KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Vincentians are once again being encouraged to “get the small things right”.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves referred to a charcoal pit in a residential area as he reiterated the call on Wednesday.
He was initially responding to a reporter’s question about what was being done to curtail the wastage of water at government facilities.
In making the point, Gonsalves said that he recently noticed a charcoal pit burning at the side of the road in a residential area in Kings Hill.
“I mean, how can you have a coal pit in a residential area?” Gonsalves said, adding that the Public Health Department should deal with these things.
“Immediately, I felt clearly this has to be wrong. … Because you have a coal pit there, presumably, you can have a coal pit burning in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence or your residence for that manner,” Gonsalves told reporters.
“That can’t be right. … I always say you have to get the small things right,” he further stated.
Gonsalves, however, said that he was not “casting any critical comment” on Public Health Officials or the police, who might have passed the charcoal pit at the side of the road.
“But there must be some people who engage,” he said. “You want to burn a coal pit by the side of the road? I mean it is just not on.
“… I don’t know who the people are responsible for the coal pit. As I talk this, whoever it is responsible, whether a Labour supporter or NDP supporter, will be cussing me. Well, what does it matter to me?” Gonsalves said.
“Some person from the media, no doubt, would have passed there. They should have picked it up and shamed whoever it is and take a picture and put it in and say ‘How yo’ go have a coal pit by the side of the road?’” Gonsalves said.