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Informing The Uninformed....
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GRENADA PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESSES
Address
by
Dr.
the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell
Prime
Minister of
at
the
14th
Salutations
– Mr. President, Colleague Heads of Government, Delegates, Guests, Members of
the Media, ladies & gentlemen.
Mr.
President, Colleague Heads of Government, Ladies and Gentlemen, on the occasion
of this the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and the “Year
of the Energy Revolution in Cuba”, I thank you for the distinction to stand
before you in this famous International Convention Centre which over two decades
has served Cuba with excellence.
On
behalf of the Government and people of
Indeed
it is important that we the members of the Non-Aligned Movement pay special
tribute to our hosts. The Cuban Government and people have always put the
interest of the countries of the
I
pause at this time to embrace the opportunity to welcome those countries who
recently became members of this Movement and wish them productive years ahead.
Comrades
in any undertaking or activity or in any movement, there comes a time for
introspection. For our Movement, I think this is probably an opportune time for
such reflection. Among other factors, we need to critically examine the present
and future activities of the Movement and also how we relate to each other
generally speaking. It is not sufficient for us to give lip service or to be
seen to be strong on rhetoric but not to be seen as proactive in confronting
major issues and in helping our brothers and sisters in times of need.
It
is in this context therefore that we need to ask the following questions and
address some issues.
ü
What
are we doing as a body in confronting and addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS in
member states and the
ü
What
plans do we have in place to deal with the rising energy costs which is
currently wreaking havoc on our fragile economies.
ü
The
issue of terrorism must be seriously examined and addressed by the Movement.
ü
The
Movement needs to look critically at the issue of poverty alleviation among
member states.
ü
The
issue of the transfer of technology also has to be addressed.
ü
The
voice of the Non-Aligned Movement needs to be heard on globalization, trade
imbalance and trade issues as we advance towards a new World Order.
These
are just some of the issues and questions that the Movement needs to critically
analyse.
As
Prime Minister of Grenada and one of the longstanding members of the Non-Aligned
Movement, I have to bring to the fore, a specific concern. In the aftermath of
the destruction of Grenada, it’s infrastructure, economy, agriculture, our
homes, churches, schools, health facilities and our entire social infrastructure
by Hurricanes Ivan & Emily a mere nine months apart, we appealed to the
entire international community for much needed help to rebuild. My entire
Sad
to say we did not receive any significant help from the rest of the members of
this Movement in spite of repeated appeals through the United Nations and by me
personally, in some cases not even the courtesy of an acknowledgement was
received to our correspondence. This brothers & sisters is just an example
of a lack of solidarity.
In
In
a complex international environment, we, Non-Aligned countries, must consolidate
the unity of the Movement to best undertake our
As
a follow-up to this
Finally,
and most sincerely, on behalf of the Government and people of
I
thank you.
Message
by Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell
For
Disaster Awareness Week
Monday
May 15th 2006
Theme:
“Preparedness
starts with you”
Fellow
citizens. I address you tonight as both Prime Minister and Minister responsible
for the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). We are, once again,
observing Disaster Awareness Week and the underlining focus of the activities is
the need to be prepared.
While
there has been significant improvement in our overall attitude to preparation,
the value of early planning cannot be overemphasized.
In
this context, I am very pleased that the theme for this year’s Disaster
Awareness Week is “Preparedness Starts
With You”.
It
is important that we all work together to ensure that even if we cannot prevent
the hazard, we will at least be in a position to reduce its negative impact.
With
this in mind we have developed structures at all levels to ensure that the
Country is prepared in the event of another natural hazard.
Considerable
progress has been achieved in our approach to disaster management since
Hurricane Ivan ravaged our beautiful Nation nearly two years ago.
Evidence
of this is reflected at the community level where there has been a complete
revamping of the structures.
For
example, there are now 17 revised and reactivated District Disaster Management
Committees across the State. All 17 Committees have approximately 8
sub-committees covering areas from Shelter Management to Telecommunications.
Elections to appoint persons to sit on the District Committees will continue to
be held every year. This structure is replicated within the communities.
The
National Disaster Management Agency continues to focus on preparedness and
training to ensure that our communities are provided with the necessary tools to
take care of residents, especially the ones who are vulnerable.
Training
sessions in various forms of disaster management, including communications and
mass casualty, are ongoing at NaDMA Headquarters.
We
cannot allow ourselves to be passive recipients of death and destruction caused
by the impact of a hazard.
While
it is important for us as a Nation to be able to mount an adequate response
mechanism, we have to focus on comprehensive disaster management plans which
include activities such as Mitigation, Prevention and Preparedness.
As
you are aware, there is a submarine volcano on the northern coast of
Here,
I must commend the local media for the role they have been playing in the
overall preparation of the Nation. Last year, in particular, Radio, Print and
newspapers demonstrated an amazing amount of commitment to the cause by
increasing their coverage of disaster management issues. This obviously went a
long way in sensitizing our citizens. However, while I applaud this initiative
by the media, I challenge them to maintain its consistency.
Sisters
and brothers, as we observe Disaster Awareness Week, I encourage everyone to
participate in the various forms of activities that have been planned to help
you prepare.
We
are all aware that the hurricane season is upon us. Let us pray that
it is the will of God that we are spared another impact this season.
At the same time, let us prepare ourselves adequately.
Remember,
“Preparedness starts with you”
By
Dr.
the Rt. Hon. Keith C. Mitchell
Prime
Minister of
My
fellow Grenadians, I greet you with a profound sense of pride as we celebrate
another Anniversary of our Nation’s
Today
is also a day to thank God for the strength and resilience that He has given to
Sisters
and brothers, we have gained our independence but in actual fact, we have become
more interdependent and more interconnected with the rest of the world. This was
demonstrated when our
Enough
praise cannot be given to the Governments and people of the United States;
Trinidad and Tobago; Guyana; all other Caricom and OECS nations; Cuba;
Venezuela; the United Kingdom; The People’s Republic of China; Belgium and
Canada for their assistance.
Similarly,
enough praise cannot be given to those teachers, nurses and doctors; Public
Officers; members of the private sector and community groups; utility workers;
dockworkers; farmers, the employees within the tourist industry and the many
volunteers who eagerly gave of themselves under such difficult circumstances –
many of whom continue to do so.
Sisters
and Brothers, all of us recognise that the road ahead will not be easy. Each of
us will have to make additional sacrifices to safeguard our future and our
children’s future.
Over
the past few weeks there has been much debate about who should contribute to the
National Reconstruction Levy and how much should be contributed.
I
take the opportunity of this Independence Day Address to publicly thank the many
groups and individual citizens who sought to help Government bring clarity and
understanding to this issue. In particular, gratitude is extended to the Grenada
I
would also like to thank the Trade Union Council for their part in the debate. I
hope that in 2006 Government and the Trade union leadership can work closer
together to move our country forward.
In
this regard Government is giving its full support to the continued dialogue with
our social partners….Business and Trade Unions, mediated by the churches.
Sisters
and Brothers, self-reliance and self-sacrifice were admirable strengths of our
forefathers, qualities we should continue to preserve. Therefore, it is
important for us to acknowledge that while we appreciate the help of our
friends, in the final analysis, we must accept fully the responsibility to help
ourselves.
Grenadians
must continue to work together and make the necessary efforts and the vital
sacrifices that are needed to take this beautiful Country forward on a
sustainable basis.
During
the past decade, we have made many strides as a people. In the process, we faced
setbacks yet we maintained our course. We have worked hard to move our Country
forward.
We
have received commendation for our united efforts from many international
organisations.
The
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index is now
ranking
The
International Monetary Fund Directors wrote to their membership telling them
that the Government and People of Grenada must be commended highly for our
response to the rebuilding of
Sisters
and Brothers all, let us on this Independence Day, be proud of our
achievements…Let us be proud of one another and proud of our Country.
Let
us thank God for these and other achievements……
Let
us thank God for his mercy and thankful that we have lived to see another year
of our country’s independence.
Let
us thank God for the progress this country has made in the regional and
international arena.
Let
us thank the Almighty for peace and stability;
Let
us thank God for the continued growth of our tourism industry and for the
redevelopment and improvement of our hotels, the cruise terminal and other
developments within the industry which will see it grow even further
Let
us thank God for the rebirth of our agricultural industry and the fact that we
are now self sufficient in many of the crops that we were importing at this time
last year.
Let
us thank God for the continued improvements in our roads, bridges and our
infrastructure in general.
Let
us also thank God for those who have made us proud….
Our
sportsmen and women like Alleyne Francique, Hazel Ann Regis, Devon Smith, Rawle
Lewis, Jason Roberts and others. For the bravery of Private Beharry; Gratitude
must go to Sir Royston Hopkin and his team for our new Five Star Hotel, the
first of its kind in Grenada and indeed to all other hoteliers who are making
serious sacrifices to rebuild; to the many community leaders who have been
working tirelessly as volunteers on various community development projects
including disaster management and the many students who have made us proud
The
list goes on……
Sisters
and Brothers we should also at this time thank God for giving us the wisdom to
accept criticism for our shortcomings and the strength to make corrections.
Given
the limited natural resources and the complexity of problems that continually
surface for Small Island Developing States like
Experts
in the
In
this regard, your Government has led the way in prioritizing youth development.
Over the next few months we expect to launch our National Youth Service which
will provide training and jobs for thousands of our children. This initiative,
along with other youth programmes like our extremely successful scholarship
drive, will greatly improve the lives of our children and help to create a
better society.
We
have also invested heavily in the productive sectors. We will continue to
provide incentives and financial help for our agriculture and business sectors.
We
also expect to continue providing meaningful services and assistance to our most
vulnerable citizens, including housing assistance, bus fares, books, school
meals and uniforms support for our most vulnerable children. We are also
providing an increase in Old Age Pension.
Sisters
and brothers, let us on this day pledge to create a better Grenada, Carriacou
and Petit Martinique, in keeping with your Government’s long term vision for a
healthy, educated, productive and prosperous Nation.
I
have observed with very keen interest the number of Grenadians who have been
proudly displaying our flag on their houses, vehicles and so on. This is the
kind of nationalistic spirit and pride we need all year round not only at
independence.
In
this same nationalistic spirit, let us all embrace the theme for 2006
Independence - Promoting growth, stability and poverty alleviation –
today and every day of the year.
Indeed,
sisters and brothers, let us dedicate ourselves to the preservation and
improvement of democracy and to the education and development of our children.
Let
us work together to stamp out the deadly evils of crime, and drugs. And let us
continue to work with our international partners to defeat terrorism. Let us
resolve to show more compassion and ge
Finally,
in the words of my favourite hymn, Bread and Wine….. “For our Brothers Lord
we do pray, For our parish Lord we do pray, For our Country Lord we do pray.”
Happy
Independence Day everyone, and may God bless our Nation.
"The ECCU Economic Review 2005"
Presentation by Sir K Dwight Venner
Governor, ECCB
Good
Evening Fellow Citizens of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union
On
behalf of the Monetary Council, Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, I bring you Greetings and Best Wishes for the
New Year.
I
welcome this opportunity, once again, to address you on the economic performance
of the Currency Union during the past year, and to share with you the Bank's
views on the prospects for this year.
The
year 2006 will be one of the most defining periods in the lives of the people of
the OECS and the wider English speaking Caribbean.
The reason for this is simple. It
lies in the wide variety and great intensity of the challenges we will face as
very small states in a rapidly changing regional and international environment.
There
will be tremendous challenges for us in how our political, economic and social
institutions exercise their capacity to respond to new and unexpected
circumstances in a global environment, in which each national entity places its
interests before those of others.
In
fact, recent circumstances, most notably the negotiations on access for our
bananas into the European Union clearly indicate that our small size does not
evoke much sympathy in international economic relations.
This should make it abundantly clear to us that we need to proceed into
the future with an increased sense of realism, objectivity and clarity.
It
is, therefore, perhaps more than symbolic that in 2006 we will be celebrating
the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre.
This treaty of cooperation between our countries has been in very large
part responsible for their survival and growth over the intervening years.
It
is also important to note that we have been working on revisions to the Treaty,
and that these will reflect our considered responses to the changes which have
been taking place in the domestic and external environments.
The
year 2006 will witness some very specific events and circumstances which will
require new and strategic responses from us as individuals, families, business
firms, trade unions, civic organisations, countries and as a closely connected
group of countries, that is the OECS.
The
major challenges in the international arena will come from the new trading
regimes which are now being negotiated under what is called the DOHA round.
The major issues involved would be liberalisation in the trading of
agricultural commodities and services. These
will have a major impact on the future prospects of our economies for which we
will have to be prepared.
The
Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will in all probability come into
existence during the course of the year. This
arrangement will pose a major challenge for the OECS countries as deeper forms
of integration are proposed, which will require substantial structural and
institutional changes at the political and economic levels for their successful
participation.
These
events are, and will be taking place against the backdrop of a world economy
which experienced significant growth in 2005 and by all accounts will continue
to do so in 2006. The economy of
the United States has continued to grow at an average rate of 4 percent despite
significant trade and fiscal imbalances; the Canadian economy is experiencing a
boom due to its thriving commodities sector; the United Kingdom and European
Union economies are experiencing moderate growth; and Japan has experienced a
major upsurge of growth after a decade of stagnation.
The
threats to this expanding global economy continue to be international terrorism,
rising interest rates, high oil prices, and the management of the twin deficits
being experienced by the US economy.
A
growing global economy is vital for the progress of our small economies as the
prospects for our leading foreign exchange earner, tourism, depends on continued
and sustainable global growth.
On
the domestic front, there are significant economic and social challenges, which
our countries will have to confront in 2006 before they become endemic and
completely out of our control.
On
the social front the following seem to stand out -
·
Increasing levels of crime and violence
·
The apparent state of social alienation of the young male population
·
Higher levels of drug use and abuse
·
Higher levels of HIV/AIDS infection.
With
respect to the economic issues, the new year finds a number of our countries
facing major challenges.
Another
major issue is the environment, as these small states which are increasingly
dependent on tourism, have to find the resources to deal with the problems of
waste disposal, coastal erosion, and the constant threats of hurricane and
volcanic activity.
One
major event that will bring all of these issues together and focus our attention
in 2006 will be the Cricket World Cup due to be staged in 2007.
In 2006 we will have to complete all of our infrastructural and
commercial arrangements, many of which are very large to host this important
event.
We
must, however, review our 2005 performance before we look forward to 2006 to
determine the strategies we should pursue in order to ensure that we will have
successful outcomes.
The
Currency Union experienced growth in 2005, estimated at 4 per cent which was
approximately the same as in 2004. This
growth was attributed to a sharp expansion in public and private sector
construction activity, partly due to the preparations for the Cricket World Cup
2007. Increased activity in
wholesale and retail trade, transportation and communications, and the banking
sector, also contributed to growth in 2005.
The
performance of tourism in 2005 was somewhat weaker than in 2004.
Stay over arrivals to the currency union as a whole declined marginally,
mainly due to the lingering effects of hurricane Ivan on Grenada.
However, most of the other countries recorded increases in stay-over
arrivals. The number of cruise
visitors declined, but this followed a record level of cruise passengers in
2004.
Output
in the agricultural sector, which on average contributed 6.4 per cent of GDP in
2004, declined significantly in 2005 due to the weak performance of the
traditional export crops. Production
of bananas, sugar, nutmegs, and cocoa fell sharply.
The
rate of inflation in the currency union for 2005 has been provisionally
estimated at 3.5 per cent. This is
explained by a surge in the international price of oil and other commodities
such as cement, steel, lumber and other building materials.
In
the monetary sphere, the ECCB paid particular attention to its objectives of
maintaining currency and financial stability in the currency union.
The
low rate of inflation ensured the maintenance of the purchasing power of the
currency, while the high level of foreign exchange reserves enhanced the
external stability of the EC dollar.
The
banking system experienced growth in its assets, as well as an increase in
capital and high levels of liquidity. No
threats to the stability of the financial system emerged in 2005.
As
we have highlighted at the beginning of this presentation, the year 2006 will
pose significant challenges to policy makers in the Currency Union.
There is expected to be very positive activity during the year,
particularly in the construction sector.
However, our horizons must extend beyond the next 18 months to two
thousand and ten. This is necessary
because we will have to manage our economies, which will be subject to a
significant upturn in growth in 2006/2007 to bring them into soft landings and
sustained growth in the period to 2010.
Beyond
this, the United Nations has set the year two thousand and fifteen as the date
for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Our success in achieving the objectives we have set for ourselves would be dependent on the following:
·
The appropriate policy and management framework given our particular
circumstances;
·
The highest level of integration among the OECS countries that the
political and social traffic can bear;
·
Our capacity to utilise the two conditions above to successfully insert
ourselves in a sequenced and strategic manner into the international economy.
This
must, of course, given our democratic traditions, be based on the widest level
of consensus among the citizens of the entire OECS.
The
economic history of the last half of the twentieth century has shown quite
conclusively that it was countries with good policies, as opposed to abundant
natural resources that achieved the highest levels of sustained economic growth.
This
is a clear indicator and a substantial encouragement for the countries of the
OECS to develop a strategic approach to economic policy making and the
management of our economies. The
three critical elements which need addressing are:
·
Public Sector Transformation
·
Private Sector Development
·
Financial Sector Development.
These
three have to be addressed within a policy framework and architecture, which
must be clearly outlined and institutionalised at the country level as well as
the OECS level. This will involve
setting clear and measurable goals and objectives, identifying the range of
policy instruments available, and creating arrangements to deliver high quality,
accurate and timely information for decision making.
Monitoring, review and evaluation mechanisms, and agencies must also be
aligned to support the process.
The
biggest challenge in this process would be coordination, collaboration and
alignment at both the country and currency union levels.
There
are quite a number of good policies which have arisen from recent work by local,
currency union and international agencies, but the lack of synchronization
continues to minimize the tremendous impact these can make on both the local and
regional economies.
A
very critical missing element is the capacity to manage, both within the public
and private sectors. This
management issue must be addressed with great urgency if we are to attain
our objectives. A special project
for management training and orientation must be fashioned to treat with this
issue at the earliest.
The
size of these countries poses major problems with respect to economic viability.
Markets are very small and the cost of administration per capita is very
high. Even with the best policies
in place, the potential for the production of goods, which are internationally
competitive is limited if each country did not have access to the international
economy.
Access
is limited, however, by capacity and capacity is constrained by size.
It is for this reason that the OECS countries have chosen to engage in
deeper forms of integration. The
countries have proposed to upgrade the Treaty of Basseterre to encompass an
Economic Union, which is the highest form of integration, short of full
political integration.
The
OECS countries already have a very high level of integration, far superior to
that of the wider CARICOM. This is
manifested in the following:
·
A common court;
·
A common currency and central bank;
·
A common stock exchange;
·
Common regulatory arrangements in the areas of -
- Commercial banking
- Civil aviation
- Telecommunications
·
Close functional cooperation in the areas of
- Health
- Education
- Environment
- Sports
·
Common procurement of pharmaceuticals
·
Joint overseas representation in Ottawa, Brussels and Geneva
Further
deepening of the integration process will have the following advantages:
·
Increased economies of scale in administration, production, marketing and
distribution;
·
The spread of risks across a number of countries instead of a single one;
·
The increased capacity to negotiate with third countries or groups of
countries.
Deepening
the integration process in the OECS will allow us to access and manage the CSME
process much better than we could as single states.
This is critical for the success of the CSME as a deeply integrated OECS
is a necessary, though not a sufficient condition for the success of this
arrangement.
The
CSME is a vital stepping stone for our strategic integration into the
international economy, but we must be able to establish and assert our specific
interests at the level of the CSME, so that these interests could be robustly
represented beyond the region and into the international arena.
Economic
development is not an end in itself, but is reflective of improvements in the
economic, social and human conditions within nations and across the
international community. The
international community through the United Nations, and as expressed in the
Millennium Development Goals, has taken responsibility for improving the human
condition on planet earth. This,
however, does not absolve individual nations and communities within nations from
making efforts on their own behalf. In
fact, the whole concept of development means increased self reliance and
increased choices for individuals, communities and nations.
For
the individual citizens of the OECS this means acquiring education, skills and
attitudes which makes us marketable in a global economy.
It also means acquiring information that will allow us to make important
economic and political choices about our own circumstances, and those of our
countries and region. We must be
able to understand and contribute to the policy choices that our governments
have to make, and to participate in the formation of public opinion on important
issues.
Our
private sector must acquire the managerial and technical skills, as well as the
innovative impulses to participate in business ventures within their own
countries, the currency union and beyond. The
bottom line for the private sector must be the production of the highest quality
products, whether commodities or services, at the lowest cost, with excellent
customer service.
Moreover,
with the removal of trade and other restrictions, the domestic market will not
be easy to distinguish from the international, and so to survive all standards
of competitiveness will have to be international.
Our
governments are faced with some very difficult decisions and choices which they
cannot make effectively without the inputs of the citizens and the private
sector. This is the nature of our
liberal democratic systems which have served us well over these years.
The
questions and issues revolve around responses to the fiscal and debt challenges
confronting very small states; the high price of oil which affects the entire
economy; the provision of the appropriate enabling environment to facilitate
private sector growth, investment and productivity; the provision of social and
administrative services to the community at least cost and highest value
(including social safety nets for the very poor and the indigent); the
maintenance of law and order to protect lives and property; the capacity to
negotiate with third countries or groups of countries with respect to access to
markets for exports and financial services as well as the acquisition of
technology.
To
address these issues effectively, it must once again be emphasized that the
governments should establish a comprehensive policy framework with the
appropriate reporting and accountability requirements, technical capacity and;
consultative arrangements.
The other major issue will be to decide, given the high cost and scarcity of management resources in each country, whether governments should (a) Perform these functions jointly, that is, at the OECS level in an act of shared sovereignty, or
(b)
Perform them singularly at the member state level.
As
we discuss and make plans for our own economic union this choice will become
fundamental to our deliberations.
The
OECS countries have made significant strides over the years and must now
confront the rapid changes in the regional and international systems by making
major and decisive choices. We have
the choice of going forward together as we have in the past with limited
collective arrangements, or deepening our cooperation to respond to a rapidly
changing environment. We have now
reached in the OECS the point of the famous quotation by William Shakespeare -
"To
be or not to be that is the question."
New
Year’s Message
by
Dr.
the Rt. Hon. Keith C. Mitchell,
Prime
Minister of
January
3, 2006
Fellow
Grenadians, as we approach the New Year, many of us would have determined
priorities for our families. Many of us would already have made various
resolutions and others still, would have upon sober reflection, made pledges,
which would require varying degrees of sacrifice.
It
is the deepest desire of my Government that you achieve the objectives and
targets that you would have set for yourselves and your families. On behalf of
the Government let take this opportunity to wish you all good health, good
fortune and above all else god’s blessings for 2006 and beyond.
Collectively,
as a nation, as we approach the New Year it is also critical that we engage a
similar process of reflection. More importantly, it is critical that we assess
and learn from the shortcomings in 2005 and apply the lessons learned in
charting our course in 2006.
As
many of you are aware, my Government has continued our consultations with
Grenadians throughout the length and breath of our country. We have identified,
and we identify with, the myriad of challenges faced by all our People through
our Touching Base programme.
We
are clear that the there exists a strong need for housing, deep concerns over
the management of the country’s debt and the generally difficult economic
circumstances and a certain urgency for us to revitalize the economic sectors,
primarily agriculture, tourism and small business.
We
have listened and we have heard you.
What
is more is that the Government that I have the honor of leading continues to
work tirelessly to address the concerns as you have expressed them to us.
In
the area of housing, thanks to the assistance of friendly Governments, we have
provided assistance to over 8000 families through a mixture of soft loans, new
housing to hundreds of families and our material assistance programme.
I
was touched recently by the outpouring of gratitude expressed by so many of the
families whose homes were devastated by Ivan and Emily, as we presented them
with keys to their new homes.
I
was myself saddened that we could not do more in 2005 in terms of the housing
rehabilitation and the housing repair programme. Knowing that for Grenadians a
house represents more than just a place where people live, but in fact
symbolizes the core of the family structure - a family structure that is
all welcoming particularly at Christmas.
My
own very personal anxiety will serve to cause a quadrupling of efforts at more
rapid delivery of housing assistance in 2006.
In
fact, there are many priorities, made more urgent, if not more glaring after
Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, which my Government must address. Few would deny that
the housing situation competes with any other as the top priority.
In
2006, our emphasis will be on development in the outer parishes such as St.
David’s, St. Patrick’s,
The
approach of this Government will be to target the neediest amongst us, as we
have been doing so far, without attempting to distort the operations of the
private housing markets.
It
is important for me to sound a word of caution.
I
want to be as clear as possible on this point.
I
have spoken to a number of able-bodied people, primarily my brothers – our
men-folk, many of whom have refused to seek employment or to get up and begin to
help themselves. Many of these brothers expect that this Government will just
give them a house.
Brother
and Sisters I have never di
We
will assist them.
You
are our priority.
However,
there are also those who continue to wait on Government to do everything for
them.
This
will not happen. What is more, is that will not happen!
This
country requires all hands on deck.
Another
key area of this Government for 2006 will be the development of our young
people. In 2005 Government sought to create new opportunities for our youngsters
through the expansion of the Imani and the scholarship programmes.
For
2006 we intend to establish a National Youth Service which will see well over
2000 young persons gaining meaningful employment and training.
In
recognition of the huge task ahead; the enormous amount of work we plan to do in
2006; and the dedication and commitment of the Minister, I have seen it fit to
promote the Minister of Youth Senator, the Honourable Emmalin Pierre from the
junior Minister position to the post of full Minister.
Sisters
and Brothers, the economic and financial circumstances of the country will
continue to require a high degree of attention and shrewd economic management.
We have now completed a “Debt Roll-Up” programme with our
international creditors and virtually all have now signed off on the issuance of
new bonds, with a tenor and yield that will allow us to begin the task of
redeeming our credit worthiness.
Still,
the country’s financial circumstances continues to call for prudent management
and mandates an extremely cautious approach by Government to fiscal management,
particularly new borrowings, even for infrastructure projects, which previously
ranked high up on our Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).
Cabinet
has recently appointed an independent team of prominent Grenadian economists and
financial specialists to advise on the way forward in relation to debt and other
economic issues. We will await the findings of the Independent team and based on
their recommendations, make a determination with our professionals at the
These initiatives and the direction forthcoming from the team is a direct