Former Senator Melissa Peters has raised serious concerns regarding the status of essential social programs, specifically targeting the delay in school openings and the “improper” registration process for the national road cleaning program.
Peters questioned why the government required South Leeward residents to register for the road cleaning program at a political constituency office rather than through BRAGSA, calling the move “entirely improper” and a demonstration of poor governance.
“No Vincentian should have to go to an NDP office to get their name put down to be able to work on that program,” Peters asserted, suggesting the practice intimidates supporters of the opposition.
She further noted reports that long-standing “gang leaders” and “timekeepers” identified as Labour supporters were being systematically removed and replaced.
On the education front, Peters criticized the one-week delay in the reopening of schools, stating there was “absolutely no justification” for it given the lack of recent natural disasters.
She attributed the delay to a failure in the administrative “engines,” such as timely funding releases for repairs and the procurement of furniture.
Additionally, Peters reported that many parents are in a state of uncertainty regarding back-to-school grants, as the usual registration forms and community outreach seen in previous years have yet to materialize.
