Campaign Promises for East St. George: Gonsalves VS GIBSON-VELOX

By Admin

As the November 5th general elections draw nigh our news team have decided to compile and publish election campaign promises made by candidates on political platforms through radio interviews, political parties virtual & face-to-face meetings, and documents released by the main political parties in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Unity Labour Party (ULP), New Democratic Party (NDP), and the SVG Green Party.

This initiative serves as a source of information for the electorate so that they can equip themselves with the knowledge of the plans that each candidate intends to execute within the next term of government if elected and can hold them accountable for promises made.

In this issue we focus the attention to the constituency of East Saint George, where we have first time (NDP) candidate Hazel Laverne Gibson-Velox and the (ULP) incumbent Camillo Gonsalves. Their plans are as follows but are not limited to:

Laverne Gibson-Velox {The following information was taken from her speeches delivered on NDP platforms during the period August 6 – September 17 2020.} The candidate has stated that her main focus would be to get people working and invite new investments to upgrade the current deteriorating infrastructures, also to stop brain drain by providing job opportunities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for graduates.

1. Reintroduce the constituency development fund
2. Provide skills and training to young people and vulnerable women through apprenticeship and internship agreements by partnering with local companies.
3. Improving the delivery of education at the Calliqua Anglican school, upgrade the facility to accommodate day care and early childhood development.
4. Adult classes on Information technology
5. Upgrade and maintain the road network for trade and travel in ESG, this work would be done by local companies.
6. Construct covered bus-sheds throughout the constituency; Fairbairn, Brighton, Belmont, Villa & Glen.
7. Develop health care through the improvement of the Enhams clinic and upgrade the Calliaqua clinic into a Polyclinic
8. Improve drainage system and river defenses
9. Address crime
10. Refurbish Calliaqua Police station and residence quarters
11. Lighting for the Fairhall and Brighton playing field
12. Farmers’ Market
13. Reintroduce Calliaqua Culture Pot
14. Wheel chair friendly side walks

Camillo Gonsalves – {The following information was taken from his speeches delivered on ULP platforms during the period August – September 30 2020} In addition to his ongoing works, the incumbent who seeks a second term to represent the constituency of East Saint George plans are as follows:

1. Rebuild a modern Lewis Punnett home
2. Construct a temporary parliament that would then become student dormitories for the SVGCC
3. Build a Golden years activity centre
4. Develop enhance coastal and river protection
5. Improve community centers and programs offered
6. Construct a Non-Communicable Disease Wellness Centre at Enhams
7. Extend and repair the Villa boardwalk
8. Construct a tourism facility at Villa
9. Expand on road repair and construction
10. Create more affordable housing options

Below is a pictorial slide of the incumbent’s detailed development manifesto for the constituency of East Saint George.

Policies must always be on the forefront in any election and the nation must always be educated on proposed policies by persons that wish to represent them.