New Debushing Programme - More Pressure on the Poor

~~Adz:Right~~ St. Georges, Grenada - The New National Party continues to be the watchdog of the people’s interest in every respect.  The latest example is the government’s decision to implement a Road Debushing Program after constant pressure from the NNP.  But once again, the Government has demonstrated it’s level of incompetence, deceit, and political vendetta in the implementation of this program.  The NDC administration has again demonstrated it’s utter disdain for the ordinary poor working class in the country.

While in opposition, the NDC criticized the debushing program implemented by the NNP’s administration, saying the NNP was playing political football with the program.  Although most persons who were seeking work (NNP or NDC) were successful, the cry of the NDC was loud.  They promised that if and when they got into office, there will be no political influence in such a program.

The present Prime Minister was loudest in his condemnation of our program proclaiming in his usual four word speech: if given a chance their program will be one of transparency, accountability, integrity and honesty.  Even in the face of information around the country to the contrary he said in his recent national address that he was proud that the present program had met its objectives.

To add insult to injury, the Prime Minister told the nation that to remove politics from the program offices were set up in every parish where persons can register for the programme.  Five days after the Ministry of Works issued a statement to the contrary, saying that some offices were opened after the Prime Minister told the nation that they were opened and others are still not opened.  The Prime Minister must either be totally ignorant as to what is taking place in his name or he is a foreigner to the truth.
From St George in the south to St Patrick in the North and in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the debushing program can only be described as the worse form of politicization of a government program ever seen in this country.  The NNP is not afraid to admit that there were weaknesses in our program when in some cases the government’s directives were not followed.

 In some cases, we paid a heavy political price for this.  However, most supporters of either party got work and in some cases there were not sufficient persons available for work.  On our Christmas Program St. David’s and the St Andrew’s constituencies each got 60 contractors for 3 to 4 fortnight of work, St Patrick’s and St. John’s got 50 contractors, and so on.  Now with increasing poverty and the loss of jobs, there are more unemployed people available for work.  However the first action of the NDC administration as it relates to the debushing program, was to reduce the number of contractors by more than half in some cases, and to reduce the pay of both contractors and workers.

At the same time the work was increased.  This behavior by the new Government brings back bitter memories of slavery. 

Workers are chosen by Polling Division Agents who openly boast ‘this is our time now”.  Their power is demonstrated in the selection process.  In many cases they give contracts to their close friends and family members and those who campaigned for the NDC in the last election.  In some cases people who have never worked on the road including persons who own businesses are given contracts because they campaigned for the NDC during the last elections.

While this behavior is evident throughout the island, the poorer people who are already desperate are left without work.  The result of this can only be more and more social problems.  In addition to this, the Minister confirmed on national radio and television that first preference is give not to the neediest persons but to persons who supported the self help programme which preceded the Government’s Debushing program.  One is only left to wonder why under the NDC’s reign will a poor and vulnerable single parent mother who chose to go to Sunday worship rather than participate in the self help programme, must be punished for her constitutional right?  Why should she be told that she did not participate in the self help programme so she will have to wait?

Although Grenadians were told that a change is coming, better days are coming and that the progress will continue under the congress, the NDC has become famous for saying one thing and doing another.  The problem is, we are just in the 5th month of a 60 month term and the cry is so loud that it is deafening.  We can only imagine what it will be like a year from now.