BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 24th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) – People’s Action Movement (PAM) Deputy Political Leader and shadow Minister of Agriculture, Eugene Hamilton has promised that with a PAM administration agriculture would regains its prominence within the Federation.
Hamilton also point out a number of deficiencies and atrocities that the Labour administration has been guilty of.
Hamilton told a large crowd at the recently-held PAM’s political meeting that the government has to understand the importance of agriculture, noting the Federation has the ability to be a key player in food security for the nation.
“It is a sad situation to see that countries like St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica producing more goods than us here in St. Kitts and Nevis. Every week their boats come here with food that we can grow locally,” he said.
Hamilton urged the residents of Constituency 8 to elect a new parliamentary representative for their constituency, arguing that the sitting representative, the Hon. Cedric Liburd, has failed miserably and to give him another chance would be an injustice to the youths’ future.
“He has promised and promised and still has not delivered, as Liburd is only interested in friends, relatives and cronies and not you the ordinary people. Let us send him a message by electing a new representative,” Hamilton urged.
He promised once elected he would seek to ensure that significant contributions are made in new technologically advanced sectors in agro-engineering and other agriculture-related sectors.
Hamilton noted that with a PAM administration there would be growth and development within the agriculture sector, but because of the uncaring Labour administration those within the agriculture sector continue to suffer significantly.
“There is a bright future for you and agriculture with a People’s Action Movement government while we would seek to make you entrepreneurs within the agriculture sector, thus ensuring that you do not become a burden of the state,” Hamilton promised.
Hamilton pointed out the critical importance of agriculture, reminding supporters that it was the PAM’s government under Simmonds that bought the sugar lands for some 22 million dollars. He also noted that the Labour Party had attempted to discourage the sale, arguing that the money was too much. He went on to state that today the government has gotten back the money the PAM administration had spent.
He also accused the Labour Government of corruption and the unethical sale of land that the PAM’s Government had secured for the people of the Federation, as well as the many promises of housing and business developments made with no concrete plan being executed.
Hamilton emphasized that although residents may have voted against him in the past, he is extending a hand of invitation to them, noting it should not be about personality but rather policies. “It is not about Eugene Hamilton, it should not be about Eugene Hamilton but about the issues. And I say that it’s time that we wake up and realize that all the Labour Government offers is promises,” the PAM representative stressed.
On the issue of agri-business, Hamilton stressed that it is critically important for the Federation. He noted that development and advancement in this sector has to stand up to climate change and globalization in addition to a world where “we continue to see rapidly growing economic and financial challenges”.
“St. Kitts and Nevis agriculture sector is critically important for the growth of the Federation and, as such, Mr. Leader (Lindsay Grant), I humbly promise to ensure that I do what is right in advancing the Federation under your administration with you being the next Prime Minister,” Hamilton told a passionate crowd of supporters.
