De New Kid on de Bloc
WAS ONLY LAST weekend ah saw de press confriends on API way P.M Dr Fry-dey very responsibly reporting on de latest development on de Port Project between de Government of SVG and de contractors, “Global Ports Holdings Inc” described as de worlds largest cruise port operator.
What lickle bits and pieces ah gathered is dis project could very well be ah cash-calf in de making.
Ah 30-year project, starting at EC$225 million and if all goes well, could turn into ah hefty cash-cow ($ EC750,000.00 in de next six years. Seems like some initial signing took place but de Real Mc Coy, de MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) dat is suppose sorry- dat will set out de frame-work for future operation and additions in development in Kingstown Port and de Grenadines.
Foh his presentation on API fo de Kingstown Port R-juninay-shun Project, ah giving Doc Fry-dey “Individual of deYear foh 2026.
He gets ah bright “Yellow is de Code” Sash. Ah heard him clearly saying dat one of the most important feature of de MOU is its commitment to local participation local involvement and, employment at the highest level.
“De New Doc on de Block” spoke about ah special purpose vehicle dat will be established to allow Vincy nah-shun-alls to hold up to 30% ownership in the port operation company.
Basically, which means Vincys will have the opportunity to benefit directly from de increase. Well said Doc.
And hey’s way my 3- foh-10 bit comes in. And ah calling pon de following organ- I-say-shun to become de first share-holders in de Port. Put money and den be crit-to-kill. First to buy shares in de Cruise Berth is de Taxi and Mini Vans Association. Second is de Lotto! Lie-Za ball fee murder when she heard how Lotto been giving tuition grants to even polly-trickas children, and to recipients who doh even go school.
Can yuh imagine Go-venom- mint, lending money to Lottery, and de same head signature on ah $250, 000.00 cheque, days before elect-shun authorizing Lotto to pay foh work not even done.
Third: De NIS should invest pen-shun-ous savings in de Port.
Fourth is de Trade Unions e,g, PSU, SVUT, Police, Nurses. Credit Unions, Fishermen Association, Farmers Union.
Fifth: De die-us-poorer Vincies who seem to know all who should be fired and hired. Know everything dat de country need. Now ah NOT throwing words give our dearly beloved diasporians, who give it all in times of need.
And finally ley me con-fest dat when come to matters of money, big or fine-ants, agreements, contracts and MOU’s, I claim “de Fifth!” Interestingly Lie-Za met dis born and bred Vincy Professor, Dr Just-in Robinson Phd, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of UWI Five Islands who has gracefully joined de Searchlight list of Columnists. Actually he now writes de “Eye of de Needle” dat de late great Renwick wrote for de paper. De Professor Just-in time last week to jot-down ah few lines of caution, actually ah warning to de Powers dat be, dealing with de Port Contract, to study de MOU, look over and over, inside out, but most of all look or get someone who knows about MOU to show you “De Fine Prints”. Ah listen to de “New Doc on de Block, also Minister Doctor Shall-owe. Dey sound good eh, I would not know “I claim de fifth”. My add-vice to dem all is to tek ah plain-ride to Antigua, and have ah sea-rust chat wid de Professor who Justin time Dr Robinson. And wid dat is gone ah gone again One Love Bassy
_ Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.
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