for the many unemployed youth - projects, programs and the litany goes on.
One will recall the very first statement by the Rep in last year's budget debate was he would make it his duty to be present more frequently in the constituency. This blog wrote about this and not to forget the big issue made by Pierre and Dalson about making excuses for the Rep's poor frequency in his constituency - how he is the tourism minister and have to be away and how if he has to sacrifice Choiseul for the country, well so be it and nuff blah blah.
Also at this convention at the La fagure community Centre the Rep took swipes a his opponents and allegedly his recent campaign manager, whom it is widely speculated brought him (rep) home. The Rep went as far as to say, " I will deal with them."
A renouned local blogger in his response to the Rep's threat wrote this, "You express a fair view or begin a new initiative aimed at national or constituency development, and you have political "engineers" not just excoriating, but grossly misinterpreting you in political forums. You also have your own Parliamentary Representative cowardly "jete-ing pawol" at a constituency conference for you. But I guess our honorable legislators under the constitution are guaranteed the same fundamental rights and freedoms as their constituents. The only problem is I find, is some of them seem to spend more time "being angry" at their parliamentary subjects that "representing" them."
This has been Lorne's hallmark of representation over the past two budget cycles, plus his noted absentism in the constituency.
He has had two strikes (budgets) and in all fairness needs a third strike to be in or out. One would hope that he focusses well enough, though he may not have 20/20 vision, to make sure he hits the right notes to make melody to the ears of his constituents this time around.
The Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure for 2014/2015 will be laid in the House on April 29,2014 and will be debated from 2:00pm the same day and continuing on the next day. The Governor General will read her throne speech on May 6, 2014, while the budget address by Dr Anthony will be delivered on May 13, 2014 and the debate scheduled for 15 and 16 May, 2014.
In closing, the Roblot Community awaits with bated breath to hear sweet music to their ears come April 29 or 30.
Mr Rep, please, do not let them down, and by extension the constituency.

Friday, April 11, 2014

BUDGET DATES ANNOUNCED

The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the
financial year 2014/2015, will be laid in the
House of Assembly on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.
Debate on the Estimates will be preceded by a
meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the
House at 10.00a.m., the same day, April 29, 2014. The debate on the Estimates will commence at
2.00p.m. that afternoon and continue into the
next day, April 30, 2014, at 10.00a.m. The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure will be
laid in the House in accordance with section 79(1)
of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, SI 1978 No.
1901. The traditional Throne Speech will be delivered by
Her Excellency, Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor
General, on Tuesday, May 06, 2014, at 11.00a.m.
This will be followed by the Budget Address by
the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, National
Development and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at
5.00p.m.. The debate on the Budget Statement
will take place on May 15 and 16, 2014.