Opposition Presents Election Manifesto
Island To Be Split Into 5 Economic Zones
THE United Workers’ Party (UWP) officially launched its manifesto last Tuesday, which, they say, is a comprehensive formula for catapulting the island’s socio-economic climate towards a path of positive growth.
The 72-page document entitled “Building a Prosperous and Progressive Saint Lucia… For the Benefit of All”, covers a wide range of areas under two broad headings, namely the economy and the society.
Sub-headings in the manifesto articulate the UWP’s plans for fiscal policies, tourism, agriculture, housing, expanding and improving infrastructure, increasing output and productivity of utilities, adapting to climate change and caring for the environment, good governance, education and youth empowerment, health services, human development and social services, national security and the justice system, sustainable development, and regional and international relations.
The party’s Political Leader, Allen Chastanet, first hinted at the party’s manifesto and its pagination during a public meeting held in William Peter Boulevard on May 12. At the time, he disclosed the party’s “5 To Stay Alive” plan which included a reduction and ultimate removal of the contentious campaign issue, the Value Added Tax, should the UWP form the next government.
The manifesto’s launch came during a public meeting held in Gros Islet on Tuesday evening where hundreds of chanting supporters turned up to listen to party members explain plans and challenge political rivals’ performances ahead of next Monday’s general elections.
The party’s General Secretary, Oswald Augustin, disclosed on Tuesday evening that former SLP candidate for Castries North, Dr. Ubaldus Raymond, was one of the architects of the manifesto.
Augustin said that while 1,000 copies of the document were distributed on Tuesday evening, more copies will be made available in the various constituencies around the island shortly.
Dr. Raymond was one of the speakers last Tuesday evening, telling party supports that Chastanet drafted him last February to be one of the chairpersons on the committee to craft the manifesto.
“Fortunately, the Political Leader shares my vision for this country,” Dr. Raymond said. “(This is) a vision, I believe, that will move us from where Labour brought us to better things and to a better place. So now that we have a manifesto, I have full confidence that it will improve the lives of the people of this country and bring them back to work.”
Among those addressing the huge crowd of supporters at Gros Islet on Tuesday evening was UWP candidate for that constituency, Lenard “Spider” Montoute, who said his stint as district representative between 2006 and 2011 brought significant progress to the constituency.
On Tuesday morning, the UWP held an economic forum at the Golden Palm Conference Centre where Chastanet presented some of the party’s main policies, programmes and visions. Chastanet, who co-chaired that forum with Dr. Raymond, began his presentation by lamenting what, he said, appears to be indifference on civil society groups’ part to engage the political parties in a forum to flesh out their plans.
“I have to say that I am a little bit disappointed in that for months now, the United Workers’ Party as the lead opposition party has been requesting an audience with the different civil society groups in Saint Lucia,” Chastanet said. “I thought that even though elections would be called so quickly, that the private sector council would have actually created a forum in order for both parties to be able to make a presentation to them in terms of their economic plans.”
He added: “(As) for the civil society, I feel they have been very quiet. I say this not to chastise the civil society but that in a strong democracy, it requires the voice of civil society. it requires their participation in the process. This continual excuse of fear of victimization either says that something smells in Amsterdam or civil society is not playing its part.”
Chastanet also chided the last administration for its heavy borrowing, adding that the corresponding consecutive years of negative growth defeated the purpose. He said interest payments on the national debt continue to tie central government’s hands to spend money on important projects.
Since announcing his party’s intention to reduce and eventually remove the 15% VAT that came into effect in October 2012, Chastanet has come under fire for not outlining a clear plan on how to make up for the estimated $345 million that VAT brings in annually.
When pressed by The VOICE for his party’s regime to replace VAT, Chastanet said the aim is to arrive at a plan after discussions with the Ministry of Finance, the local private sector and international organizations. However, he said a sales tax of no more than 8% should suffice since a UWP government would drum up more investments to encourage consumption.
Chastanet said his party is already in discussions that should redound to three hotel projects coming to Saint Lucia. He added that a UWP government would reduce unemployment by 5% per annum and double Saint Lucia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 10 years.
The UWP Political Leader said a UWP economic plan aims to divide Saint Lucia into five economic zones, with each zone having its own board of directors. Those economic zones are expected to be Gros Islet/Rodney Bay, Castries, Soufriere, Vieux Fort and Dennery.
Meanwhile, the SLP was expected to launch its manifesto last evening on the Castries Market steps.
……….five economic zones with local participation?………what an original thought!……..VOTE UWP!!!! Chastanet has the vision and the passion to lead St.Lucia forward!!