Camillo’s ‘East St. George budget’ was ’empty talk’ — Velox 

The assertion by East St. George MP and Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves in January that Budget 2024 was an East St. George Budget is turning out to be “empty talk” says his challenger, Laverne Gibson-Velox.

“For the past two weeks, I have traversed many areas in this constituency and I am appalled at the condition of the roads people have to use to get to and from their homes. This is not representation; this is misrepresentation,” she told a New Democratic Party (NDP) village meeting in Enhams on Wednesday.

“All the empty talk about ‘Madam Speaker, Budget 2024 is an East St. George budget’  — big stewps,” said Gibson-Velox, who the NDP has identified as its candidate in East St. George in the next general election, constitutionally due by February 2026.

“2024 is almost over. Literally [four] months left and not a single project proposed for the constituency is completed,” said Gibson-Velox, who came within 200 votes of unseating Gonsalves, the finance minister, in the 2020 vote.

“Fair Hall road — incomplete. Enhams/Glamorgan Road — incomplete. Calliaqua road project –incomplete,” she said.

“Boardwalk at Villa Beach — nonstarter. As a matter of fact, when I saw it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Beryl I hoped that would have sped up work on a replacement but that was wishful thinking,” she said. 

“Enhams Clinic — still dilapidated. Calliaqua Clinic — untouched! The strip at Villa — completed by somebody; not government.”

She said there are many broken and potholed roads, blocked drains and overgrown roadsides that are hazardous to motorists and pedestrians.

“Is the government blind to these problems? And don’t blame BRAGSA! Heads of statutory bodies and government ministries have literally had their authority usurped by a government which tried to pass off micromanagement as good governance,” Gibson-Velox said.

She said that before the Unity Labour Party came into office in March 2001, permanent secretaries were known because they were empowered. 

“I can’t tell you the name of one PS these days. I can only hazard a guess that they have been dumbed down by this government so ministers take centre stage and appear like they’re productive.  

“East St. George, you need a representative. The one you have now seems not to like people. He stays as far away from the people as possible,” the candidate said.

“At least he now drives with his window down but his phone is still stuck to his ear. He does not want to be bothered. It had to take a woman to bring him into East St. George recently. A woman named Beryl!” she said, referring to the category 4 hurricane that impacted St. Vincent and the Grenadines on July 1.

Gibson-Velox pledged always to have a finger on the pulse of the constituency “so l can always be on top of problems when they occur with a view to fixing them speedily and without fanfare. 

“Sometimes, little fixes alleviate the need for big, expensive projects. It’s called ongoing maintenance.”

She also addressed a number of other issues in the constituency, including its economy, jobs, and public safety.

Gibson-Velox said that as regards the economy, East St. George has a lot going for it in terms of location, layout and offerings. 

She noted that Calliaqua was once the capital of SVG and remains a town today.  

“Calliaqua and its environs can be a thriving hub of economic activity in East St. George. With its mixture of white and black sand beaches, tourists are able to enjoy the best of sea bathing in a single constituency. 

There are many hotels, guest houses, and apartments where visitors can enjoy Vincentian hospitality while here.”

She spoke of restaurants and bars offering fine dining, local cuisine and fast food.  

“After you eat what happens? How about a little music as additional entertainment?” Gibson-Velox said, adding, “Our nightlife is almost nonexistent. 

“We have an international airport to fly in guests, we just need to excite them with our offerings. There are enterprising Vincentians who can invest in clubs to add a little spice to our nightlife, but the government has not created an environment where this is an appealing prospect.”

The candidate said sports is available in East St. George and many can be developed as money-making activities. 

“We just have to start thinking outside the box and maybe borrow ideas from our neighbours who seem to have tourism down to a science.”

She said sporting facilities must be upgraded and lighted for recreational and health purposes to be enjoyed both day and night.

“Living things like to live so let’s create the spaces for us to be healthy and fit.”

She said that with tourism named a pillar of the economy by the NDP,  East St. George is open to a plethora of possibilities. 

“We must give East St. George a facelift to enhance its aesthetic value. Roadsides need to be trimmed fairly regularly and flowering shrubs and trees planted were needed to beautify our constituency. The rivers must be cleaned and measures must be put in place to prevent pollution of waterways with plastic bottles, discarded appliances and tree trunks.”

Gibson-Velox noted that the once-famous Calliaqua Culture Pot is now defunct. 

“It has to be revived,” she said, adding, “We will marry it with the vibrant fishing industry to create a festival where vendors can promote their fare and patrons are entertained. 

“Musicians, calypsonians, folk singers, dancers, storytellers, soca artists, comedians all have a role in redeveloping this festival into a viable income earner,” Gibson-Velox said.

She said that with more businesses in East St. George, the need for a sub-branch of a bank will be evident. 

“This will also help with the decentralisation of Kingstown and create another economic hub,” said Gibson-Velox, who is a retired bank manager.

“The possibility of establishing a government revenue office in Calliaqua should be explored as further decentralization out of Kingstown. The revenue office should be able to provide services like accessing a birth certificate, pay driver’s and motor vehicle licenses and property taxes. 

“East St. George did not vote for Camillo to be Minister of Finance although we hoped he would have budgeted funds to fix us up before 2024. His priority is supposed to be our representative in Parliament.”