Leader of the Opposition Godwin Friday has noted that the 2021 fiscal package is being presented at a time when St. Vincent and the Grenadines is facing the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing effusive eruption of La Soufriere.
In the Estimates debate this week, ahead of Monday’s presentation of the Budget, the opposition leader said the EC$1.21 billion budget is full of “lies” and dishonesty and does not point to the way forward.
“Desperate times require bold action. It requires us to do things differently, not tinkering and saying, ‘Well, we increase two more positions here, we have done a little extra here, we put aside a little here to help the people who are struggling. But other than that, the course is the same. The trajectory is the same. The expectation is the same,’” the opposition leader said.
“This crisis tests our resilience. But it requires honesty from all of us in public life. That is how you build trust. And that is how we instil that assurance within the people that will get through this and will be better off at the end.
Friday noted that the nation is in unprecedented times, with the exploding number of COVID-19 cases and La Soufriere volcano undergoing an effusive eruption, which could turn explosive without warning.
“The point that I wish to make today is that the Estimates need to be our blueprint for the future. We are in unprecedented times. We can’t have an old blueprint and expect it to lead us into that new future.”
He said that in a crisis, “all lies and pretence are exposed by the exigencies of the circumstances, and by the requirement for effective, meaningful action to remedy the situation. You can’t fake it, so to speak. You can’t fake it. When lives and livelihoods are on the line…
“Our people are nervous, they need reassurance, they need to know that we can come out of this mess and with hope, and thanks to God, we can look boldly to the future,” Friday told Parliament during Tuesday’s Estimates Debate.
“These estimates and the budget that will follow should be the blueprint for the way into that future. And we shouldn’t just be thinking of mere survival or riding out the storm, and then go back to business as usual,” the opposition leader said.
He said that all over the world, people of all walks of life — economists, spiritualists, philosophers, religious people, ordinary folk — look at what we are going through and [are] saying that this is a test.
“But the lessons from it, and the silver lining that we can find, should not go to waste. We should look at it as an opportunity to think of ways in which we can do things better, more effectively, not just to prepare for the next pandemic or the next crisis, but to prepare for life itself; to prepare our economy to be more productive, to create jobs for young people, to create a better life for all of us.
“It is terrible that we have to be here today jumping through hoops, so to speak, making all kinds of accommodations and changes to avoid making the situation with COVID-19 worse and to set an example, for the nation.”
He was speaking about the measures implemented in the Parliament, including physical distancing, and limiting the number of persons in the chamber.
The measures were implemented amidst a worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, in which, as of Friday, 755 persons have tested positive since Dec. 28.
“But in truth we shouldn’t be here. We shouldn’t be at this point, notwithstanding the answer that was given to my question this morning to the Minister of Health, when I asked if they dropped the ball to say that it’s happening elsewhere, we know it’s happening elsewhere.
“Doesn’t mean that we have to look for the worst examples to copy or to measure ourselves against — if ‘copying’ is an uncharitable term. We should look at who are doing the best and see what we can do to emulate that, or at least aspire to doing so.”
Friday, however, noted that the situation was already at that stage.
“The question is how do we get out of it? Where do we go from here? And … the estimates … are supposed to point the way to the future but sadly, they do not.”
The opposition leader said it is clear to anyone with eyes “that this problem of COVID-19 is the biggest problem that we have in every aspect of our lives.
“The current terrible outbreak, it threatens life, it threatens health, and has set our economy back. Our neighbours look at us and wonder what’s happening,” he said.
Friday noted that Grenada has announced increased patrol of its borders with SVG, which, historically, has been “rather flexible”.
“The situation is out of shape, out of control. We were in bad shape as an economy before COVID but it has gotten much worse. The estimates must recognise this and respond accordingly.”
Some good ideas from Godwin Friday. There has been “tinkering” going on too long even without the crisis (much of which we are creating ourselves with lack of education about the virus, resulting in fear and panic). We just have to hope that neither leader, when talking about a “new way forward” are not getting on board with the “New Reset” that seeks to have all of us “useless eaters” eating bugs and weeds! According to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, that is in the plans!…bugs and weeds and occasionally a slice of meat…as a reward for those with good behavior.
Regardless, our Prime Minister at least has a better policy concerning the virus in comparison to most all other leaders. I do not like what I have been hearing Godwin Friday suggests concerning the virus. At the World Economic Forum last week it was put out that THERE WILL BE NO RETURN TO NORMAL! The “elites” intend on keeping Social Distancing, Business closures, lock-downs and masks as long as they can get away with it, vaccine or no vaccine!
Godwin Friday is most correct when he says we have to be creative with the solutions. When we copy some other country we always copy failure. If the USA does it we do it. If Barbados does it we do it. We never do what Singapore does.
As far as Covid-19 is concerned, I could write here and now what Belarus did and is continuing to do (why they have the HEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN EUROPE) but all the frightened sheep in SVG will reject and start crying if that is done and not only wet their pants they also will have to wipe the floor, so I will not mention it at this time. I doubt any leader in SVG or most other countries have that much courage or creativity. It is not easy.
The virus is not doing much damage at all, it is the reaction to the virus that is causing all the damage. It is sadly amusing to see so many on this site making comments demanding the Prime Minister…”Please Mr Prime Minister, lock us down and force us to give up our Freedom, you know we are stupid or misinformed and cannot think or act for ourselves”. I greatly thank our Prime Minister for resisting these people!
Dotish did he say, they Dotish and the rest of the dynasty is dotish.
I hope Godwin Friday, Ralph Gonsalves and all Vincentians will read this long article https://www.globalresearch.ca/virus-mass-destruction/5735452 to help them put things into perspective and realize “fear” is the main thing causing all the trouble in SVG and the world.
Thank You for all the truth. My eyes have opened because of you. in SVG we are like a deer in the headlights, paralyzed with fear.
Hon Dr. Friday I support you on this one. I think all capital spendings except for those relating to health, education and security be tabled for this year. Our most important priorities should be:
1. To build a proper hospital and demolish Kingstown General
2. Vaccinate our population against the pandemic
3. Strengthen our capacity to mitigate against a volcanic eruption or hurricane so we can emerge out of these comfortably
4. Create a Reserve ti aid in economic recovery
5. Increase agricultural and fisheries production, reduce imports, open new markets, and increase local consumption.
6. Create a souvreign wealth fund to mitigate against economic turmoil, pandemics and natural disasters
Finally, make medication and speciality healthcare more accessible and affordable. Work to improve mental health and better treatment for geriatric patients.
Before anything like this to be done people or we vincention should first respect,cear,learn how to work hand in hand,stop thinking am better;stop being greedy; and most of all love each other God’s way and we will succeed .God bless
Poor Soul, he’s clueless, what can he do different in these times in SV? The greatest and richest country in the world, is facing all kinds of difficulties, in all categories. This guy has never had a glass of good drinking water. Mitchell was a dumb guy, this guy is worse, the only thing they know is to wake up and look at a few Yachts in the harbor, which is an accommodation, to white Racist and Criminals.