Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says he is “very concerned, very worried” about some hardship which is beginning to be felt by Vincentian seafarers who have been laid off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said on WE FM on Sunday that seafarers would send home money but on many of the cruise ships, during the time when they were in holding operation they were not being paid a salary.
“They are having some challenges and over 1,000 of them have come home and I have to find a way to get some resources to help them in a similar manner like I have been helping the unemployed people here and those who are the vendors and the like,” Gonsalves said.
Between April and June, the state has given monthly payouts of EC$300 or EC$200 to various categories of persons affected by the pandemic.
“By the way, is 2,300 vendors already. The number has just risen and, of course, you have over 3,000 getting the unemployment benefit,” Gonsalves said.
Vincentian sailors spent weeks in quarantine on board their vessels before being able to return home because of travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are very concerned too, as these people obviously have some great skills and talents gained working in these internationally renowned businesses that should be utlilised.
So first place to check is how many foreigners are here on work permits and why, as there are probably a lot in hospitality roles throughout the Grenadines who can be replaced by our returnees. Once our locals, many of whom probably have more experience than those on work permits, can perform the same roles, give the work permit holder a months notice and then it’s time for them to go home. Imagine many of them do not even pay income tax (PAYE) or contribute in any way to our society and it’s time for what has previously been ignored to end!
Nice consideration,its moment like these we want from a prime minister.
Still playing “politricks” to garner every vote for a 5th term.
No conscience at all towards the people of SvG.
Decent planning by your government with allocations to various ministries could have
spared you coming with this cat ‘n mouse strategy and pretensive concern for the sailors Mr PM.
You think you have all the brains ehhh?!!!
==== My Poetry: ====
The Worth of My Soul
You got the money, know the prevailing atmosphere,
But you feeding and handing out piecemeal portions
to make “we” think you care
You holding back, throwing out the grain
Under your hand, all over de yard …
for the fowls to come again.
You got the “love” in your hand
To catch “we” when you can
You real confident, you are “the star!”
Even though that image is botched and far
But for you that’s a plus…
It’s Christmas.
Well we got the pen
‘Cause you ain’t Daniel in the lions’ den
You got we so blasted vex
Time for retribution, we go use we X
Your games and tricks that put we on roam
Has now backfired…TIME TO GO HOME!
So those are also included in the hand to mouth group??
He should of thought about that when he delayed, or perhaps even tried to stop them returning home, now to try and make things right and salvage a few votes he wants to buy them.
The elections are not far away now