Minister Responds to Question Ahead of Parliamentary Sitting

By Val Matthias. Updated 9:23 a.m., Saturday, January 24, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Minister of Health and Wellness Daniel Cummings has publicly addressed a question scheduled to be tabled in the upcoming sitting of Parliament, responding during a recent press conference to a journalist’s inquiry.

The question, originally posed by Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, concerns the abnormal presence of swarming flies across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was one of several questions directed to Minister Cummings, seeking clarity on the causes of the issue and the actions being taken by public health authorities.

In response, Minister Cummings stated, “The issue of the flies is not a new thing. It is linked to the whole question of sanitation, and several initiatives will be on stream soon to clean up Kingstown.”

He further noted, “My biggest concern has always been and it’s even more pertinent now with the construction of the port, the drainage in the country and how restaurants manage the waste emanating from their kitchens. Those matters would have to be looked at together with the Central Water and Sewerage Authority and the Sanitation Department.”

The Minister’s remarks pre-empt the formal parliamentary exchange, offering early insight into the government’s position and planned interventions. It is left to be seen if  the Minister will expand on the issue when the Opposition’s question is formally raised in Parliament, scheduled for January 29, 2026, during the Estimates debate.

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