ULP is responsible for the lowest rate of economic growth in SVG’s history – Bramble

This country has seen the lowest rate of economic growth in its entire history under the Unity Labour Party.

And Dwight ‘Fitz’ Bramble, the New Democratic Party’s candidate for East Kingstown said that his party has the formula to revive the economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“When you hear the NDP talk about jobs, that is the prescription to revive our country and to revive our economy out of the economic coma within which we find ourselves right now,” he said at NDP’s virtual meeting last Thursday, August 27.

Bramble said SVG recorded its highest economic growth rate of 5.9 per cent under an NDP-led administration in 1988. He compared this to 2012 and 2013 when the country recorded an economic growth rate of -0.6 per cent under a ULP-led administration.

The politician said economic growth occurs when “you produce things, when you get things, when you get into economic activities and you can only produce when you have jobs”.

“So when we produce at a growth rate of 1.3 per cent (in 2019), the lowest in the OECS, it tells you that we have a problem and that is simply because there aren’t enough jobs to create the kind of activities to help us grow,” the former diplomat said.

Bramble made several other comparisons, to demonstrate his point that NDP had a much better track record of stimulating economic growth than the current administration.

He also said that economic growth has risen by 7 per cent in the last 20 years, during which the ULP has been in government. The politician said this meant that many people who were capable of working were unemployed.

He further said that while youth unemployment was in the mid-thirties when the NDP left government in 2000, it now stands at 46 per cent.

“This is a government who promised us 19,000 jobs in 2010 and in 2015. Check the manifesto and I challenge anyone to refute any of the information that I’m giving here tonight…Facts don’t lie. Data don’t lie…St Vincent and the Grenadines need hope right now,” Bramble said.

The East Kingstown candidate said the country will be stagnant if people are unemployed and the economy doesn’t grow.

“You asking for another opportunity to mismanage this country further? It is time to make St Vincent and the Grenadines working again and a New Democratic Party, this New Democratic Party administration will make St Vincent and the Grenadines work again. Under the leadership of Dr Friday and the talented team of candidates we have…” Bramble said.