March 28th, 2001 will always be remembered as a very important day in the socio-economic developmental history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
It was the day when almost thirty-four thousand Vincentians went to the polls and cast their vote for the Unity Labour Party, a signal that they wanted a new direction for their country, and an end to the backward anti-socialist programmes of the opposition New Democratic Party.
Some fifty-six percent of the persons who voted in that election supported the ULP.
It was a clear mandate that the voters supported the programmes of the ULP, as outlined in the election manifesto. It was a clear mandate that the people of SVG were in love with the people-centred development approach as outlined in the 2001 manifest.
The ULP can boast an impressive list of achievements over the 18 years in office, all of which have impacted positively, the lives of Vincentians. These achievements are numerous, to which we’ll name a few:
(1) The education revolution
(2)housing revolution ( Middle, No income and low-income homes) ,
(3)100% Mortgage for public servants,
(4)The construction and completion of the Rabacca bridge
(5) The construction and completion of the ArgyleInternationall Airport
(6) The Vision Now Program/ Modern Medical Diagnostic Center/ Restored and upgraded the old Administrative Wing of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospita/ Construction and Completion of Smart Hospital in Georgetown and Chateaubeleair
(7) Rehabilitation of both Windward and Leeward Highways
(8) Lives to Live Program
(9) Diversification in agriculture program focused on increased agro-processing and implementation of BAM program( Banana Accompanying Measures) to assist banana farmers financially
(10) Construction and Completion of Leeward Bus Terminal
(11) Restored, rebuilt and extended Peace Memorial Hall
(12) Built the George Mc Intosh Community Market at Paul’s Avenue and cleaned the street area in front of Bishop’s College of unsightly shops.
(13) Built an ultra-modern Emergency Operations Centre and National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) Headquarters.
(14) Rebuilt, reconstructed, extended and modernised the Kingstown Fish Market & construction and completion of the Owia Fiseries Comples
(15) Built, thirteen Learning Resource Centres (LRCs) at: Sandy Bay, Chester Cottage, Colonarie, South Rivers, Evesham, Sans Souci (North Union), Biabou, Villa, Upper Cane Hall, Questelles, Layou, Fitz Hughes, and Union Island.
(16) Built a New Modern National Library and Archives
(17) Built additional NEMO satelite warehouses ( Sandy Bay and Belmont-leeward)
(18) Built new Solar Farms ( AIA , Lowmans Bay and Union island) to lessen dependency on fossil fuel.
Furthermore, as a political party even up to the current time we continue to work in the interest of you the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
It is why we are relentless in our quest for further development in creation of job, wealth and empowerment of people.
Hence our pursuit with increased Foreign Direct Investments with hotel developments at Mt Wynne Peters Hope and Diamond which will create over 300 plus jobs in addition to other hotel investments such as Buccama Resort and Mandarin Oriental.
The construction of a new modern Arrowroot factory and operation of two fish processing facilities employing over 120 persons along with one to come in Calliaqua to be operated by Rain Forest Seafood company.
The Unity Labour Party is one that has a reservoir of ideas, programmes and policies to carry St. Vincent and the Grenadines forward Never before has the country seen such a leadership, with a vision and a philosophy as set out by the ULP administration.
The ULP has been congratulated for the way it has kept the country together, in the face of tremendous difficulties, such as the several natural disasters which have affected the country, and the global economic meltdown of 2008.
Through all this, the ULP has kept a tight control of the economic wheel to navigate successfully through all the difficult times.
By comparison, the opposition New Democratic Party has shown no leadership, no love for Vincentians, and continues to ‘bad mouth’ the country and ‘pull down’ Vincentians at every opportunity.
They have shown themselves to be a backward element, exhibiting learned helplessness, and a lack of faith in our people.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines today is a far better place to live as compared to 2001. We have made remarkable progress in all developmental indices, thanks to the quality of the leadership of the ULP government.
