Everyone Gets a Piece of the Pie!
The Member of Parliament for Gros Islet has warned that he will not allow residents of the town to be marginalized, even as he pushes for development of the constituency.
Social Transformation Minister Lennard Montoute made the pointed remarks last week (April 24th), during his contribution to the 2008 budget debate.
Referring specifically to the Gros Islet beachfront, Mr. Montoute served notice that he would not support any forcible dispossession or relocation of residents and landowners from the area.
Mr. Montoute stressed that "I am saying so to my cabinet colleagues, I will not support the acquisition of those people's land pushing them out sending them somewhere to the back of Beausejour while the sharks move in, acquire the land, purchase the land putting their developments and overnight the value of the land goes up to US$100 a sq. foot and we have to be spectators to the development that is taking place. It is our time, it is our turn, this is our development and it is going to be for the benefit of the people that own the lands on the (Gros Islet) waterfront."
Mr. Montoute vowed that the people of Gros Islet would be allowed to become partners in all future developments, whether through joint ventures, or the creation of special financing arrangements.
The Minister was also concerned about tardiness in the implementation of projects as outlined in successive budgets. He said that particular problem has been experienced by all previous administrations.
"At times you get over zealous over optimistic investors who make you believe that they are ready to embark upon massive projects only to find out that is not the reality. There are also cases of bureaucratic delays or obstacles which delay implementation, of course we need to ensure that all necessary steps are taken as a government to remove those bureaucratic mechanisms and to put in place in place a fast track process to ensure the necessary regulatory and other requirements for investment," noted the MP for Gros Islet, Mr. Lennard Montoute.