The Unity Labour Party

The Unity Labour Party
a record of achievement. a path of progress
Images of a decade of progress in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2001 - 2010
The Unity Labour Party
a record of achievement. a path of progress
Images of a decade of progress in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Contents
ULP – Building a better SVG
2
The Education Revolution
5
The National Library Project
11
The Rabacca Bridge
12
Affordable housing for all
15
Tourism development
16
The Argyle International Airport
20
Safety, security & rehabilitation
23
Quality roads & infrastructure
25
Health & wellness
26
Water & waste management
29
Youth, sports & culture
31
Agriculture & fisheries
34
Then & now: 2001-2010
38
2
ULP – building a better SVG
he Unity Labour Party was elected
to office in 2001 after a landslide
12-3 victory at the polls. In 2005,
the people of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines expressed continuing confidence in the leadership and vision of
the ULP, renewing the party’s mandate
with a similar majority.
As our great nation approaches
another election contest, no rightthinking Vincentian can deny the
tremendous progress that we have
enjoyed under the ULP administration.
In a mere 10 years, the signs of
progress and development are everywhere: Fisheries projects in Owia; a
Jetport in Canouan; the Education
Revolution sweeping the nation; A
new prison in Belle Isle; Low Income
Housing developments nationwide;
the historic Rabacca Bridge; and, of
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course, the ongoing construction of
the Argyle International Airport.
Under the ULP government, 10,000
jobs have been created; the national
wealth has almost doubled; poverty has
been reduced significantly; indigence has
practically been wiped out; average personal incomes have risen, taking SVG
from the bottom of the independent
OECS countries to #3; and our finances
are the best managed in the OECS.
This small booklet contains just a
tiny sample of the over 230 major
projects completed and in-progress by
the ULP administration. This sample is
sufficient, we believe, to demonstrate
the ULP’s record, vision and commitment to the people of SVG.
This election, we nah turn back!
Look at what we have done in 10 short
years! Vote ULP again!
Straker Resource Centre in Layou: Built by the ULP Government
The New National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Building in Kingstown: Built by the ULP Government
“Fellow Vincentians, our country is a blessed one.
We are a small nation but a great people. The
burdensome challenges before us cannot be
wished away; our large possibilities cannot be
realised by mere wishful thinking. Hard, smart
work is required.There must be no let up on our
individual and collective endeavours to progress”
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Political Leader of the ULP
South Rivers Primary School (Above) & Troumaca Early Childhood Education Centre (Below)
5
the education revolution
hen the ULP came to office in
2001, education was in a dismal state. Even the previous
administration admitted that “education was in crisis” under its leadership!
And what a crisis it was. In 2001,
only 39% of eligible students were
being admitted to secondary school.
Lack of opportunities for advancement meant that only 4 primary school
teachers had university degrees. Early
childhood education was inadequate.
The national library had been sold, and
its books moved to a cramped warehouse. Very few students received
scholarships for tertiary education, and
the government owed millions of dol-
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lars to the University of the West Indies.
The ULP administration moved
swiftly into action, making education a
priority, and setting forth a sound
vision and plan for progress. Today, we
have universal access to secondary
education. Over 400 primary school
teachers are university graduates.
Learning Resource Centers have been
built in almost every constituency.
New schools have been built.
Hundreds of students receive scholarships, grants and government-backed
loans for tertiary education. And a
National Library has been built that is
the envy of the Caribbean.
What a Government!!
Students at Bishops College Kingstown
gaining technical skills outside of the
traditional classroom environment
A new primary school at Fair Hall (Top); A new secondary school at Peter’s Hope (below, left);
and a new secondary school at Edinboro (below, right). Just three of the new facilities built by
the ULP administration.
“Education and health are thus not social luxuries or
appendages as in a colonial economy, which demanded
abundant unskilled labour, but vital production requisites
for the modern, competitive economy.”
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
The state of the art Automotive Repair Training Centre at Arnos Vale: Built by the ULP Government
(Left) The New Secondary
School in Union Island,
including living quarters for
teachers: Built by the ULP
Government
did you know?
The ULP administration has built 13 Learning Resource Centres nationwide, three others are under construction, and four more are planned:
Built: Sandy Bay, Chester Cottage, Colonarie, South Rivers,
Evesham, Sans Souci (North Union), Biabou,Villa, Upper Cane Hall,
Questelles, Layou, Fitz Hughes, and Union Island
Under Construction: Lowmans (Leeward), Barrouallie, and
Canouan (a Marine Learning Resource Centre)
Planned: Troumaca, Central Kingstown (Lodge Village), Bequia and
Langley Park
The National Library; YWCA Building; Technical Training Centre: All built by the ULP Government
did you know?
The ULP administration has established in 2009 nine State-owned
Early Childhood Education Centres, and plans to establish nine more:
Established: Owia Government School, Langley Park Government
School, Argyle Government School, Marriaqua Government
School, Cane End Government School, Troumaca Government
School, Kingstown, Bequia Anglican School, and Fair Hall
Government School
To be established: Sandy Bay Government School, Spring Village
Methodist School, Lowmans Windward Anglican School, Calliaqua
Anglican School, Colonarie Government School, Park Hill
Government School, Dickson Methodist School, Rose Hall
Government School, and Belair Government School
11
the national library project
he National Library Project is one
of the signature successes of the
ULP administration and the
Education Revolution.
In 2001, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines did not have a national
library. The previous administration
had sold the building which housed the
library, and relocated the books to a
mouldy warehouse. It was an embarrassing state of affairs!
The ULP administration recognised
the importance of a national library to
the educational, cultural and psychological makeup of a civilised Vincentian people. We quickly went to work in
erecting a monument to the Education
Revolution that the entire country
could be proud of!
Richmond Hill was chosen as the site
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for the National Library. At the time,
the site was home to a dilapidated technical education facility and a crumbling
YWCA building.
The ULP administration relocated
and rebuilt both the Technical School
and the YWCA, which now also
includes a modern Early Childhood
Education Centre.
With the help of Taiwan, we then
went to work constructing a magnificent National Library. The opposition
mocked our efforts, and questioned if
it would ever be built. Today, it is the
grandest national library in the OECS,
which anchors an “Education Row”
that includes the Curriculum Development Unit, the National Archives, UWI
Extra-Mural Centre, and three schools.
What a Government!!
(Top, Left) The Curriculum Development Unit; (Top, Center) The National Archives and
Documentation Centre; (Top, Right) The New Intermediate High School; (Above) The
Information Technology Centre of Excellence at Diamond: All built by the ULP Government
12
the rabacca bridge
hey said it was impossible: To build
a bridge across the deadly and
destructive Rabacca Dry River. To
make travel across the gorge safe and
routine. To reconnect the people north
of the Dry River to the mainland.
The ULP made it happen!
With a vision, leadership and a creative, can-do spirit, the ULP administration devised a plan to build an
affordable bridge to span the Rabacca
Dry River.
The opposition mocked the idea.
They openly hoped for it to fail. They
T
explained that it would never work.
But the ULP dared to dream for the
people of North Windward, and today,
the Bridge stands as testament to the
ULP administration’s care for the people of rural SVG.
Ten short years ago, people were
swept to their death by the unexpected
surges of water when the river “come
down.” Today, such incidents are,
thankfully, a thing of the past.
How many lives have been saved by
the construction of this Bridge?
What a Government!!
The Yurumein Taiwan Bridge over the Rabacca River:
Built by the ULP Government
Low Income Homes in Peter’s Hope, Fitz Hughes and Byrea: All built by the ULP Government
did you know?
The ULP administration has built almost 650 Low-Income and
“No-Income” homes in the following communities:
Brighton
Green Hill
Byrea
Langley Park
Clare Valley
Ottley Hall
Colonarie
Peter’s Hope
Diamond
Petit Bordel
Fitz Hughes
Sans Souci
15
affordable housing for all
any administrations have made
promises of affordable housing
to Vincentians. Before the ULP
government, none delivered on those
promises as we have done.
Under the previous administration,
the only attempt at developing a housing policy for Vincentians was the
failed “Colonial Homes” debacle, in
which foreign investors ripped-off the
government without completing a single housing project.
The ULP administration has succeeded where the previous government
failed. In 10 short years, we have constructed over 650 high quality low-
M
income and “no-income” homes for
Vincentians, with housing developments in Fitz Hughes, Petit Bordel,
Peter’s Hope, Clare Valley, Green Hill,
Ottley Hall, Brighton, Diamond, Sans
Souci, Colonarie, Byera, and Langley
Park.
In addition to these ongoing housing
developments, the ULP administration
has also pioneered specially-designed
“100% mortgages” at the State-owned
National Commercial Bank. These
100% mortgages bring home-ownership within reach of civil servants who
are first-time home buyers.
What a Government!!
Low Income Homes in Sans Souci (Left) and Diamond (Right): Built by the ULP Government
16
tourism development
aint Vincent and the Grenadines
is the most beautiful and diverse
country in the Caribbean. We are
blessed with beautiful black and white
sand beaches. We have lush mountains
and an awe-inspiring volcano. We have
crystal-clear fishing, sailing and diving
waters. We have waterfalls and rivers.
We have a rich cultural heritage. We
have unique animal and plant life. And,
most of all, we have a warm and friendly people.
We are, in short, uniquely positioned
to harness our tourism potential as an
engine for national development.
The previous administration did not
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invest wisely or sufficiently in developing our tourism product. Our air and
sea ports were inadequate. There were
few major hotels on mainland Saint
Vincent. And there was little investment in infrastructure or legislation to
boost tourism nationwide.
The previous administration also had
no credible plan to build an international airport in SVG, which is critical
to our future tourism development.
Today, all of that has changed. The
ULP administration has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure, legislation
and promotions. Our plan for tourism
will benefit the entire nation!
New Tourism Sites at Rawacou (left) and Belmont (right): Built by the ULP Government
did you know?
The ULP administration has built and/or upgraded 14 tourism sites
across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.These sites are:
Rawacou Recreation Park, Rawacou
Layou Petroglyph Park, Layou
Wallilabou Heritage Park, Wallilabou
Dark View Falls, Chateaubelair
Cumberland Beach Recreation Park, Cumberland
Vermont Nature Trail,Vermont
Black Point Heritage and Recreation Park, Black Point
Owia Salt Pond Recreation Park, Owia
Cumberland Trail, Cumberland
Belmont Lookout, Belmont
Youroumei Cultural Village, Orange Hill
Falls of Baleine, Windsor Forest
Botanic Gardens, Montrose
Soufriere Cross Country Trail, Soufriere Mountains
The first LIAT lands at the the new Canouan jetport and the Luxury Resort at Canouan
LIAT + jetport = Canouan development
he photos above show three results
of ULP policy: Continued LIAT
service; a jetport at Canouan; and
the survival of Canouan’s luxury resort.
It was the ULP administration’s decision to invest money in LIAT that
allowed it to survive its competition
against Allan Stanford’s predatory
Caribbean Star Airlines. The opposi-
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tion wanted LIAT to fail. If it did, we
would have no airline serving SVG
today!
The ULP administration built a jetport in Canouan to accommodate
LIAT and flights from Miami. Because
of expanded air access, the Canouan
resorts managed to stay open during the
financial crisis. What a Government!!
Buccament
Bay Resort
he Buccament Bay
Resort is the secondlargest employer of
Vincentians on the mainland of SVG, with over
1,000 persons working on
building the high-rise hotel
rooms and luxury villas.
However, according to
the opposition, it does not
exist! They have called
Buccament Bay Resorts a
“phantom project!”
Do the photographs to
your left look like a phantom project? Or do they
look like evidence of the
ULP’s visionary development of tourism in SVG?
What a Government!!
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The ULP administration has slashed
taxes on hoteliers by half, reducing the
top rate from 40% to 20%. Another
element of the government’s policy to
boost tourism development in SVG
f you had to choose one issue that
perfectly highlights the differences
between the ULP administration
and the opposition, this would be it:
The decision by the ULP to construct
an international airport at Argyle.
It demonstrates the ULP’s vision for
development. Our ability to put plans
into action. Our active foreign policy,
which gained us the necessary support
to build the airport. Our confidence in
the abilities of the Vincentian people.
The Argyle International Airport will
be the single most important infrastructural investment in the history of
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The opposition has yet to enunciate a
I
credible position on the Argyle
International Airport. Do they support
it? It depends on who you ask. Will
they continue it if they came to office?
They do not know.
Just like the Rabacca Bridge, the
opposition seems to be wishing the
project to fail. And just like the
Buccament Resort, the opposition
would like to pretend that the airport is
not being built. In their latest party convention, the Leader of the Opposition
called the Argyle International Airport
a “phantom” project.
Are these photographs of a phantom? Seeing is believing. Believe in the
plans and policies of the ULP!
Prisons, Police Stations and Technology:
Bell Isle Correctional Facility (top).The
Canouan Police Station; Biabou Police
Station; Questelles Police Station; and
Georgetown Police Station (under construction). Equipment in the state-of-theart Forensic Laboratory: All built by the
ULP government
23
safety, security & rehabilitation
n 10 short years, the ULP administration has made tremendous strides
in enhancing the safety and security
of the people of SVG.
We have constructed a new correctional facility in Belle Isle. We have built
new police stations in Canouan, Biabou,
and Questelles. The new station in
Georgetown is almost complete.
We have rebuilt stations at Owia,
Sandy Bay, Mesopotamia, and Rose
Hall. Every other station in the country has been repaired and refurbished.
Today, someone entering the police
service will earn twice as much as
someone who entered the service
I
under the previous administration.
Almost half of all police personnel
have taken advantage of training and
educational opportunities made available through the government.
But the ULP is more than prisons
and police stations. We have pioneered
legislation to expunge minor infractions
from criminal records after a period of
“good behaviour.” We have social initiatives like the successful “Pan Against
Crime” programme. And our poverty
alleviation, education and social development policies steer more and more
Vincentians away from a life of crime.
What a Government!!
The ULP administration has recently
completed purchase agreements to
buy two P59 coast guard vessels (Top
left) and one P46 fast interceptor
(Top right) to bolster the Coast
Guard fleet and augment other
recent purchases (left)
Roads in Argyle & the main road – part of the Windward Highway: Built by the ULP Government
25
quality roads & infrastructure
he ULP administration has built
and re-built more miles of roads
annually than any government in
the history of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines.
We have spent more money on roads
annually than any other Government in
history.
Quality roads play an increasingly
important role in the development of
SVG. In 2001, there were only 7,000
motor vehicles on the road. Ten years
later, greater income has led to 25,000
active vehicles in our country.
More cars means more wear and tear
on our road infrastructure. It also
means that governments have to
devote more resources to making sure
that our roads are safe and welldesigned.
Today, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines can boast its most comprehensive road network in history. We
now have the Windward Highway
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(which includes the Rabacca Bridge
and the Argyle Bypass Road) – The
best stretch of roadway in the entire
Eastern Caribbean.
Our Road Rebuilding/Rehabilitation Programme of main roads, secondary roads, village roads, and feeder
roads (including bridges and drains) is a
success, and we have created BRAGSA
(the Building Roads and General
Services Authority) to consolidate
those successes.
We have also commenced the historic cross-country road, which will
connect the Windward and Leeward
sides of Saint Vincent.
To protect our shores, we have built
the beautiful Layou Sea Defence and
Boardwalk, as well as sea and river
defences at Arnos Vale, Black Point,
Colonaire, Langley Park, and
Mesopotamia.
Roads, bridges, and defences – the
ULP administration has it covered!
Layou Sea Defence and Boardwalk: Built by the ULP Government
26
health & wellness
he health of a nation is the wealth
of a nation. The ULP administration firmly believes that maxim.
In the 10 years that it has been in
office, the ULP has invested heavily in
modernising and expanding the
decrepit and neglected health care system that it inherited from the previous
government.
The ULP administration has restored
and upgraded the old administrative
wing of the Milton Cato Memorial
Hospital, which we plan to relocate. We
have built modern and well-equipped
clinics nationwide, to decentralise
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health services. We have established a
National Health Policy, an HIV/AIDS
strategy and work plan, a “Lives to
Live” Project for the physically and
mentally challenged, and the School
Feeding and Nutritional Programme –
all part of our multifaceted Wellness
Revolution.
With the help of Cuba, our “Vision
Now!” programme has treated thousands of Vincentians in need of eye
care, and a modern diagnostic Centre
at Georgetown is scheduled to open
this year.
What a Government!!
A crucial part of the Wellness Revolution is improving the quality of care to
elderly Vincentians. The ULP administration has built Golden Age Activity
Centres at Black Point (left) and Cane Grove (right).
We have also established the Home-Help for the Elderly Programme, which
provides quality care and companionship to elderly Vincentians in their
homes.
(Top) The Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre being built at Georgetown by the ULP government.
(Below left) Some of the many Vincentians employed on the project; (Centre) Artist’s concept of the
entrance of the Medical Diagnostic Centre; (Right) The entrance to the Centre under construction
did you know?
The ULP administration is constructing a Modern Medical Diagnostic
Centre in Georgetown. Scheduled to open at the end of this year, the
Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre will revolutionise health care in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with services such as:
Full-featured kidney dialysis programme with 10 “artificial
kidneys” for dialysis
Full-featured Emergency Room
Fully-equipped Operating Theater
X-ray and Ultrasound equipment
Clinical Laboratory
Electrocardiogram
Clinical Ophthalmology equipment
Analytical Ultra Micro System
Endoscopies
Intensive Therapy
Full diagnostic services and primary medical care
Stubbs Poly-Clinic, Greiggs Clinic and Biabou Clinic: All Built by the ULP Government
did you know?
The ULP administration has built, repaired and/or renovated 25 clinics
nationwide, to ensure the delivery of quality health care to all
Vincentians. We have:
Built a modern, well-equipped Polyclinic at Stubbs with an
enlarged range of services available twenty four hours per day
Built three modern, well-equipped clinics at:
Greggs, Biabou, and Retreat
Repaired and renovated 21 clinics nationwide, including pharmacies, at: Canouan, Biabou, Greggs, Retreat, Richland Park, Lowmans
Windward, Evesham (currently being constructed), Barrouallie,
Layou, Georgetown, Mesopotamia, Belair, Union Island, Stubbs
(currently being upgraded), Sandy Bay, Owia, Byera, Calliaqua,
Colonarie, Park Hill and Diamond
Windward Water Project, Diamond Liquid Waste & Belle Isle Solid Waste: Built by the ULP Gov’t
water & waste management
he ULP administrations has made
tremendous strides in expanding
and protecting our water supply.
Over 95% of Vincentians now have
pipe-borne water. Our massive $23 million Windward Water Project at
Jennings Valley helped to save
Vincentians from the worst impacts of
the terrible drought that recently affected the region.
The Dallaway Water Project and the
Community
Water
Connection
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Programme are also successes of the
ULP administration.
We have also revolutionised waste
management in SVG! We have built a
land fill at Bell Isle for solid waste disposal, extended weekly garbage collection across mainland St. Vincent, and
radically improved garbage collection at
Union Island, Canouan and Bequia.
The Grenadines Solid Waste Project
and Bequia desalination programmes
are ongoing. What a Government!!
“The future for all children and young persons is
brighter than ever as the Education Revolution
ensures that they soar as eagles, with wings
unclipped, to the best of their abilities.”
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Political Leader of the ULP
31
youth, sports & culture
he ULP administration has invested more heavily in the areas of
youth, sports and culture than any
government in the history of Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines!
The welfare of the youth of SVG,
and the opportunities available to our
young people, has been central to the
vision and policy of the ULP government from its first day in office. We are
proud of our record of achievements
for the youth of SVG!
The Education Revolution, which
brings the opportunity for educational
advancement to every young person of
secondary school age, is a youth policy.
We have sourced university scholarships from Austria, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Mexico,
Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela, and many
other countries. We have also increased
the number of National Scholarships
and Bursaries, and vastly increased the
loans and grants available to needy students to ensure that young people have
affordable access to tertiary education.
The creation of the successful Youth
Empowerment Service (YES) Programme, is a youth development policy.
The creation of at least 10,000 new
jobs since 2001 has primarily benefitted
young Vincentians.
The Children Against Poverty
Programme and the National Policy on
Youth Development have guided government policy for the Youth.
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The provision of special microenterprise loans through the National
Commercial Bank has helped young
entrepreneurs start and expand their
small businesses.
Sports have been revolutionised by
the ULP administration. Sports facilities have been built, expanded and
rehabilitated nationwide, and our
National Policy on Sports places sports
and athletics in the forefront of our
development plans.
The ULP administration also quickly
elaborated a National Cultural Development Policy, and inagurated new cultural festivals, remembrances and events.
The restoration and refurbishment
of the Peace Memorial Hall as one of
SVG’s premiere cultural arts spaces
was achieved with the ULP.
Our Carnival and Nine Mornings celebrations are bigger, better and safer
than ever before, thanks to shrewd government leadership and investments,
active engagement of the private sector,
and the blossoming talents and energy
of our youth and creative community.
We have recognised the importance
of historical preservation and reclamation, with investments in the Layou
Petroglyph Park, the excavation of
ancient artifacts from the construction
site of the Argyle International
Airport, and the compilation of local
recipies, songs and folklore .
What a Government!!
Arnos Vale Sports Complex, Biabou Hard Court, & flood lights at Victoria Park: Built by the ULP
did you know?
The ULP administration’s commitment to sports and culture is visible
all over SVG.Take a look at some of our accomplishments and future
plans:
Renovated Victoria Park and installed floodlights for night games
Rebuilt, extended and modernised the Arnos Vale Cricket Facility
at a cost of $54 million
Rebuilt and renovated playing fields at Arnos Vale, Sion Hill and
Stubbs for World Cup Cricket 2007
Built two additional tennis courts at the Villa Tennis Centre
Renovated and rebuilt the Chili Playing Field
Rebuilt, renovated or resurfaced sporting facilities nationwide
related to cricket, football, netball, basketball and tennis
Planned or in-progress projects:The National Stadium;The
Performing Centre/Lecture Theatre (design stage);The Mas Tent
Facility in East Kingstown; the completion of playing fields at Park
Hill, South Rivers, Mt. Grennan, Cumberland and Penniston
Renovated Peace Memorial Hall, carvings at Layou Petroglyph Park, & a bigger, better Carnival
“The vision of a further ennoblement of our Caribbean
civilization and its national components in a way which
provides for an appropriate historical reclamation,
cultural authenticity, a commitment to tried and tested
ennobling values rooted in our Caribbean experience, a
mature dignity, a sense of self-mastery which asserts,
not in theory but in practice, that we are no better than
anyone else, but no one is better than we are.”
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Political Leader of the ULP
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agriculture & fisheries
nce upon a time, the agricultural
policy of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines could be summed up
with one word: Bananas. Today, with
the erosion of preferential access to the
British market, we have been forced to
diversify around bananas.
The ULP administration recognises
the important role that agriculture plays
in the lives and culture of Vincentians,
and we value its critical contributions to
our economy, development and food
security.
The ULP administration has
approached agriculture seriously and
systematically. We have developed an
Agricultural Production Plan, including
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Food Security Plan. We have also
implemented the Livestock Development and Banana Rehabilitation
Projects. A National Fisheries Strategy
has also been produced, as well as land
management policies.
Our multi-million dollar investments
in fisheries, arrowroot, cassava, and
coconuts are visible nationwide. So too
is our development of hatcheries, a
stud centre for livestock, and the
implementation of legislation to tackle
praedial larceny.
We have also subsidised farmers’
inputs and assured market access
through Food City ad rural community markets. What a Government!!
Animals & equipment at the Poultry Hatchery Centre & Rabbitry & Stud Centre in Dumbarton
Owia Fisheries, Lauders Packaging, & Orange Hill Arrowroot facilities: Built by the ULP Gov’t
did you know?
The ULP administration has invested heavily in diversifying agriculture
and enhancing fisheries with a number of major projects, including:
Built a modern, multi-million dollar Fisheries Complex at Owia
Renovated and modernised the Arrowroot Factory at Owia
Built a Cassava Factory at Rabacca
Built a Coconut Water Bottling Plant at Congo Valley
Built and operationalised a Vacuum Packaging Plant for Root
Crops at Lauders
Built a Chicken Hatchery at Dumbarton
Built the Agricultural Training Institute at Rabacca
Rebuilt, extended and modernised the Kingstown Fish Market
Renovated, extended, and modernised the Bequia Fisheries Centre
Building Rural Community Markets nationwide
Subsidised agricultural inputs, including fertilizer, for farmers
Passed legislation on Praedial Larceny, and hired rural constables
Mayreau power plant, Union Island LRC, Bequia Primary School and Canouan Police Station
did you know?
The ULP administration is committed to the development of the Grenadines,
with a number of infrastructure and policy accomplishments, including:
The Grenadines Solid Waste Project
Established the Grenadines Directorate
The planned Bequia Learning Resource Centre
Established an ultra-modern Primary School at Bequia
Established an Early Childhood Education Centre at Bequia Anglican School
Renovated, extended, and modernised the Bequia Fisheries Centre
Renovated and upgraded the JF Mitchell Airport at Bequia
Upgraded the Union Island Airport and resurfaced the runway
Improved the Union Island water catchment facilities
The Union Island beautification project
Built the state-of-the-art Union Island Secondary School
Repaired and renovated the Union Island Clinic
Built the Union Island Learning Resource Centre
Building the Canouan Learning Resource Centre (a Marine LRC)
Repaired and renovated the Canouan Clinic
Built a modern police station on Canouan
Built the $54million Canouan Jetport
Built the Canouan administration building
Built the new Mayreau Jetty
Built a VINLEC power plant on Mayreau
Vastly improved garbage collection and disposal in the Grenadines
Built and refurbished roads and sporting facilities across the Grenadines
Improved functioning of the Tobago Cays Marine Park Authority
Passed Isle de Quatre legislation
Vastly improved Coast Guard service in the Grenadines
More pictures of progress: (Top Row)
Agency for Public Information HQ;
Reigate Office Complex. (2nd Row) New
crane at the Camden Park Container
Port; National Emergency Management
Organisation (NEMO) HQ. (3rd Row)
Kingstown Ferry Terminal; School for
Children with Special Needs at
Georgetown. (Left) the PetroCaribe LPG
(cooking gas) bottling plant: All Built by
the ULP Government
38
then & now: 10 years of progress
he past decade has seen such rapid
development for SVG that it may
be easy to forget how far we have
traveled in such a short time.
T
Hopefully, these pages can remind you
of the progress achieved with the ULP,
as well as the dismal record of the previous government. We nah turn back!
THEN (2001)
NOW (2010)
% of students in secondary school
39%
100%
Number of low income homes built
0
% of people classified as indigent poor
26%
Number of primary school teaches with
university degree
4
Number of new schools built
4 (in 17 yrs)
11 (in 10 yrs)
Number of police stations built/rebuilt
1(in 17 yrs)
8 (in 10 yrs)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
$1.1 billion
$2 billion
Per Capita GDP
$10,000
Average monthly amount paid in
public assistance (“poor relief ”)
$50
Number of motor vehicles on the road
7,000
25,000
Number of active cell phones
4,000
115,000
Number of learning resource centres
0
Rabacca Bridge?
No
YES!
Canouan Jetport?
No
YES!
National Library?
No
YES!
Bell Isle Correctional Facility?
No
YES!
Owia Fisheries Centre?
No
YES!
Buccament Bay Resort under construction?
No
YES!
Argyle International Airport under construction? No
YES!
650
3%
400
$19,000
$175
13
the bad old days...
When the ULP administration was elected in 2001, it had to confront
the massive mismanagement, poor governance and directionless leadership of the previous government.This is a sampling of the mess we met:
An unemployment rate of 40%
A poverty rate of 37%, and the worst poverty in the
Caribbean outside of Haiti
Only 39% of children who left primary school had a chance to
attend secondary school
An Illiteracy rate of 20%
$2 million owed by the heath care system to the suppliers of
medicines and pharmaceuticals
$8 million in arrears to the University of the West Indies
Remember the Istranka?
Do you remember the Istranka?
The opposition would hope that
you forget.This rusting, decrepit,
unseaworthy vessel took the
previous government for a $200
million boat ride!
An Italian man named Aldo
Rolla tricked the previous government into valuing the Istranka
for a whopping US $18 million,
even though the insurers, Lloyds
of London, had refused to insure
that vessel any more because it
was not seaworthy!
This piece of junk then
became the basis to borrow
US$50 million to build the
Ottley Hall Marina!
When the dust cleared, the previous government owed nearly $180 million to build
a marina that was only worth $16 million!
It took the ULP administration to negotiate massive debt relief with the Italian creditors, saving SVG $165 million and rescuing
us from the disastrous mistakes of the previous administration.What a Government!!
Then...
(2001)
NOW!!
(2010)
2001:The Park Hill Tunnel – barely
passable, low, narrow and unsafe
2010:The Park Hill Tunnel – wider,
taller, resurfaced and safer
2001:The Byera Tunnel – narrow,
unsafe and structurally unsound
2010:The Byera Tunnel – widened,
resurfaced and reinforced
2001:The Layou waterfront – lowlying, prone to coastal flooding, littered, dangerous
2010:The Layou Waterfront and
Board walk – modern coastal protection, with a clean, safe promenade
Then...
(2001)
2001: Street vendors in Pauls Avenue
– unsightly, haphazard, dangerous to
motorists, pedestrians and students
NOW!!
(2010)
2010:The George McIntosh
Community Market – clean, safe,
attractive, organised and welcoming
2001:The Biabou “Public Library” – a
2010:The South Windward Learning
cramped, uncomfortable, with no books, Resource Centre at Biabou – modern,
no equipment, & little public access
well-equipped, open to the public
Vote ULP for progress, prosperity
and development.
ULP: Building a Better SVG