PM outlines plans for next 5 years

Surrounded by thousands of boxes containing laptop computers earmarked for schools around St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves outlined some of his Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) plans for the country for the next five years.{{more}}

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, December 7, at Cabinet room where the computers are being stored, Dr. Gonsalves highlighted the ten pillars of his party’s manifesto, which was launched the previous Sunday at the Victoria Park in Kingstown one week before the December 13 General Elections.

At the top of the list is the continued war against poverty, which the Prime Minister noted was not in that position by accident.

“We hold very dear the proposition as enunciated in our Judeo Christian tradition that it is your duty to take care of the poor. We are told that we have a duty to take care of the poor as a society… and we are told that when we lend a helping hand to the poor, every single thing that that hand touches will be blessed.”

Other policies highlighted by the manifesto include wealth and job creation, the pursuit of a many sided strategy of sustainable economic growth and development in an increasingly modern and globalised environment, including the consolidating of fiscal discipline, balancing prudence and enterprise, as well as the extending and deepening of the Education Revolution, including a further emphasis on ICT training and the implementation of the one laptop per child policy.

“Education is the foundation for the human resource.” Gonsalves noted. “You need an educated workforce in your modern economy and the very development of the individual himself or herself through education and training is a goal worthy to pursue on its own; you make better citizens, better people.”

The manifesto also intends to make St. Vincent and the Grenadines safer by strengthening law and order, enhance the Health and Wellness revolution, which includes the relocation of the main hospital, uplifting the communities by properly addressing the vital areas of concern including road repairs, sports and cultural facilities.

The prime Minister indicated that plans for the building of a new city at Arnos Vale and enhanced access to capital city Kingstown are also a part of the party’s plans for the next five years, as well as the completion of the international airport at Argyle and the delivery of top notch good governance all round in every area of public policy, including regional integration.

Prime Minister Gonsalves took the opportunity to criticize the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) for failing to produce their manifesto, despite claims that they were ready for the elections and had their manifesto and candidates in place whenever the elections were called.

“We are six days away from the general elections and the Opposition which had proclaimed itself to be ready… well, it turns out that their candidates were not all in place…and then there is no word as to when the manifesto will be available from the NDP for the people’s reflection. This is stunningly amazing. On those grounds alone the NDP ought to be rejected.”

“We have an even better record than of the 2005 (elections) because we have done amazing work between 2005 and 2010.”(JJ)