Southern Grenadines MP, Terrance Ollivierre, says a New Democratic Party (NDP) government will set up a Ministry of Grenadines Development and Affairs, headquartered in the cays rather than in Kingstown, the nation’s capital.
“It’s going to be outfitted with its own permanent secretary and staff,” he said while campaigning in Canouan for a sixth five-year term in office.
The opposition MP expressed confidence that the idea can work, saying he has been advocating for it since 2001 and Grenada has adopted it.
“… they took it, and they put in a ministry of Carriacou and Petit Martinique affairs, the main ministry in Carriacou, the sub office in Petit Martinique,” Ollivierre said.
“They have their own permanent secretary, minister and everything that takes care of the needs of the people there.”
He said that whether the ministry is headquartered in Bequia, Canouan or Union Island, each of the two other islands would have an office, “creating employment and also creating the opportunity that you, the people of the Southern Grenadines, have a say in your development.
“… How can you be talking about Grenadines affairs and Grenadines development, and you take it and chuck it in a little office somewhere in mainland St. Vincent?”
Ollivierre said he has been advocating for such a ministry since 2001, when he was first elected MP.
“… they took the idea and didn’t know how to implement it,” he said of the Unity Labour Party administration.
“And up to now, I don’t think they have anybody. I mean, I don’t sure they have an office in mainland St. Vincent where we can go and check for Grenadines affairs.”
The ULP administration has a Ministry of Grenadines Affairs as well as a director and deputy director of Grenadines Affairs.
Ollivierre said that through his proposed ministry, residents of the Grenadines would be able to process birth and marriage certificates and “do your business and all kind of thing”.
He said an NDP government would eliminate the challenges that yachties face, such as having to go to the airport to clear with immigration and customs.
“I already said to [Opposition Leader] Dr. [Godwin] Friday, immigration and customs must have their own building in each island so that we cater to the needs of visitors …”
He said that when visitors are frustrated by the process of clearing with the authorities, they sail on to St. Lucia or Grenada.
“… We lost the business, and our businesses, because of that, suffer, and we need to make sure that our people have full benefits.”
Ollivierre also said an NDP administration would implement local government
“You must have a say. You think if we have local government, some of the roads would have been like this still? If you had local government, our cemeteries would have been in such a mess?” he said.
“If we had local government here, things would have been better for you, the people of Canouan and any other island in the southern Grenadines,” he said, adding that an NDP government would ensure that the proposed ministry of grenadines development and affairs that works in tandem with the people.
Terrance Ollivierre’s promise is a well-crafted piece of political strategy. It directly appeals to the core concerns of his constituents, neglect, lack of representation, and missed economic opportunities. By providing a real-world example and linking it to concrete benefits like jobs and easier business, he makes a persuasive case.
The success of this promise as a campaign issue hinges on his ability to defend it against accusations of being too costly and bureaucratic, and to prove that his model of a decentralised, Grenadines-based ministry is fundamentally different and superior to the current government’s approach. It effectively taps into the universal desire of smaller communities to have control over their own affairs and development.