 |
| Minister Perkins (right) on Up Close with Charles Bussue |
Charlestown Nevis (November 16, 2005) Newest member on the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) led Nevis Island Administration, the Hon Mr. A Michael Perkins, says that he has accomplished most of what he promised his constituents.
Four years after he was appointed Minister of Physical Planning, Infrastructural Development, Natural Resources, Environment, Communications, Works, Public Utilities and Post, the member of parliament for St. Pauls" (Charlestown) constituency, recalls that in his campaign pronouncements that he would better serve his constituents as a member of government, have come true.
Speaking on the weekly "A Page from the Ministers" Notebook" programme on Nevis Television Channel 8 on cable, hosted by former Director of G.I.S. Mr. Charles Bussue, Minister Perkins said his first term in office has been work, and more work in service to Nevisians as a whole.
"I could say here, in a second term for me, I believe I'm going to be different and what I mean by that is very simple. This term for me is just work, work, work, getting physical things done on the ground.
"We can speak of the Charlestown Waterfront, the Marian Avenue, the Charlestown bypass road going through Pinneys, the Moulton Alley, 3 ½ acre lot of land secured and acquired for the people of Ramsbury for a recreation facility, the sidewalks being created, verges that were never in existence," said Perkins.
He further explained: "A lot of that would be behind come a second term and then that would be the time now to begin working on certain programmes, certain social programmes. For example, the folks of Ramsbury, Craddock Road, how could they involve themselves into a viable sports and community club when there wasn't a facility for them to use to call their own."
He also noted that the administration was able to sit with land owners and craft out an arrangement so that people can move around much more comfortable and much more safely.
When asked what statement would describe some of his most rewarding achievements in St. Pauls for which he can be justly proud, Minister Perkins observed that it was simple. "The recreation ground at Ramsbury, I will speak about it each and every time I have the opportunity," he said.
"I can't wait to see the day when we can turn on the flood lights on that ground. That for me is the highlight, it will remain the highlight. I can't think of anything else I would do in politics, for St. Pauls that would compare to that particular achievement."
Minister Perkins credited that to many reasons, saying, "When I think about the fact that if we did not acquire that land at the time we did and I think about what may have happened in that area that the land was sold and houses were built, (you know what that would have meant), there would have been absolutely no other area in all of the constituency of St. Pauls that would have been available for a recreation ground."
A project dear to his heart, he said the parcel of land was the last remaining area Minister Perkins was the last remaining area and that the administration acquired it in the nick of time. "If we had lost the opportunity it would have been gone forever, but now we are able to do something that would last for ever," said the Area Representative.
