‘Vote with your memory card,’ MP tells Southern Grenadines

MP for the Southern Grenadines, Terrance Ollivierre, is urging constituents to “vote with your memory card” when they go to the polls.

He said at a New Democratic Party (NDP) campaign event in Canouan that the infrastructural improvements on the island after the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl came after decades of neglect by the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration.

Ollivierre, who will seek a sixth five-year term as MP, also pointed out that many of the projects were financed by investor Ian Wace, rather than with state funds.

He said the wharf in Canouan that was recently paved is actually a temporary structure that had been in place for years.

“We face a broken system, worsening standard of living,” Ollivierre said. “… 25 years is too long for you to neglect the people of the Southern Grenadines.”

The opposition MP said government officials who were visiting the island after the storm were doing so mainly for photo opportunities before flying back to St. Vincent.

“And I am telling you, it is because of Mister Wace, other investors, like the Seventh-day assembly from other islands, Mustique Company and others and private citizens who take us out of the mess we are in and we are still in some mess…” Ollivierre said.

In July, Wace said that he had planned to donate $5 million to the recovery and reconstruction efforts.

He, however, said that Prime Minister Ralph extracted five times that amount, he having “had “received an anal lobotomy of extraction of money”, resulting in his contributing five times what he had planned.

Ollivierre noted that in addition to Wace’s contribution, lawmakers approved in July 2024, EC$136 million to go towards hurricane relief and recovery.

“But yet you had quite a number of persons still in temporary accommodation on the mainland,” he said.

“And I want to say to you, the people of Canouan, to the people of Southern Grenadines and those who are on the live [broadcast] listening too, wherever you are, when you go out to vote, you need to vote with your memory card,” the MP said.

“Vote with your memory card because you will realise that for 25 years, the people of the Southern Grenadines have been neglected.”

He noted that the ULP administration has asked people who are still waiting for their homes to be repaired to re-elect the party to ensure that the repairs take place.

“I’m saying to you, they are in government, and if they ain’t give you it now, you won’t get it no other time, but the New Democratic Party would make sure that you live comfortably in proper accommodation, because we will supply your needs. So, vote with your memory card,” Ollivierre said.

“… you go promise somebody four windows and two doors, and when you go in, you say to them, ‘I can only give you a window. That is all I can give you.’

“And when you give them it, and they’re leaving, you said, ‘Remember me.’

“Remember me for what? You give them something? It is taxpayers’ money; is all of us have to pay it back.”

Ollivierre said that under the NDP administration, which was voted out of office in 2001, money was allocated to each MP to execute projects in their constituency.

“… the Labour Party they benefited heavily from that. But since they entered into government, they cut out everything,” Ollivierre said.

He noted that Central Kingstown MP St. Clair Leacock, and NDP vice-president, has repeatedly advocated for a constituency development fund.

Ollivierre complained about the state of roads in Canouan.

“… you go across the bank, a big piece of plank in the middle of the road, warning vehicles not to pass there. This is what you will call the town and look at the road …

“Oh god, it’s a shame and disgrace what this government is doing to the people of the islands. And I’m saying to you that an NDP government will make sure that you have proper roads in these islands.”

He noted that the Southern Grenadines depend on tourism, adding, “and whether tourists or not, you should have the type of facilities that is needed”.

Ollivierre said he has been advocating for the Canouan Wharf to be repaired since he entered parliament in 2001.

“.. the wharf that they paved, you call it the temporary wharf,” he said, adding that after he repeatedly complained in Parliament about the dust and mud, a former minister promised that the government would pave the temporary wharf.

“… but they never paved it. You see who paved it?” Ollivierre said, and members of the crowd shouted, “Mr. Wace! Mr. Wace!”

“That says to you that they don’t care about us,” Ollivierre said.

He said cargo ships used to dock in Canouan with goods from across the region.

“That doesn’t happen anymore. So, when they carry it to mainland St. Vincent and you have to pay another boat to bring it down here that is added to your cost …

“So that is why our food bill must be higher, because the government not doing anything to make sure that we have the proper infrastructure in place.”

He said that Opposition Leader Godwin Friday, who is leader of the NDP, has already committed to fixing the main wharf in Canouan.

“So many people got injured on the temporary wharf,” he said, adding that some of them had to seek medical attention in Barbados, the United States and other places.

“… yeah, you paved it, but you’re talking nothing and making no plans for the main wharf,” the MP said, adding that the main wharf also needs to be extended “and to make sure that with the development we have here, and with the people that we have here, that we can do much better”.

Ollivierre said that businesses in Canouan had suffered because yachties went elsewhere, finding it difficult to come ashore because of the condition of the temporary wharf before it was paved. 

“So, I’m encouraging you to vote with your memory card. 25 years of neglect. Put it in your head. Vote with your memory card,” he said.

“Just as how you see they’re giving you card, and they line up that some people have money in it and some people don’t have money,” Ollivierre said, referring to the bank card that the government issues to people who received assistance under various social programmes.