Eustace disappointed at not being invited to meeting by PM

Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace has expressed his disappointment about not being invited to a meeting last Saturday, held to map the way forward for the country, in the aftermath of the destruction caused by heavy rains on Christmas Eve.{{more}}

Arnhim Eustace, speaking on the “New Times” radio programme on Monday, said that he did not know about the meeting until he learnt about it in various media reports.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ conference room, was convened by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Attendees included senior government officials, heads of utility companies, contractors, heads of financial institutions, representatives of the governments of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, Chairman of the OECS and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer, representatives of CDEMA, heads of SVG overseas missions and others.

“Just imagine people were brought from overseas; there were civil servants, yet the Leader of the Opposition who won seven out of eight seats, was not contacted?” he questioned.

According to Eustace, he was on the group before Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who returned from an overseas trip on Boxing Day.

The Opposition Leader explained further, that had he been present at the planning meeting, he would have presented the argument for the removal or reduction of tariffs on items such as refrigerators and stoves imported into the country, for the victims of the floods. (DD)