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We are appalled at the
amount of disrespect and dislike this
administration has been showing for the
poor people of Grenada. This
administration seems to be only seeking
the interest of their party supporters
and surrogates. Never before in history,
under any former Government have we
heard people cry out so much. People now
call radio stations to state ways in
which they were victimized and
mistreated by this administration. Every
day people are expressing their
frustration, anger and regret over
electing the NDC into Office. Mere
months after the NDC got into power,
Grenadians were pleading for Ministers
to resign their positions and even for
Grenada to return to the polls.
The NDC being the non
transparent government that it is,
rather than take heed of the voice of
Grenadians refers to the cries of the
people as a strategy of the NNP to
spread lies and propaganda. This
administration has proven on numerous
occasions, all by itself that it is not
an administration that consults with the
people. Therefore it comes as no
surprise to us that they will want to
pin their failures to govern effectively
on the former administration.
The NDC, when in
Opposition claimed that the NNP
government was guilty of giving handouts
to Grenadians. They continued by saying
that as a result of this Grenadians are
lazy and like free things. In addition,
they said that if the NNP continued like
that Grenadians will sit down and expect
everything to be given to them. They
further said that under an NDC
administration Grenadians will be given
a foundation that they can venture out
from rather than just giving them a food
basket and the other goodies the NNP
provided people with. That is to say,
rather than give a man a fish, you give
him the tools to become a fisherman.
Great strategy indeed!!!
However upon assuming
office we saw the NDC’s hatred and
deception being manifested. All of the
safety nets the NNP provided poor and
needy Grenadians with were graduated by
the new government.
The NDC did not give the
youth a foundation which they can
venture out from. Instead we saw the
firing or the “graduation” of thousands
of Imani’s as some so nicely put it
simply because they worked under the NNP.
Instead they are hiring party hacks and
supporters, who did not even need the
additional job. The Imani program was
supposed to be replaced by the GYUP
program which so far has proven to be a
failure. Up to today, the people can not
feel any positive effect of that
program.
Alluding to this fact we
heard the Minister of Social Development
saying that she has never seen anybody
dying of hunger. In other words the
Minister first has to see people lying
in the streets begging before she can
understand the plight of the poor
people.
We see the controversy
with the dialysis clinic. The NDC
administration refuses to allow the
Forresters to continue operating all
because of a director who is affiliated
with the NNP. The NDC administration
claims it will train nurses for that
particular purpose. In the meantime,
while the Health Minister and his
Government is playing politics with
Grenadians health, dialysis patients are
dying. They ignore the poor people who
cannot afford to take a plane and seek
treatment overseas and then parade on
National TV saying that it is cheaper to
travel to Trinidad for Dialysis. Is the
Health Minister and his Government
serious?
We saw the dismissal of
the food basket program and the
termination of the transportation
allowance program. Then, we saw the
removal of the school feeding program
and the dismissal of persons who were
believed to be associated with the NNP
from the Debushing program. In addition
to cutting the number of persons
involved in the programme by more than
50%, the Government went on to reduce
the salary of workers and to remove
hundreds of persons from the public
assistance list.
In the quest to bring
more pain and suffering to the people of
this country, we saw the NDC send home
ordinary workers from our international
airport and from Gravel and Concrete
workers to facilitate payments to party
hacks and persons who in some cases are
less suitable for the job. We saw the
NDC, particularly in Carriacou, trying
to take back private lands from persons
for no apparent reason.
These are just some of
the areas which clearly show that the
present Government dislikes the poor man
and is not governing for the people
especially the poor people of Grenada,
Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Here are some other
points to ponder on:
1. The Government refused
to explain to Grenadians why the price
of beach sand increase by almost 200%
with no notice given to the truckmen and
contractors.
2. The Government is yet
to tell the Grenadian people why are
they still paying rent for the Governor
General to live in the mansion
overlooking Grand Anse Beach. Remember
they said he will be living there for
two months, November and December 2008.
3. The Ministers of
Government are yet to declare their
assets to Grenadians as they promised to
do once they won the election.
4. The Government is yet
to explain to business persons about the
new rules for the Customs Department set
out by the Minister of Finance for
persons importing goods from Margarita.
5. The Minister of Works
is yet to explain to the Grenadian
people why is that Gravel & Concrete
Trucks are removing sand from Seamoon?
6. Tourism Minister Hon.
Peter David is yet to present the list
of Diplomatic Passport holders to the
Grenadian people as he promised in
February 2009. Also, why are Husbands of
Ministers travelling at Government's
expense?
7. Finance Minister Hon.
Nazim Burke is yet to explain to the
Grenadian people why is it that two
Ministers (Senior & Junior) are signing
cheques? Is this the new “Culture” or
is it that the trip to Brussels was more
important than the workers getting their
March 2009 salary on time?
8. Finance Minister Hon.
Nazim Burke is yet to explain to the
Grenadian people as to why are
Minister’s private vehicles able to
“fill up” at Gas Stations.
9. Agriculture Minister
Hon. Michael Church is yet to explain to
the Grenadian people why is it that no
consultation was held with the GCNA
Board before his Cabinet’s decision to
dissolve it?
10. Minister of Finance
Hon. Nazim Burke is yet to tell the
Grenadian people how much it is costing
the Government and people of Grenada to
rename the Point Salines International
Airport to Maurice Bishop International
Airport.
The Radio Talkshow host
of “Issues live” and “Grenada in 60” was
not lying when he said that “this NDC
Government don’t know the meaning of
transparency and accountability, they
preach it, but continue to ignore it ”.
NNP
Perspective week ending April 17th,
2009
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