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The opposition Leader noted that the ULP said years ago that it had the money for a national stadium but is only now building an athletics track. (Photo: Asberth Williams/Facebook)
The opposition Leader noted that the ULP said years ago that it had the money for a national stadium but is only now building an athletics track. (Photo: Asberth Williams/Facebook)
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  • ULP yet to deliver hospital promised 19 years ago
  • ULP promised stadium; building track instead
  • Unemployment moves from 20% to 26%
  • Geothermal project a failure

The Vincentian people have been “treated with contempt” by the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) as evidenced by the broken promises over the years.

Leader of the Opposition Godwin Friday told last Thursday’s virtual rally of his opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) that the ULP first promised the nation a new hospital in 2001 — 19 years ago.

The ULP has since said that it will build an acute referral hospital in Arnos Vale, at the site of the decommissioned E.T. Joshua Airport.

“They promised us a national stadium since 2001 — said they got money from friendly governments to build it with — but they failed to deliver. 

“Now, they are hastily providing a track that is not to Olympic standards.  This is what the country waited 20 years for?  We want our athletes to be able to compete with the best, and to aim to be Olympians too,” Friday said.

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“The ULP promised us geothermal energy, but then had a captain’s pick as to where it should go. This project has failed. The promise was just that, nothing more,” he said of the project, the drilling rig for which was recently decommissioned and returned overseas.  

“After all the old talk and bravado about game-changer project and cheaper, cleaner energy for the foreseeable future, nothing,” Friday said.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars spent and wasted, for whose benefit? Ask yourself that: for whose benefit.  Not the long suffering Vincentian people,” he said, adding that the equipment came down from the mountain “without fanfare, and was just quietly shipped away – millions of dollars down the drain”.

The opposition leader said that the ULP promised SVG new jobs.

“Yet, under ULP government, unemployment has gone up from just over 20 to nearly 26%. Young people feel the pain even more, as over 46% of them — roughly half of them — are without a job.  That number is probably higher in reality.”

The opposition leader said that the ULP would say anything to get votes.

“And they will come bearing gifts — lot of gifts that we all will have to pay for. The heavier the guilt about failing the people; they larger the gift,” he said.  

Friday said that in the face of the ULP’s “record of failure and broken promises; there is more old talk, more sweet talk, more mamaguy.

Who do they take us for? Who do they take our people for!

“Really!  All of a sudden you can fix everything; all of a sudden you care, and you sending us boxes, not of chocolate and candy, but with the same intention!

“Oh really?  Vincentians are not fools.   Ralph and the ULP can’t fool the people all the time.  This fooling business must stop. And the time to stop it is now,” he said.

Long-term jobs plan needed

Friday said that 2020 is time for real change.

“SVG needs a long-term plan to create jobs and opportunity. Only the NDP is presenting that vision.”

He said that is why he has been travelling the country, listening to the people.

“I walked the length of SVG on foot to hear from you, I put the call out on social media; I have been calling.

“Our plan puts together your hopes and visions for a brighter future — one where everyone who wants a job can find one, where our young people don’t have to leave our blessed SVG, unless they want to.

“As a small island nation, our people are our greatest resource. But, for too long, we let that resource slip like sand through our fingers.”

Friday said that 20 years of the ULP administration “has simply resulted in a lack of economic opportunities and many of our people leave for better employment opportunities in Canada, USA, UK and other Caribbean countries”. 

He said that many of these people are “lost to our country for good; their productive lives, out of necessity, are spent elsewhere.  

“This is a waste of talent and the result is that SVG is ill equipped to grow our economy and prepare for a brighter future.”

He said that cost of living has risen and it is hard to make ends meet.

“Vincentians need jobs and incomes to look after our families. There is serious concern as to what the future holds and what prospects there are for our people.

“Our country and our people have been failed and let down time and time again by the ULP Government. Promises have been made and assurances given but they have not been kept,” the opposition leader said.   

7 replies on “‘Broken promises’ show ULP’s ‘contempt’ for Vincies”

    1. Nathan Jolly Green says:

      Percy, instead of making mischief go along to one of their meetings and get the information first hand.

  1. Pervcival Thomas are you serious? You mean to tell me that you never heard of the NDP’s plan to reduce vat to 13%. Introduce CBI, reduce student loan interest rate from 8.5% to 4.5%, pay all exam fees for students writing exams????? There are much more but how on earth can you don’t know about those plans???

  2. Winston Hadaway says:

    If there’s another who’s skeptical about an NDP taking office after being raped and discarded like a used condom by the ULP for 20 years certainly need their heads examine…period.

  3. this government waste so much money its a shame i could remember they give over a hundred thousand dollars to do a project at the rosehall river,i couldn’t believe that a hundred thousand dollars for one shed,nobody gives account of how money is being spent in this country,we fedup of this kind of politics we need people in the country who can get the job done.

  4. I am wondering , should the NDP assume the responserbility ,come January 2021,the government of SVG.can we expect an internal audit report,on the mishandling of the economy in SVG?.

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