Every now and then I am amazed by what I hear and not only do I find the conclusions ludicrous, but I am more alarmed that the opposition is in agreement with some concepts that make it all even more disturbing to me.
I refer to the Banane waterfront saga involving illegal squatters who are neither residents nor fishermen, but are demanding money to move from their illegal premises.
Our new reality is that persons who have squatted on a particular piece of Crown Land for a long time now want and are demanding millions of dollars to relocate and insist that the state must also provide them with new resettlement lands for their displacement – and for free.
Am I to believe that anybody can acquire a spot of government land, establish their living premises anywhere on it (however limited) and pay no house tax or property fees, or rental or ownership dues, and yet still demand that they have to be compensated for their relocation.
That the Leader of the Opposition and his party faithfuls actually have the nerve to consider that the government of the day should consider such a payout and facilitate such a compensation deal, in the interest of reclamation of their own assets and to meet the request of the squatters.
This sounds to me as utter madness, but that kind of thinking has focused before as past justification to all who resided in the CDC buildings that were provided for housing after the 1948 Castries fire.
Am I to believe in giving a vote today or these days, that every voter has to be compensated for their support and that once they have voted, the state is responsible for their welfare and livelihood forever?
Apart from the fact that the area can be considered as a high-risk area, based on climate and coastal impediments concerns due to the advent of global warming, and also there was no structural approval, no approved planning by any other building authority.
Am I to believe, and accept that some families, must hustle to own and obtain everything that they need materially, and there is another grouping that must get for free, because they were bold enough to just take without permission.
Is this the new norm? Is the government now responsible for giving people what they want, because all you have to do is become a rebel, take as you see fit and there are many politicians who will support your point of view and give you the necessary support?
Is the government designed or established to borrow, or tax the many for the benefits of the common man? No wonder there are people who will not work or choose not to learn a trade, or to have any means of obtaining a legitimate way to survive, but want to have all that life has to offer at another’s expense.
I remember not too long ago a government in waiting promised to withdraw VAT, sold the idea to the general public, got the voting support, and five years later such promises were a no-no, as it relates to excluding that tax. But the damage was already done, and now again the same political party makes more promises for improving the cost of living, not letting people know that the cost of living globally is dependent on world affairs and conditions.
With war in the wings and the USA flexing their muscle as it relates to trade and getting visas or residency, some people are quick to come to the conclusion based on hearsay or promises, and give more promises for change, but they should be carefully assessed for a motive.
Our future depends on self-employment, self-reliance and prudence in managing the state’s resources.
If certain persons in or out of government want to give the masses some free private lands they own to build or inherit, they should first try to ensure that they reclaim the thousands of acres they leased in the South for $ 1:00 per acre and redistribute it to the masses. Only then, will I know their true intentions and love for the nation.
I cannot recall the many things they claim they did for the nation while in office, I cannot remember all the free gifts — not even at COVID times, when the need was plenty. I can’t remember the institutional support they provided, or what items on the supermarket shelves were reduced, but again, they are showing more flashing mirrors.
I hope that reality steps in and people are able to see through that bluff. Desperate times come with desperate moves. Now, city vendors adopt that same philosophy and some have the same concept to establish business anywhere in the city, and when the authority speaks out, they cry fowl and look for sympathy., but I simply call all that Ghettonomics. It’s now for us to see how economically positive that can be, or whether that type of layman’s logic is logical.