The eve of the post-Gonsalves era

Editor: This society has survived and in some ways prospered because its economy was secured on a strong agricultural base, so that although we were never wealthy, most of us, a fair proportion of the population, had the hope of having a satisfying meal, even two or three times per week. This was because of the crops we planted. Dasheen, yams, tannias, peas, potatoes, cassava, corn and eddoes. In addition cattle, pigs, fowls, goats and sheep were raised. Probably 70 per cent of the population was actively involved in tending crops and fishing in those days.{{more}}

No matter how sophisticated the population may become in their lifestyle, energetically in pursuit of the acquisition of gadgets and other material, they will still need food and we have the proven capacity to provide good healthy food. Therefore, it was difficult to understand how our administration in 2009 could have embarked on a programme intended to stimulate the flagging economy of SVG without any consideration for agriculture. They budgeted “not a red cent” to the stimulation of agricultural activity.

The plan, the Eight Point Stabilization and Growth Plan, that is what they called it, recommended the injection of substantial amounts into the sectors identified; no consideration of agriculture at all. And yet for several years after the initiating of that “PLAN”, the targeted sectors continued to experience negative growth. The plan had clearly failed! That being so, the Vincentian community should have an evaluation of that plan with an assessment of the reasons for its failure.

St Vincent and the Grenadines will celebrate 36 years as an independent nation on 27th October this year and as we contemplate our chances of realizing success in the next 20 to 30 years, it is imperative that we have serious conversations now, on several issues. Three of those very important issues are policing, agriculture and fishing. Therefore, every patriotic Vincentian should feel duty-bound to discuss those issues forthrightly and so influence those who are offering themselves for leadership.

The citizens must be the prime beneficiaries of the resources of our nation. The burning issue of those “Fishing Licences” needs to be addressed with urgency at the highest level. The present situation with regard to the seeming indifference to our fishing interests in the Atlantic is totally unacceptable and it is out of harmony with the serious pursuit of the progress, prosperity and independence of this nation. We need to know the truth now! I hope it will be one of the subjects that Prime Minister Gonsalves will address when he speaks to the nation next Independence Day. The supporters of the ULP will, of course, be hoping that Dr Gonsalves will be able to find the material to craft a message of promise to arrest the slide in popularity of the party. They will remember, of course, the unfinished cross-country road, the Black Sigatoka fiasco and the crippling of the banana industry, the futile expenditure on the Ottley Hall inquiry, the spurious purchasing of the Ju-c building, the disappearance of 1.9 million dollars from the School Repair Programme.

They must then hope that the Comrade will be sufficiently inspirited and convincing when he presents/plays his last card, the building of the “new city” at Arnos Vale.

It will not surprise me if there could be a shout from the crowd, “How yo’ go build new city when yo’ can’t repair the old town?”

If, after Dr Gonsalves has left the Victoria Park, the image of his government has not been significantly repaired, then the next several weeks may decidedly turn out to be “the eve of the post-Gonsalves era”.

Leroy Providence