MP speaks of ‘decades of despair’ under the ULP

‘Decades of despair, a time for hope’ was the focus of Fitz Bramble, Member of Parliament for East Kingstown, at New Democratic Party’s (NDP’s) ‘Hope for Youth’ rally last weekend Saturday, November 18.

Bramble in his speech, presented statistics on poverty, crime, unemployment, migration and debt of the country. He compared the state of the country when the New Democratic Party (NDP) was in government (1984 – 2001) to present day under the Unity Labour Party (ULP).

“For most of you young people, all of your lives almost, you have only known the ULP…in your parents time when they were about your age, unemployment was low, poverty was low, crime rate was low, the murder rate was almost non-existent…so for those of you in your 40s and under, your parents during the time of the New Democratic Party, that was the St Vincent and the Grenadines that they knew.”

He explained that ‘fast-forwarding’ to 20 years later, it is evident that the times have definitely changed.

“Forty-two per cent of our young people are unemployed, never in the history of this country have we had so many people living in extreme poverty…almost 42-43 per cent of our people are living on 14 dollars and less per day.”

Bramble said that the country’s national debt is almost two billion dollars, and in addition, the debt to GDP ratio stands at 89 per cent.

“What that simply means is that every dollar that St Vincent and the Grenadines generates, we have to pay 89 cents in debt, so we only have 11 cents to run business.”

He said that although so many pressing issues are taking place in the country, the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Ralph Gonsalves is “on his farewell world tour on the backs of our tax payers.”

He added that the Prime Minister has so far travelled out of the country for almost 200 out of the 365 days in this year.

The politician said that after two decades of the ruling party in office, the government has only made promises, SVG still lacks much needed infrastructure, making reference to a recent home game that the national football team had to play in Grenada because of the lack of a national football stadium.

“After a decade of promises, we don’t have an indoor sporting facility, we don’t have an indoor cultural centre, so when our artistes have to perform in Victoria Park, when rain comes, they have to run out the rain…after 23 years,” said Bramble, adding that the NDP, once given the chance to govern, will deliver on its promises.

Bramble said that the ULP has in a way, admitted failure as a party, referencing the National Youth Advisory Commission.

“It took the ULP government 23 years for the Prime Minister to realise that he needs to be advised by young people for young people…so all of a sudden he wake up with this epiphany and he hurriedly put together what he calls the National Youth Advisory Commission…after 23 years, he is now realising that he needs to listen to young people.”

The MP assured that the NDP will initiate the ‘four pillars of foundation’ for modern development, being, culture, tourism, the blue economy and the new/orange economy, which he said must be done by an effective and relevant local government, embracing the skills and talents of all Vincentians regardless of their political alignment.

Bramble closed by highlighting that “the NDP is the key” to most of the social issues facing the nation, describing the party as the “vehicle for change” for the country.