PREAMBLE
It is not the intention of The
PowerHouse to be overcritical of the mainstream media (press?); yet, I am of
the view that the St. Lucian press is not known for proactivity. I can't recall
of many instances where our local press (or political pundits who have found
their way therein like the omniscient Mr Springer) attempting to make a
meaningful and structured and evidence-based prediction on the contents or
direction of a major address to the nation. What invariably seem to happen are retroactive
and degenerative bombardments generally saturated with misguided and
hate-inspired content on Talkshows and social media patently lacking in
structure, rationality and objectivity in the name of analysis.
If the press is bad in that
respect, then the politicians are worse and -
perhaps “worserer”! Except this time around (as far as I recall) for the
leader of the LPM who demonstrated a measure of proactivity by specifying some
of his expectations (albeit with his characteristic intellectual flatness), other
“politicians” and especially those from main opposition were deafeningly mute.
Our expectation is the main
opposition party blessed with talents and experts like Dr Rigobert (international
relations) and Dr Preville (Economics) would throw out some “advanced organizers”
designed to constructively stimulate our thought processes on what to expect
and against which to measure the PMs address instead of the vacuous and linear
ranting and raving about it.
The PowerHouse will attempt
to a little bit of “unscientific prediction“ to fill in that gap, albeit with SOME reference to Choiseul.
Tonight, I expect the PM to
address the nation on the following: Government’s performance, projections for
the 2016/17, Citizen by Investment programme (CIP), IMPACS and a host of issues
of a general nature.
REVIEW
OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PERFORMANCE
The performance scorecard
wouldn't be a particularly impressive one. It may well turn out to be like
Stephenson King’s scorecard largely punctuated by impressive “Ti Canal-like”
community projects but there have also been significant projects. In Choiseul
for example, the Balca Road, the Fiette Road, the massive Tete Morne to
drainage project and the Darban Road. On the national level, the roads and bridges
undertaken island wide are also worthy of mention. Government’s fiscal management
of our scarce resources as well as the industrial relations climate also
deserve commendation. However, with limited foreign direct and private sector investment,
economic growth also remained limited. However, I expect the PM to take much
credit for stabilizing the economy in difficult times and of course the
whipping boy – rightly or wrongly - will be the global recession. Whatever spin
he puts on it, I will be inclined to rate his performance with a B+ for his
attempts to return the economy on a path of growth for the fiscal year 2014/15.
PROJECTIONS
I expect the PM to score
most of his points on his projections. The fact that we have returned to growth
would give him the license to do so. In addition, we have entered into an
election year and I expect a proliferation of projects in the pipeline. When we
add those to what have already “matured” to include the Owen King New National
Hospital, the St. Jude's Hospital, the proposed 4-lane Highway (from Gros Islet
to Dennery) and a host of other infrastructural projects, the list looks
potentially impressive.
I hope he take the
opportunity to make a definitive pronouncement on the Juffali Scientific Research
Centre which I suspect Mr Chastanet’s peripatetic negativity and
shortsightedness may have poured an avalanche of cold water on; and which may
well turn out to be in jeopardy.
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| SABWISHA 5-STAR COMING? |
Speculations, precipitated
by a buzz of activities happening around Sab Wisha Beach in Choiseul, are rife about
a potentially a new hotel project there. Invest St. Lucia Inc. has already served
notice on the lessee of sections of the property to vacate. A consultant is said
to be currently designing the electrical infrastructure for there and it is
understood that environmental and social impact assessment have been commissioned
for that purpose of the construction of the hotel. In addition, the property is
currently being surveyed and there is word that the road will be re-diverted to
facilitate the hotel project.
There is widespread
speculation that proposed hotel project will be a joint venture between an American
expatriate and potential CIP investors. If this is true, and if it is opportune
to do so, would the PM deem it fitting and timely to give us a hint. Meanwhile,
Choiseul continues to wait with baited breath for the outcome.
CIP
STATUS
I look forward to the PM to
give us a synopsis on the status of the CIP and exactly where we are with it.
On the Juffali matter, I also
expect the PM to put the issue to rest for once and for all.
IMPACS
The misconceptions abound
about IMPACS seemingly among the rank and file of the police force and the
public at large, it's high time that the matter be brought to a fair and
transparent conclusion. In that regard, I expect the pm to be very specific
about the way forward perhaps specifying target dates and mechanisms. We can't
afford to have that sword of Damocles hanging over our head indefinitely. It's
not good for our international reputation. We can't be perceived by the
international community to be a nation where alleged extra-judicial killings
are orchestrated and tolerated.
GENERAL
I expect the PM to offer a strong
rebuttal to some of the misplaced positions propagated by the opposition and
the press.
By no means do I look
forward to any degree of consensus on Kenny’s Address to the nation; but I
expect it to be a transparent, honest and enlightening conversation with the
nation. Naturally and given the trends of the past, I do expect the predictable
disjointed and instantaneous “un-prime ministerial” rebuttal from the UWP
leader as opposed to presenting his own global policy-laden address specifying
policy alternatives.
I look forward to the PM’s
address to the nation tonight just as I look forward to the general feedback to
it.
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