Parliamentary Representative for the South Windward constituency Hon. Gaustus Stevenson may have lost sight of his responsibility Minister of National Reconciliation when he insisted that star paved in concrete at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) be painted in “bright bright red”.
The National Reconciliation made his view public when he posted at 9:36 am on Wednesday, February 15th via his Facebook page saying;
“When I first saw the Star at the entrance to the Control Tower I said no that’s not good.
Yesterday I had a change of heart. After seeing all this negative talk about the AIA I believe that it should be painted in bright RED so that you can see it from the sky. It will be a beautiful addition to compliment the AIA and point directions to Rawacou, the Petroglyphs, the road to Georgetown and much more. #who vex bathe…”
Stevenson’s Social Media comment has helped to add more fuel to partisan political division among many Vincentians over the placement of the star, the symbol of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP), at the vehicular entrance to the nation’s new international airport.
The National Reconciliation made his view public when he posted at 9:36 am on Wednesday, February 15th via his Facebook page saying;
“When I first saw the Star at the entrance to the Control Tower I said no that’s not good.
Yesterday I had a change of heart. After seeing all this negative talk about the AIA I believe that it should be painted in bright RED so that you can see it from the sky. It will be a beautiful addition to compliment the AIA and point directions to Rawacou, the Petroglyphs, the road to Georgetown and much more. #who vex bathe…”
Stevenson’s Social Media comment has helped to add more fuel to partisan political division among many Vincentians over the placement of the star, the symbol of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP), at the vehicular entrance to the nation’s new international airport.
But the first time elected member of the ULP may be in some hot water for his departure from the position taken by his party and leader, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. Speaking on Boom FM radio earlier that same Wednesday morning, Dr Gonsalves indicated that he was unaware of the placement of the star, until after the fact. He said the decision was a wrong one and hinted at having the issue corrected.
It is not clear whether Stevenson was aware that he was disagreeing with a position taken by Dr Gonsalves on the widely debated issue.
Two days of celebrations marking the opening of the AIA, dubbed “SVG’s gateway to the world”, began with an official unveiling ceremony on Monday, February 13, and ended with a mass celebration rally on Valentine’s Day, attended by thousands of Vincentians and a host of regional and international dignitaries.
Hon. Stevenson delivered remarks at the unveiling ceremony on Monday, which also heard remarks from Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves among others.
In addition to the highly contentious issue of placing a star in concrete at the nation’s main airport, the scant use of the national colors; Blue, Yellow and Green, also raised concerns among critics who argue that opening of the airport on Valentine’s Day was a deliberate ploy to justify the use of the color red as part of the decor at the event.
Red and white have long been adopted as the colours of the ruling ULP.
Two days of celebrations marking the opening of the AIA, dubbed “SVG’s gateway to the world”, began with an official unveiling ceremony on Monday, February 13, and ended with a mass celebration rally on Valentine’s Day, attended by thousands of Vincentians and a host of regional and international dignitaries.
Hon. Stevenson delivered remarks at the unveiling ceremony on Monday, which also heard remarks from Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves among others.
In addition to the highly contentious issue of placing a star in concrete at the nation’s main airport, the scant use of the national colors; Blue, Yellow and Green, also raised concerns among critics who argue that opening of the airport on Valentine’s Day was a deliberate ploy to justify the use of the color red as part of the decor at the event.
Red and white have long been adopted as the colours of the ruling ULP.