On a recent broadcast of the program On the Record, Carlos James alleged that the current administration is taking credit for major national projects and strategic successes that were actually initiated and developed under the Unity Labour Party (ULP). James argued that the public is now seeing the “fruits of labour” of the ULP, while the current government attempts to present these developments as their own achievements.
James specifically highlighted the upcoming arrival of ballistic testing equipment to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which is intended to modernize criminal investigations and forensic testing. He claimed that the current Minister of National Security is likely to hold a “big parade” and take credit for the facility.
However, James asserted that the project was secured through CARICOM Impacts—a regional security initiative—and that the work to bring this equipment to the state began more than a year ago, well before the current government took office.
The former ULP minister also addressed recent developments regarding the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). While expressing hope that a franchise would eventually be based in St. Vincent, James insisted that the “foundation and the hard work” for these negotiations were laid under the ULP administration.
He credited individuals such as Annette Mark and others at the Tourism Authority for their work with CPL and international investors, stating that these discussions started long before the current government came to power.
James warned listeners that members of the current administration would try to “put feathers in their backs like peacocks” to claim they were the ones who laid the groundwork for hosting matches and securing potential team ownership.
James contrasted these inherited successes with what he described as a breakdown in effective governance under the current state administration. He pointed to issues such as the “poor quality of administration” in the education sector’s school repair program and the handling of a multi-drug resistant bacterium outbreak at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital as evidence of current mismanagement.
According to James, while the current government “rides” on ULP-initiated successes, their own lack of leadership is causing challenges in energy security, public sector salary payments, and the containment of public health threats.
James concluded that the current “state of the administration’s ability to effectively manage” is the root cause of the various challenges currently facing the country.
