 |
| UWP political leader |
Although the Government’s Press Statement is laid naked by
its own attempts at distortion, it is important to review the August 13th Press
Release in order to set the record straight.
It must be noted that the Address by the Political Leader
spoke to “potential fall-out”, not just with respect to the OECS, but also the
United Kingdom and the United States of America. The concern expressed was the
proposed use of the SUCRE as the trading currency of ALBA Countries, and the
implications for the OECS Monetary Union. In other words, does St. Lucia plan
to leave the ECMU and abandon the Easter Caribbean Dollar? Does St. Lucia’s accession
to ALBA now put us in conflict with the
Pro- Argentina position on The Falklands Islands and could have serious
repercussions for our Foreign Policy standing with the United Kingdom.
Similarly, the clear anti-USAID stance of ALBA may undermine our longstanding
relationships with the USA. Such decisions can have widespread implications for
our nation as a whole and ought to be part of a national debate. These are
major concerns which affect our people and they must be aware of the
implications, and be given the opportunity to express their opinions on.
Matters of Foreign Policy should not be left exclusively to the dictates of a
short-sighted Government.
The suggestion for the need for Parliamentary approval as
relates to ALBA is in consonance with transparent and participatory democracy!
The history of Labour Party Governments led by Prime Minister Anthony, gives
natural cause for concern, as reflected in the very recent and damning examples
of Rochamel and Grynberg which were cited in Mr. Chastanet’s Address.
It is, therefore, mischievous that the Government’s Press
Statement would attempt to draw parallels between the Caribbean Tourism
Organisation (CTO), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and ALBA. This is
clearly an attempt at mixing the disparate issues with all the attendant
connotations. The UWP insist that because of the implications re: debt
accumulation ref. Petro Caraibe which is an initiative of ALBA and the
potential political fall-out from membership of ALBA which is an anti - American
Alliance that the approval of Parliament MUST be sought.
 |
| SLP political leader |
Our apprehensions regarding ALBA may already be gaining
merit in the recent manifestations of possible US reprisals. Further, the articulation of policy intent
within a Throne Speech does NOT mean that the Government has the “go ahead” to
take Saint Lucia to the “gates of hell” before consulting with the people and
parliament. The fact is, most Saint Lucians do not know or understand what ALBA
is or represents. This approach is what in our folklore is referred to as “Jab
an Sak” (the Devil hidden in a sac).
The worn out strategy of seeking to tarnish Mr. Chastanet’s
record as a Minister in the last UWP Administration by bringing into question
Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRG) agreements with some airlines is exposed by
its own pale weakness. Firstly Mr. Chastanet makes it clear that all MRGs were
subject to approval by the Cabinet of Ministers and were in fact signed by the
St Lucia Tourist Board and not the Minister of Tourism. The shallowness of this
attempt to denigrate the UWP Political Leader is highlighted by the fact that
the use of MRGs is a policy which has been employed by successive UWP and SLP
Governments. It is obvious that such agreements are treated as confidential for
strategic purposes. It is for that same reason that the current Government
might not wish to divulge the details of the current agreement/arrangements
between itself and United Airlines.
There is,
however, a deafening silence from the Government on
issues that are of grave concern to Saint Lucians, as they affect and
threaten our livelihoods and sovereignty.
The following issues highlighted in Mr. Chastanet’s Address
are restated for the attention and response of the Kenny Anthony
Administration:
- The removal of
VAT on ALL reading glasses for senior citizens;
- The removal of
VAT on ALL medication;
- The request for
full disclosure and clarification on the award of a contract by SLASPA for the
construction and operation of a Fixed Based Operation (Private Jet Terminal) at
HIA;
- The status of
Post Hurricane Tomas Reconstruction Projects;- The revision of the VAT with a view to
reduction of the rate;
- The update on the
St Jude Hospital Redevelopment Project and a definitive statement on a date for
returning the Hospital to its original home;
- The full disclosure
on how much money was collected from the Airport Development
Tax for the Hewanorra International Airport Redevelopment
Project;
This is also an opportunity to once again call on Saint
Lucia’s Prime Minister Kenny Anthony to
address the Nation on the troubling Grynberg matter.
Finally the Address to the Nation by newly elected Political
Leader of the United Workers Party presented the Labour Party and the current
Government with an opportunity to engage on a new standard of political
discourse. During his address, Mr. Chastanet stated the following: “our people
deserve better than the maypwee and personal character attacks which pass for
political discourse, and they are demanding, rightly, that our exchanges be
about real issues that matter, the issues which affect our welfare, as a
nation, and as a people”. “And I say to members and supporters of the UWP, the
Labour Party is not our enemy, Kenny Anthony is not our enemy, his ministers
and supporters are not our enemies. But
we do have enemies – and our enemies are poverty, unemployment, ignorance and
apathy; and we must fight those enemies,
with everything we have ….”
We continue to seek opportunities to engage all interested
parties in this new dialogue about the current and future development of our
small nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment