The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will, this year, launch “Renewal @40”, “a wide-ranging and multifaceted programme of reflection and reinvention that ranges from the cultural to the infrastructural”.
The initiative coincides with the nation’s 40th anniversary of independence on Oct. 27.
In his budget address last week, Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves said that as SVG prepares to enter its fifth decade of post-independence development, “it is an appropriate time to reflect upon the path we have trod, celebrate our accomplishments, and refresh ourselves for the next stage of our independence journey.
Spread across the various ministries are a number of Renewal @40 initiatives, which include:
1. School and learning resource centres refurbishment $6m
2. Kingstown clean-up $1.7 million
3. Fort Charlotte and Bridge rehabilitation $872,600
4. Heritage Square rehabilitation $450,000
5. Development of Joseph Chatoyer National Park $436,000
6. Community Centre refurbishment $428,000
7. Renewal @40 Unit and programmes $400,000
8. History of St. Vincent & the Grenadines $75,000
9. Peace Memorial Hall rehabilitation $71,200
10. Garifuna and Diaspora homecoming event $65,000
Gonsalves said the responsibility for coordinating the diverse Renewal @40 activities will be reposed in a special unit “imbued with crosscutting organisational reach and authority”.
This unit, and its lead coordinator, will be tasked with driving the implementation of Renewal @40 policies and programmes.
“While, ideally, as many programmes as possible will culminate on or around our October 2019 Independence celebrations, not all Renewal @40 initiatives are envisaged as one-year, one-off activities. Renewal is a process, not an occasion. As such, Renewal @40 activities will necessarily extend beyond the 2019 calendar year,” Gonsalves said.
He, however, said his government expects the 40th Anniversary to be the catalyst for “a cleaner, better organised Kingstown; a general refreshing of public infrastructure; a reengagement with our Diasporas; a celebration of our outstanding citizens; and a renewed appreciation of our unique history and culture.”
A pittance has been allocated for “a cleaner, better organised Kingstown.” There is no mention of the disorganization caused by parking on narrow streets, broken roads and sidewalks, the absence of wheelchair access, too few one-way streets, rate infestation, and the chronic vendor issue, among many other issues.
Should we forget our past,?so that, why the suggestion to change all our colonial names of places and even more?.
THE GOV SHOULD TURN ALL COMMUNITY CENTERS INTO TECHNICAL LEARNING CENTERS FOR HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUTS AND REHABILITATING YOUNG CRIMINALS UNDER THE AGE OF 18YRS
ALSO MAKE MUSIC ARTS A SUBJECT IN ALL SCHOOLS
Why everyone seem to think that Vocational learning is only suitable to school drop outs? Secondly the educational system already having a hard time finding vocational teachers for the college and current techvoc centers, where do you propose the reminder come from? Vocational training requires people with real industry experience. Are you willing to join the banwagban?
FIRST OF ALL……DID ANYONE SAY VOCATIONAL LEARNING IS “ONLY” SUITABLE TO SCHOOL DROPOUTS ???. READ AND UNDERSTAND PLEASE
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED WE NEED “PEOPLE WITH REAL INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES ” WHICH ARE ALL AROUND US IN SOCIETY NOT JUST IN THE EDUCATION FIELD . BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS THAT HAVE OR HAD MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE. WHAT WE FALL SHORT OF HERE , IF WE NEED TO IMPORT CREDIBLE TEACHERS FROM OTHER OECS STATES TEMPORARILY , THEN IT SHOULD BE AN OPTION UNTIL WE CAN SUPPLY THE DEMAND .
Camillo, you only in charge of the exchequer because your daddy put you there not on your own merits. Now you get your kicks spending the nation’s money as if it is your own. I am sure that you have the same backward mentality as your evil daddy. It is in your DNA. If this nation is to move forward we will have to rid ourselves of all of you conmen.