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Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves addresses the ULP rally in Arnos Vale on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves addresses the ULP rally in Arnos Vale on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
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Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says his government has lined up EC$3 billion in capital projects to be done by March 2026, when the next general elections are constitutionally due.

He told a rally in Arnos Vale, on Sunday, to celebrate his Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) 22nd anniversary in office that the projects are over EC$1 million each.

“I ain’t talking about those under a million. I only dealing with those over a million,” he said, adding that the money is lined up already.

“So, what you’re seeing taking place now, prepare yourself, get your skills because the projects are rolling out,” he said.

Gonsalves added that in addition to this, the Caribbean Development Bank has approved the country engagement strategy 2022 to 2026 for St. Vincent and the Grenadines with an indicative resource envelope of US$88.4 million. 

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“The country engagement strategy will support the implementation of the development agenda of the government of St. Vincent and Grenadines in the areas of agriculture, private sector development, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, social protection, education, physical infrastructure development, energy and climate change resilience and disaster risk management,” Gonsalves said, quoting the CDB.

“And I haven’t talked yet about the nearly $1 billion in private sector development led by Sandals, which is $550 million, and the hotels at Royal Mill and the hotel down at Mt Wynne and which is part involved with the private sector from Trinidad and down at Peter’s Hope,” the prime minister said.

He said the private sector is building hotels and apartments across the country.

“It is an incredible thing, which is happening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to create wealth, to create jobs and to lift St. Vincent and Grenadines higher,” Gonsalves said.

He said the government is investing EC$650 million in a new port at Kingstown and in October, work will begin to construct an acute referral hospital in Arnos Vale.

“And we ain’t talking yet about the private public sector development in relation to the build out of the city at Arnos Vale, which is going to be hundreds of millions of dollars between the government and the private sector, local and foreign,” Gonsalves said.

He said that after the new port in Kingstown is completed in June 2025, the land where the old port is located in the city will be available for development.

“We are going to put a wellness set of facilities there. We’re going to put cultural and artistic hubs there. A main one, we’re going to put another cruise ship pier there.

“I’ve already taken persons to deal with the matter of investments with the government, we intend to put the land in as equity and let the people bring developmental money.”

He said a government is tested in difficult times, and noted the COVID-19 pandemic and the volcanic eruption.

“What are you going to do? You’re going to change this party which has done so much for this country, brought you from almost the depths of under development to progress in our country?” Gonsalves said.

“Anybody seriously think that people who full with anger and bile and confusion like they have them on the NDP, hatred, you think they could run country?” he said, referring to the main opposition party. 

One reply on “Gov’t to spend $3 billion in capital projects by 2026 — PM”

  1. So then d country not broke.
    U have d money to pay d dismissed workers?
    So what r one of d grounds for appeal?
    Boy u really deceptive.
    U wasted 22 yrs, now u coming wid bogas promises again.
    Me just sorry ah d blind u were addressing.
    Real advantage. Those ppl need serious psychological help. D injury is real.

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