The meeting was very well received by the crowd which responded heartily to the discussions of the many issues of 2007 that demand urgent attention by this Labour Administration but are being shamefully neglected. High on the agenda was the issue of crime which was addressed by each of the speakers; Dr. Charles Warner, Mr. Roy Fleming, Mr. Glenroy Blanchette and Mr. Lindsay Grant, in turn.

There was much fodder for criticism in the comedy of errors which is Labour’s policy toward crime which would be hilarious if it were not so serious. In just the last two weeks there have been at least nine shooting incidents, several in broad daylight and, mercifully only one, tragic murder in addition to several daring armed robberies yet there has been nothing but hot air from the Government. ~~Adz:Right~~

The first speaker, Dr. Charles Warner opened the batting with his usual bantering style and amused the crowd with his discussion about a wide variety of topics from Warner Park to Tony Blair’s resignation. He reminded the crowd that despite the large sums of money spent on the park for the first time in history it was made substantially smaller after renovation and that the country remains without a national stadium.

He pointed out all the money that has been wasted on several sporting facilities that were built just to be torn down soon after and decried the poor decision to put a major complex in the heart of a residential neighbourhood in Bird rock. The crowd was especially enthused when he suggested that our Prime Minister should follow the example set by his British counterpart.

Mr. Roy Fleming spoke passionately about the precipitous rise in the cost of living in this country and the toll that the enormous national debt is taking on the economic prospects of especially ordinary citizens. He highlighted the many ways the very small amount of money left in the treasury each month is failing to meet even the most basic needs of the country. The crowd reacted strongly to the information that of the $25 million collected monthly, $20 million goes toward debt servicing leaving needs like medicines and school meals remain unmet.

~~Adz:Left~~ Mr. Glenroy Blanchette was greeted with a rousing applause as the home town boy and he did not disappoint. He deployed his acerbic wit to devastating effect in excoricating the pettiness of the elected Labour Ministers who spend their time engaging in personal attacks while blood in flowing freely in the streets of our country. As usual he pointed out the criminal neglect of the communities in East Basseterre by the current Representative who has earned the title of “Sleeping Minister.”

There was a unique touch to the meeting as two ordinary individuals were invited to the podium to describe the difficulties in the country from the perspective of the man on the street. They were both very well received as they spoke about the vicious attack on the private sector and by extension their jobs and the shameful treatment of the sugar workers. 

The meeting was wrapped up by Mr. Lindsay Grant who detailed all the promises that Labour has broken especially the failure to pass the Integrity in Public Life Legislation. He promised the crowd that when the PAM assumes office after the next poll he will ensure that justice is meted out to all who have looted the treasury.

He discussed the plight of the Government Auxiliary Employees and how cruelly they have been deceived by this Administration which has raised their hopes of security of tenure only to dash them. Mr. Grant also outlined some policy proposals aimed at reducing the burden on the low income earner including removing the fees for using the public pharmacy and reinstating duty free concessions on food stuff. The meeting ended about almost midnight but the crowd stayed until the last speaker was through.