St. George's Grenada, September 14th, 2009: Former Minister for Works Mr. Gregory Bowen is calling on the Prime Minister to take immediate actions to ensure that hundreds of workers formally employed with Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) do not remain on the breadline.

According to Mr Bowen, hundreds of CCC workers are now unemployed as a result of the NDC’s vindictiveness, lack of concern for the poor and unwillingness to continue any project started by the NNP Administration.   The Government has refused to follow up on the arrangement negotiated by the former Minister under the NNP Administration to implement phase two of the Kuwaiti-funded farm road project. 
 
It is alleged that the current Minister for Works, Hon. Joseph Gilbert intends to engage a foreign company associated with a close relative of his and has issued instruction to CCC to cease all works.  However, many believe that in a time like this when so many families are hurting, the Minister should put behind him his selfish and personal agenda.
 
The opposition is also concerned that the Prime Minister has not seen it necessary or is unable to change the portfolio of the Minister for Works and to rectify the present situation.  Members believe that it is a total conflict of interest and a recipe for corruption for the Minister to own a company which is bidding for Government contracts.
 
In addition to the many workers who were recently sent home, many farmers are being disadvantaged as a number of farm roads which were negotiated by the NNP administration are no longer on the programme.  Mr. Bowen expressed concern that within one year in office, the NDC has deleted planned work on roads such as the Bacolet road leading to Munich in St. Andrew’s, the La Pastora and Laura/Windsor Forest roads in St. David’s and many others.
 
Members of her Majesty’s Opposition are appealing to the Prime Minister to step in and take charge of the situation.