by
RALPH E. GONSALVES
[My fellow Vincentians, and other residents in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Good evening!]
On the very night of my Party’s victory, nine months ago, in the general elections of March 28, 2001, I addressed our nation broadly on the strategic way forward. Among other things, I stressed the values of individual responsibility, social solidarity, peace, and justice. I was moved by a profound spirit to call on all Vincentians, despite their different party political affiliations, to act TOGETHER NOW to implement the policies and programmes of our government. After nine or so months in office, I say with even more conviction: NOW MORE THAN EVER: TOGETHER NOW, FOREVER!
I have absolutely no doubt that the single most important factor for the success of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government over the past nine months, has been the unity of the people, around a common, progressive, national programme, with an honest, creative, responsive and responsible leadership. In the process, most of our people have become more mature and socially responsible. They and their government, more and more, are in communion with one another.
The increased maturation of our people is evident in a number of areas, for example:
Þ a lessening of lawlessness and serious criminal activities, despite the criminal endeavours of a handful of criminals, punks and vagabonds;
Þ a growing sensitivity to a more wholesome environment and to the quest for cleaner towns and villages, despite the untidiness and environmental irresponsibility of a stubborn minority;
Þ a deepening of a truthful reflection on public policy issues and a growing tendency of refusing to give in to political mischief-making, despite the sheer malice of a tiny sect which has not accepted the loss of power or the gravy train.
Þ an enhanced willingness to participate in the framing and implementation of public policy through the myriad of consultative mechanisms established by this government, despite the protestations of some who prefer the old order of things;
Þ a growing determination to follow the political leadership of the nation in their articulation of reasoned, public policy positions, despite the negativism of professional naysayers and discredited mischief-makers;
Þ a strengthening of support for good governance in all its dimensions, despite the efforts of some who have profited from bad goverance.
Þ an increasing tendency of most of our people to work harder and behave responsibly, despite a recalcitrant number of lazy and ill-disciplined people;
Þ a growing awareness of most of our people of the necessity and desirability of shouldering their individual, family and social responsibilities fulsomely, despite those who have a preference for living by guess or through rank irresponsibility.
The people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole have lined up, more and more, behind our government in its pursuit of the following TOP TEN policies:
1. Making job-creation and sustainable economic development our top priorities;
2. Being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime;
3. Moving resolutely against corruption in government;
4. Building a top-class, quality educational system for living and production in this new century;
5. Deepening political democracy, strengthening individual rights and freedoms, and upholding the law and the constitution;
6. Modernising and reforming government to better and more efficiently deliver all the services provided by government;
7. Launching a war on poverty, illiteracy, inadequate housing, disease, poor health and an unhealthy environment; after all this is a poor people’s government.
8. Developing as never before in our country, sports, culture and the arts;
9. Strengthening and deepening the processes of Caribbean integration, regionally and in the diaspora and further ennobling our Caribbean civilisation;
10. Providing honest, committed, creative responsive and responsible leadership.
Our government’s focus on these TOP TEN policies has undoubtedly been, and will continue to be, people-centred. Our focus, too, summons up the people’s growing sense of collective solidarity and individual responsibility. Our government’s continuing aim or purpose is to uplift every group in society regardless of age, creed, status, sex, religion, race, political opinion or party affiliation. The focused policies of our government will ensure, and enhance, good governance and will continue to build a firmly-rooted modern, productive, just, peaceful and caring society.
Despite the economic storms, not of our making,
which have gathered about us in the year 2001, we have weathered them
reasonably well, to such an extent that the ship of state is in a much better
condition today than when we assumed it captaincy following our electoral
triumph in March 2001. The economic
storms and the slings and arrows of misfortune which we have had to confront in
2001 included: a marked economic
downturn regionally and internationally;
a ramshackle physical infrastructure; a sizeable deficit on the current
account left by the previous government;
a devastating four-month drought, the longest such drought in forty
years; and the criminal events of
September 11th and their adverse consequences for our country’s
economy and society.
Yet, because of the good sense, hard work,
resilience and creativity of the bulk
of our people, combined with sensible public policies and sound leadership, we
have not only survived, but have thrived to lay a foundation upon which to
build in the year 2002. The general
consensus that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has recently experienced its
best Christmas in many years has not been an accident. It has been the culmination of nine months
of solid achievements by the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and
their government.
Still, there is great deal more quality work to be
done. A foundation does not a house
make. Indeed, our foundation can be
shaken if we are not focused and resolute in our individual and collective
responsibilities to sustain it and to build a magnificent and productive
edifice upon it.
It is truly the time for creativity, thrift, hard work, discipline, business energy and enterprise; it is truly the time for men and women with supple intellect, strong hands, loving souls and clear minds to put their gifts, talents and industry to work fulsomely for themselves, their families and their nation; this is the time for men and women who love and trust their country, who embrace its tried and tested values and their leaders of honesty and democratic temper; this is the time for constructive criticism not harping negativism; and this is the time for all of us to reaffirm that this nation is founded upon the belief in the supremacy of God and the freedom and dignity of man and, as such, for us to continue to seek the ordering of our society in accordance with these universal truths within the geographic space of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the quest for the further ennoblement of our Caribbean civilization. This is that time for our continued upliftment from which none of us must shirk or seek to subvert. This is that time to advocate a fulfilling, productive life over a life of laziness, worthlessness, or ignoble ease.
I repeat and emphasize these themes, ideas and
concepts so as to reinforce them in our people’s consciousness. Too often, a laziness of thought, a poverty
of the spirit and a tendency to blame everyone else for everything, determine
what we say and what we do. From all
this we must get away. Similarly, while
we must critically assess what the previous government has done or not done, it
is unreasonable to blame them for everything that is wrong with you or the
society which we have inherited. That
easy way out must be avoided.
In this regard, I am persuaded by the apt words of
Vaclav Havel, the playwright and
dissident, who assumed the Presidency of a free Czechoslovakia on New Year’s
Day 1990:
“It would be very unwise to think of the
sad legacy of the last (forty) years as something alien or something inherited from a
distant relative. On the contrary, we
have to accept this legacy as something we have inflicted upon ourselves. If we accept it as such, we will understand
that it is up to all of us, and only us, to do something about it. We cannot blame the previous rulers for
everything – not only because it would be untrue but also because it could
weaken our sense of duty, our obligation to act independently, freely and
sensibly, and quickly. Let us not be
mistaken: even the best government in
the world, the best parliament, and the best president (or Prime Minister) cannot
do much on their own. And in any case,
it would be wrong to expect a cure-all from them alone. Freedom and democracy, after all, require
everyone to participate and thus to share responsibility.”
So, dear citizens of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, you do have many responsibilities to bear, many obligations to fulfil, many duties to shoulder, many decencies to promote, many wrongs to right, many rights to sustain, many works to perform, many labours to carry. You cannot proceed merely on an individual basis and say: “I have many rivers to cross therefore I cannot bear somebody else’s cross”. You have to cross your rivers and still bear other crosses, in communal solidarity, because they are also your own, since no man is an island unto himself.
I speak truthfully to you on these matters, not only because I am your Prime Minister but because my life and experiences demand that I so do. These are matters which must become part of our daily living and consciousness. They cannot be enforced by law. To paraphrase, the ninetieth century British author, historian and legislator Lord Macauly, on such matters the law has no eyes; it has no hands; it has nothing – nothing but a piece of paper printed by the Queen’s printer, with the coat-of-arms at the top – till public opinion breathes the breath of life into the dead letter. And public opinion begins with and includes, you, and you and you and me and every other individual in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. That is further reason why you, as an individual, are important. And you are most important in a framework of collective solidarity.
The Budget for the year 2002 which our Parliament recently passed is a product of collective work, collective consultation, collective solidarity and representative democracy. It was fashioned, and ultimately determined, by real flesh-and-blood persons who have been born and bred in this country. It has to be implemented by all of us - the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the public servants, the boards and managers of State enterprises, the business persons, people of all occupational groups, the farmers, the workers, everybody.
The total Budget for 2002 amounts to $419.5 million. In it this government has placed an emphasis on poverty reduction, education, and economic consolidation, economic recovery, economic renewal and sustainable economic development. The implementation of the government programmes, which are your programmes — please claim ownership of them — must be conducted within a framework of good governance.
Exciting and productive programmes abound in the budget, for example: the poverty alleviation projects; the agricultural diversification fund; fresh educational initiatives for living and production; the commencement of construction of the national public library, the national stadium the correctional facility, and many other public buildings; the resurfacing of the Windward Highway, and other roadways, including feeder roads; the pushing ahead with the cross-country road; the start-up of the Windward Water Project; the implementation of aspects of the programme for airport development; the implementation o the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan; and the construction of low-income houses.
Our government’s legislative programme for 2002 sets out, among other things, to advance the process of constitutional reform and the re-institution of local government. Culture, the arts and sports will continue to feature prominently. And good governance, including anti-corruption measures, will be at the center of the conduct of government this year.
On the production side, the emphasis will continue to be on expanding quality tourism; on diversifying agriculture around a re-vitalised banana industry; on a further strengthening of the off-shore finance industry; on rebuilding the industrial sector, including the information technology industry; on reinvigorating the fishing and animal-husbandry industries; on further liberalizing the telecommunications industry; and on bolstering commerce and trade.
I have often-times repeated that this government is
a Labour government. By this I mean
that it puts the working people – labour – and their concerns at the center of
public policy making and implementation.
It is for this reason that our government has job-creation within a
framework of sustainable economic development as its major priority, its major
focus. Over the past nine months the
government has created or caused the creation of more than 1,000 jobs,
net. More quality jobs are in the
pipe-line through the productive sectors.
I know that many, many workers have been complaining
about their low wages and the high prices in the supermarkets. These complaints are legitimate and must be
addressed as a matter urgency, within the context of our economic situation.
Accordingly, sometime within the first half of this
year, there will be an increase in minimum wage rates for agricultural and
industrial workers, shop assistants and domestics, and watchmen and all other
categories of workers. The Chairman of
the Wages Council has already submitted a preliminary report to me. I intend to make it the basis for public
discussion. In the process I expect
further ideas and proposals would arise and would no doubt help the Wages
Council in fashioning their final report for consideration by the National
Economic and Social Development Council, the Tripartite Committee on the
Economy, and the Cabinet.
As regards prices, it is now well-established that,
save and except for a narrow band of basic commodities upon which statutory
price controls can be effected, the best method of keeping prices down is
through meaningful, robust competition between suppliers, particularly the
supermarkets.
There are two ways to enhance effective competition
for the big existing supermarkets; and
we are pursuing both. First, your
government has invested $1.4 million in the state-owned Marketing Corporation
to improve, among other things, its supermarket performance. But because the state-owned supermarket was
allowed to be run down so badly and because of its historical corruption and
inefficiencies, which we are now trying to curb, it will be sometime yet before
it becomes again a critical weapon in the control of prices. Indeed, even if the state-owned Marketing
Corporation is restored to its long-lost former glory, it may not by itself, be
able to act as a brake on rising food prices.
So, a second supplementary or complementary approach
is needed. Simply put the government
has to continue its search for, or encouragement of another private supermarket
operator of a sufficient stature to compete with the others and so help to
bring down prices. I call, therefore,
on enterprising domestic entrepreneurs to enter this field, alone or in concert
with others. supermarket operator from one of the neighbouring islands. In the general elections, the ULP pronounced this as a matter of policy. The people supported this view. In government, we intend to follow through
actively on it. I agree fully with the
people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that supermarket prices generally
are too high and they must come down or be forced down.
Equally, let me re-emphasise, workers must
produce; they must grab the training
opportunities available to improve their skills; they must give a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay; they must improve their attitudes to work
and production. Training, education,
adherence to work discipline, a sound system of work, an appropriate granting
or withholding of particular rewards, and a sensitivity to modern industrial
relations practices, all form part of a work environment conducive to enhanced
productivity and increased remuneration.
There is a category of persons who have been
enduring tremendous burdens for their country but who have been little
appreciated. I refer to the much
maligned, and even abused, middle-class.
They pay a substantial part of their salaries in pay-as-you-Earn
taxes. They carry the public service,
educational system and the police service on their shoulders for less than
adequate reward. It is for this reason,
among others, that your government has instituted measures to assist them with
100 per cent mortgages and to improve their work environment. Much more will be done to show our
appreciation of them this year. They
are vital to our country’s economy, society and democracy. I want to thank very much the public
servants, teachers, policemen/women, nurses and their unions for agreeing to a
temporary wage freeze for the year 2002.
Similarly, the small business people, the farmers,
the fisherfolk, the tradesmen and women, the youths, women of all occupations
and ages, and every group in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will continue to
be the real-flesh-and-blood focus of your government’s public policy.
The ULP has proposed a social contract between the
vital stakeholders in society, namely, the government, the trade unions,
the private sector and organized civil
society. Each of these stakeholders in
this social contract is seen as possessing obligations and providing
undertakings to specific commitments.
Indeed, these stakeholders are organised within the National Economic
and Social Development Council (NESDC), one of the institutional mechanisms put
in place by your government for broad-based participation in policy formulation
and implementation.
During this year, the social contract ought to be
fleshed out fully so as to guide the conduct of all the stakeholders, including
the management of public enterprises. I
single out these for mention here because I find too much inefficient,
slip-shod and anti-worker performance of too many public enterprises. Old,
poor attitudes and approaches of too many of the management teams in
some public enterprises persist and must be altered as a matter of urgency. .
Moreover, some members, albeit a minority, of some of the boards,
members appointed by this government, appear not fully to understand their
proper role.
All this raises the issue of personnel changes. It
is, however, evident to me that personnel changes, if any, will not suffice in
bringing about enhanced performance of the delinquent public enterprises and in
having them fall in line with the philosophy, public policy, transparency and
principles of public accountability for which this ULP government is
well-known. I freely admit that on the
boards and in the management teams of all public enterprises there is an
abundance of technical skills. But
although those technical skills are necessary but they are not sufficient for
the developmental tasks at hand.
Accordingly, this government will shortly retain a consultant from the
region to devise, conduct and manage appropriate training programmes for board
members and top management personnel of public enterprises. Attendance at these training sessions will
be mandatory.
Further, the government has already established a
Monitoring Committee on Public Enterprises (MCPE) headed by the Prime
Minister. This Committee includes the
Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister with responsibility for the Public Service,
the Director-General of Finance and Planning, the Fiscal Adviser to the Prime
Minister, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Public Service, the
General Manager (Acting) of the National Commercial Bank, and the Auditor of
the National Commercial Bank. The
purpose of this Committee is to monitor the performance of public enterprises
and to guide them. This Committee will
meet with each public enterprise at least once per quarter. Specific monthly and quarterly reportage
requirements have now been imposed upon each public enterprise. These reports are mandatory. Already for this year this Committee has met
formally with two public enterprises.
Next week it will meet with two more.
The Ministry of Finance is the coordinating center of this Committee.
Some public enterprises have been doing reasonably
well but they can do better. But too many of them have had very bad
performances over the 17-year period of the NDP rule and have racked up
astronomical debts. It is imperative
for the economic well-being of this country that these badly-run public
enterprises drastically improve their performances. At the same time, the government’s policy of targeted
privatization or shareholding divestment will be further implemented this year.
The issue of appropriate training relates, too, to
public servants, including teachers and police personnel. There is on-going training in the public
service but much more quality training is needed. Much more will be done in this regard, this year.
Further, I have already given instructions for
high-level quarterly seminars to be held on various aspects of public
policy. These seminars will involve top
public servants, teachers and police personnel; parliamentarians; senior managers from the private sector;
public enterprises and non-governmental organisations; and professionals, at
home and abroad. A young economist in
the Ministry of Finance has already been identified to coordinate these
seminars.
Additionally, I am proposing special training
sessions for all parliamentarians on a range of appropriate subjects touching
and concerning the governance of our nation.
All these efforts are being directed at lifting the
level of our game, to use a sporting expression. Public Servants, board members and managers of public
enterprises, ought to be doing more quality work. We must all do better in 2002.
To be sure, the past nine months have seen
significant and, in some respects, remarkable improvements in the process of
formulating and implementing public policy.
But, despite the healthy progress of the past nine months there is still
scope for further improvement. In the
Year 2002, as a people we must all do much better at our jobs. Criticism and self-criticism will help
enormously in this exercise.
Individuals, within the government and outside in
the private sector, who are engaged in focused work in the fields of poverty
reduction, education, health, the economy, and governance must make even
greater efforts. These are the vital
priorities for 2002 and beyond.
I want to thank all those persons in the public
service, the teaching service, the police service, in the public enterprises,
in the private sector, in the NGO community, in the sporting, artistic and
cultural fields, and the parliamentarians who have contributed to our nation’s
economic and social well-being, political stability and good governance over
the past nine months. Good and noble
Vincentians of all walks of life, on behalf of the government, I thank you for
your magnificent efforts. I say thanks,
too, to our fellow Vincentians in the diaspora and to our friends and allies overseas,
traditional and newer ones. Without
their assistance we would not have achieved nearly as much as we have done last
year.
On Thursday this week, January 10th, this
government goes to Parliament with some important measures including the motion
on the institution of democratic local government, the motion to endorse the
Convention of the Organisation of American States (OAS) against Official
Corruption, and several Bills. Two of
these Bills deserve special mention:
One addresses the question of freedom of movement of citizens of member
countries of the OECS ; the other deals
with the establishment of the honour of National Hero. These two Bills are critical to the consolidation
and advancement of our Caribbean civilisation and to the symbols of our
heritage and our existential beings.
The Government intends to initiate these debates formally and then to
subject the relevant issues to widespread but urgent public consultation.
On the international scene, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines will continue to honour all its obligations as respected members of
the international community of nations.
The international commitments, which are embraced in practical terms,
are not unconnected to the principles of social democracy, peace and justice
which we espouse and which are given legal form in our Constitution.
On these latter issues, I urge all citizens and
other persons of goodwill to read a most profound message of His Holiness Pope
John Paul II for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2001, on
the theme “No Peace Without Justice – No Justice Without Forgiveness”. Violence and terrorism world wide have move
Pope John Paul II to pose this enduring question: How do we restore the moral and social order subjected to such
horrific violence? His answer, derived
from his reasoned conviction and confirmed by biblical revelation, is that the
shattered order cannot be restored except by a response that combines justice
with forgiveness. He affirms that the
pillars of true peace are justice and that form of love which is
forgiveness. In this respect, the Pope
teaches that forgiveness is the opposite of resentment and revenge, not of
justice. Forgiveness, however, does not
mean overlooking the need to right the wrong which has been done. In the totality of his remarkable
reflections, the Pope concludes that justice must include, and indeed be
completed by, the forgiveness which heals and rebuilds troubled human relations
from their foundations.
I personally am persuaded that these teachings are
true and I urge you all to accept them as the truth. Individually and together we must seek to apply these truths in
our day-to-day life and work. To be
sure, given our human frailties and limitations their application is not
easy. But we must try so to do. If we succeed substantially in so doing, our
nation would be a much better place than it is today.
And so, as I conclude, I revert to the themes of
individual, family, community and social responsibilities. These responsibilities lay at the center of
our quest to move forward. Reflect on
these matters, my fellow Vincentians.
And may Almightily God continue to bless us richly in 2002 and the years
beyond. Let us now roll up our sleeves
and get to work in peace, love, justice and forgiveness.