The 2020 general elections are “about a lot of fundamental issues,’ says Minister of Finance and MP for East St. George, Camillo Gonsalves.
He told the Unity Labour Party’s virtual public meeting last Wednesday that the election is about young people who have, through PRYME, realized their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs or expanding their businesses.
“This election is about a tennis prodigy from Fair Hall and a football phenom from Calliaqua, both attending university and developing their talents in the United States, thanks to government assistance,” he said, referring to two communities in his constituency.
“It’s about record numbers of university scholarships, record levels of Community College and UWI enrolment and record numbers taking advantage of the YES and the SET programmes.
“This election is about a COVID pandemic that brought the entire world to a standstill. And it’s causing economies around the globe to grind to a halt while the ULP keeps us safe, keeps us open, keeps the economy afloat and directly touches over 15,000 Vincentians with income support from hospitality workers, to minibus operators, to cruise ship workers, to vendors, to handcart operators, to vulnerable citizens,” Gonsalves said.
He said that Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar had told him that that same week, 2,358 farmers received the initial drought and COVID support payment of $500 each.
“So we spent $1.2 million in the first three days of this week to those 2,300-2,400 farmers and in the coming days another 1,600 farmers, Sabby tells me, will also receive their initial payment.”
He said the polls are also about which party has a plan to make the Argyle International Airport work and attract more hotels and jobs to St Vincent and Grenadines.
“Who has a plan to expand the fisheries sector and employ more fisher folk, to further develop call centres, and employ hundreds more young people, to develop a modern port, and a modern referral hospital, a credible plan to combat climate change, a plan to make St. Vincent and the Grenadines a credible, respected and influential voice on the global stage and who is taking a principled stance on a host of crucial issues from reparatory justice to non-interference in sovereign affairs to whether or not we have the rights to pretend that the 24 million residents and citizens of Taiwan do not exist.
“On all these issues and more. It is clear that the party of choice, the party of principle, the party of plans, is the Unity Labour Party,” Gonsalves said.
The elections are actually about ridding ourselves of you and your father.
It looks like the 500 dollars to farmers is a lower-level kind of building materials handout that usually occurs just before an election. This election is about a choice for the people to get a handout from the ULP or a hand-up from the NDP.
Rightly so! One of the ‘fundamental issues’ you should be dealing with is how to curb the violence and sexual abuse against women and girls. Your Government has the resources. You need to break your ‘dignified silence!’
Patsy, you are talking to perpetrators, all those women who have complained only to be destroyed, then ask Yogi.
Camillo has been recently talking about a “Cash Grab regime” and Jobs for young people. You would think that after 20 years in office and no jobs created for the young that he would want to avoid the issue seeing that the majority of the young hare are out of work. And speaking about “Cash Grab” look who is talking?
There is no greater “Smash and Cash Grab” regime than that U.L.P supported ruling regime in Venezuela. They having turned that once oil rich country into nothing but a human disaster area with the same policies as the U.L.P and its leader. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SP2cXoeOxY non-workable socialism, familyism, ( his own position ) favouritism and cronyism!
Indeed, Venezuela once the richest country in South America, has been reduced to sufferers and beggars and according to the U.N, they are even worst when it comes to “Crimes against Humanity”.
“Venezuela abuses amounted to crimes against humanity: UN-appointed panel” Read the facts for yourself; https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/09/1072512 but the begging is something many Vincentians here know only too well! Would not the cronies and family of the Red-Shirts here know what this privileged fellow is speaking about? Sure it’s not us it’s them!
The minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves says there are fundamental issues in the coming General Election. The election is about young people he argues. And cites the following examples. PRYME.to realised dreams of young people. It would have been useful to give a figure of how many young people are on PRYME. He has given figures for agriculture.
The second example is a tennis player. The third example is a footballer. Both in the US. All Vincentians will be happy for these two. What about other thousands of young people who can’t play tennis and football to a high standard? Will he find training for all of them?
The fourth example is the record number of university scholarships. What about those who can’t go to university? In fact, in 2012 only about 4.8% went to university. The numbers would have increased since. We are happy for those who get a university education. A university education has many benefits. But it must be realised the vast, vast majority of Vincentians don’t go to university. What has planned for these people?
Fifth the increased numbers going to the Community College. Which again is good to get an education of a high standard. What plans has he got for those who can’t find jobs after graduation?
Turning to Covid-19. Camillo says ULP keep us safe. That is true with Covid-19. I noticed he has not mentioned a single word about Dengue Fever. Are we safe with this Fever MR Finance Minister, which has already killed six. Moreover, as argued elsewhere the Ministry of Health is in poor state.
Now agriculture. Some farmers have been paid $500.00. This must be good for the ULP near an election. What is the agricultural Strategy for the next five to ten years?
Many of whose employment has ben affected by Covid-19 have been paid some money. Mr Gonsalves this is happening almost all over the world.
Now the AIA fostering development in the economy of SVG, like building large hotels. Development is good for the country. But do ensure there are no more fail projects like some that has gone before and impacted badly on Vincentians not being paid.
Mr. Minister of Finance you must govern SVG for the whole country. Not a selected few or group of people. I hope you find it comfortable in opposition.
. The 2020 election is about yuggie, did you give her any income support also? And why do speak about covid and not on dengue fever ? Your dignified silence is for dengue fever and yuggie only?