SVGTIMES.COM DAILY
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OPINION
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Written by Editor
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Saturday, 12 July 2008 14:37 |
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Site plan for proposed Argyle International Airport A Letter from the GroundBy Candy Edwards IntroductionAlmost three years after outlining his vision and strategy for the construction of a world class international airport on mainland St. Vincent, Dr Hon Ralph Gonsalves is about to officiate at the official ground breaking ceremony to signal the start of the largest, most expensive and perhaps most significant infrastructural project in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Barring some unforeseen circumstances, Vincentians and visitors alike are expected to throng Argyle to witness this momentous occasion. It will be the largest outdoor audience ever to be assembled for an occasion of this nature. The crowd in attendance at the opening of the Rabbacca Bridge has been the largest to date. However, all indications are that this will be dwarfed by the huge gathering anticipated for Argyle.
The Argyle ground breaking ceremony is the culmination of decades of dreaming, speculating and talking about the need for an international airport on St. Vincent. It has been an issue mired in partisan politics as one political party after another made solemn promises to the people to construct an aerodrome in international standard and quality on the island. Now, Vincentians at home and abroad are about to witness a national dream turn into reality.
Yet, in spite of the euphoria, several sections of the population are not in favour of this massive capital project. Indeed, there will be challenges. I therefore ask: Is it time for all Vincentians to embrace the Argyle International Airport?
Opposing the International Airport
The construction of the Argyle International Airport is now a reality. It is therefore pointless at this stage to advance arguments, however sound, against this project. We are at a point of no return. There is very little that could be done to change the situation. Nevertheless, in fairness to those who are still dead set against the idea of such a facility on mainland St. Vincent, it still necessary to keep the grounds for their objection under consideration. Among their compelling reasons for not supporting this gargantuan project are as follows:
1. Geographically, topographically and geologically mainland St. Vincent cannot accommodate an aerodrome the size, standard quality necessary to facilitate some of the largest air carriers in the world.
2. Such a project is so costly, it would plunge the nation so deep into debt that it would take decades to pay off even a fraction.
3. Given current and projected trends in air travel in this part of the Eastern Caribbean such an airport will hardly be viable and could well turn into the proverbial white elephant.
4. The quality of air access desired could be achieved by upgrading and expanding existing facilities and at the same time make arrangements for seamless and hassle free transfers through nearby hubs in St. Lucia, Grenada and Barbados.
5. The environmental and social impact of such a huge physical project on the area could be extremely costly and devastating
These are indeed compelling reasons to reconsider the construction of the Argyle International airport. However, they have all been rejected by the authorities. Notwithstanding that however, the concerns raised must be taken into consideration even as we are about to commence actual construction of the facility. In Support of the AirportIn face of the extant challenges posed to its construction, the government has taken the bold step to go ahead and make the Argyle International Airport a reality. If the arguments against the airport are compelling those in favour are equally if not more so. Among the reasons for supporting an international airport at Argyle are as follows:
1. There are tremendous economic benefits to be derived from the construction and operation of an international airport on mainland St. Vincent.
2. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be on par with its neighbours in the Eastern Caribbean relative to air transport services.
3. An international airport will attract more foreign direct investment of a competitive nature for the island.
4. Vincentians living in the Diaspora will find it much easier to travel to and from the land of their birth on a regular basis.
5. An international airport will do much to transform St. Vincent and the Grenadines into a sophisticated post colonial state buoyed by a modern and competitive economy.
It is difficult to imagine that any reasonable person, a patriot at that, could be still opposed to an international airport at argyle in the face of such compelling arguments. Indeed, the case has been made and sold to the public. The airport is now nearing a virtual reality thanks to the strategic creativity the administration. The Creative Strategic Approach to Constructing the AirportAn international airport on mainland St. Vincent has been a long held dream for Vincentians. However, the wherewithal for making this dream a reality has been evading us for decades. Many of us had all but given up on the idea until Dr Hon Ralph Gonsalves made it his personal mission. Now, as a result of his creative and strategic thinking, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is about to have its very own international airport.
In quite an unorthodox yet effective fashion, Dr Gonsalves has been able to amass the resources from diverse quarters to engage in the biggest and most expensive capital project to date. To his credit, Dr Gonsalves has evolved an unusual yet attractive model for conceptualizing and implementing huge and costly capital projects in a poor small island state.
Although the Gonsalves Model is still evolving and taking shape, certain elements are as yet discernable. Among these are:
1. The conversion of idle state assets such as land and property into financial equity for use in huge projects;
2. The strategic use of surpluses earned by state own enterprises such as commercial banks, pension funds and holding companies;
3. The enlistment of material and financial support from diverse countries and territories through the strategic use of foreign policy;
4. The strategic use of new and traditional revenue earning measures; and
5. The garnering of widespread support from among citizens at home and in the Diaspora for the potential sale and purchase of “Special Airport Development Bonds”.
Irrespective of one’s view on the airport project, Prime Minister Dr Gonsalves must be highly commended for successfully implementing his unorthodox approach to mobilizing resources for the construction of the airport. To him must go most of the credit for what the nation is about to witness: the official ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Argyle International Airport. Questions Yet To Be AnsweredThe event will be spectacular. Everyone will eagerly look forward to the feature address to be delivered by the Hon Prime Minister. The content of this speech is expected to be familiar as he has spoken and written extensively about the government’s approach to the construction of the airport. However, I like several other persons will be looking forward to hearing answers to questions such as:
1. On what date should we expect to see construction commence?
2. In what year will the airport be ready to accommodate its first of regular commercial flights?
3. Given the changes in the world environment since 2005, is there a revised estimate of the total cost to complete the project?
4. Have agreements been formalized with all the partner governments who have signaled their intention to get on board with the project?
5. Approximately how much more money could we expect to be borrowed from agencies such as the NCB and the NIS to facilitate the construction of the facility.
6. Is there a plan afoot to put “airport development bonds” on the open market?
7. How many Vincentians will the project employ over the period of its construction?
8. Should Vincentians expect an influx of foreign nationals such as Cubans, Venezuelans, Chinese, Malaysians and Filipinos to form part of the massive labour force?
9. Is there any estimate of the overall cost of labour? Who will finance this component of the project?
10. What if any would the impact be on the fiscal situation the government over the period of the airport construction.
At this stage, the questions are still endless. However, I think that we could rest assured that the PM will begin to address most of them in his presentation at the ground breaking ceremony. ConclusionI plan to come back to this issue in subsequent programme, but for now I end with a few sobering thoughts. Like many other people, I I look forward with great anticipation to the groundbreaking ceremony. I think that all Vincentians should put our differences aside to come out in support of this massive and significant capital project. Whether we like it or not the project has started. It is not just the burden of the government. It is the burden of the entire nation. Let us all get involved. It is high time that all of us embrace the construction of the Argyle International Airport.
Sincerely,
Candy Edwards
July 12, 2008 This is a vehicle to continue the discussion on "A Letter From the Ground" by Candy Edwards heard on NICE Radio in St. Vincent and the Grenadines every Saturday morning at 9 on 96.7 Fm/ 90.3 Fm or on the Internet @ http://bdsnice.servehttp.com/. We encourage you to use this medium responsibily. Violators will be removed and denied future access. We also guarantee that none of your information will be used for any other purpose than those described here. Let's continue the public discourse and endeavour to keep it on the high road. To have your say CLICK on "COMMENTS" at the bottom of the page and say your piece. Welcome and thanks.
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BUSINESS
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Written by Editor
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 06:55 |
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Prime Minister designate Tilman Thomas By Staff Writer Grenadians voted overwhelmingly to deny the Keith Mitchell administration a fourth straight term in office.
Very early on Tuesday evening, even as the first polls began to be announced, a pattern was developing which showed that the opposition NDC led by new Prime Minister designate, Tilman Thomas was going to run away with the polls. As the evening wore on, spontaneous celebrations sprung up across Grenada, Petit Martinique and Carriacou as polling division after polling division revealed what had become the obvious. The last general elections ended in a controversial close race with Dr. Keith Miller’s NNP winning by the slimmest of margins, a mere 6 votes. On Tuesday, July 8, Grenadians turned out in their numbers to ensure that the results were put beyond dispute and put the Tilman Thomas led NDC into office 12 seats to NNP 3.
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CULTURE
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Written by Manager
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Saturday, 05 July 2008 19:00 |
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Letter From the Diaspora Great news is no news.
A few weeks ago there was a news report that the Indian Government wants to help the Vincentian Government set up an Information Technology Institute in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. What great news? Interestingly, with the exception of svgtimes.com, the story didn’t get a big “play” in the Vincentian press.
It seems that the Indian Ambassador made the announcement in the absence of the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister; and there has been no or little mention of the announcement on the various Vincentian blogs, internet forums and social networking websites. Nonetheless, this is great news?
If we can get help from the Indian Gov’t to set up a technology institute that provides high level computing, programming, and information technology education for the young people of this Nation it can potentially be one of the most important projects in this country for the last decade or two. It would be a fine complement to the A-level college and could potentially create a school were Vincentian young people can obtain a high standard of college and /or University level education in fields that will be in high global demand for the foreseeable future.
India and ITThe Indians know how to create and manage successful Technology Institutes. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is a world class institution of higher learning that educates and trains engineers and computer scientists whose work fuels the global Computer and Software industry. The Indians have been developing these highly competitive schools for about fifty years. They decided to build on the university system left by the British and create a set of superior science and technology schools. The result has been a huge boost to the Indian economy, society and culture due to the fact that Indians were able to capitalize on the IIT and be in the forefront of the global software and technology industry.
Can we have similar success in SVG? Consider that there are one billion Indians, whereas there are only 120,000 Vincentians (resident at home). What if we can produce fifty students each year with high level software development and computer skills?
We would be in a great position to attract new industries that require those skills. Those industries will expose the entire population to a new and broader set of business ideas and practices, of law, of human resource policies and the list can go on and on. A properly run technology institute, with a relevant and challenging curriculum, offering our youth skills that are in global demand; that make them independent; that allow them to be creative and to make a decent, honest living should be strongly encouraged and pursued. So, the dearth of press and general comment about the announcement was somewhat disappointing (to say the least). Maybe the Vincentian press just does not get it? Where’s Thompson?
Notably, the Minister of Science and Technology was absent from the handover ceremony during which the technology institute announcement was made. This being the Minister whom the PM referred to as “arguable the brightest man in cabinet,” we must reasonably conclude that his absence was unavoidable. Of course the bigger question is not where was Thompson during that particular event, but rather where has Thompson been during his entire tenure as the Minister of Science and Technology?
Initially, the Ministry of Science and Technology was to have a major role in the economic development program of the ULP, but little or nothing has happened. Unfortunately, we have not been able to develop any a technology sector that creates jobs and diversifies the economy. Moreover, the Ministry seems to changed roles, from supposedly the driver of the development of the science and technology sector to just another Ministry achieving nothing.
Here’s another little thing, we still do not have O’level science education in all the schools in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Do our chemistry students at the Girls’ High School and the St.Vincent Grammar school realise that? Are they aware that students in other schools are not privileged to learn chemistry or physics in school? Would they be angry about this seemingly unequal treatment, do they think it’s unfair? Do the folks in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology have a concrete plan to make science education available to ALL our young people? Is this even a priority for our government? It should be?
Leadership Needed
There is a serious lack of leadership in the area of science and technology in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Government, particular Ministers Thompson and Miguel must take the bulk of the blame. They have not developed or implement a plan for providing science and information technology education in our schools or for creating technology jobs. Led by the above mentioned Ministers, government should have a three pronged approach with respect to information technology: 1. Create jobs in the sector; 2. Provide information technology education in the schools and technical colleges; and 3. improve the efficiency of government operations (the public service) with information technology. In each of these areas the progress made is less than stellar.
The government claims to want to develop the Information Technology sector of the economy; however they have so far there have been few projects to that effect. The country lacks the physical and soft infrastructure for the development of the Technology sector. We have high speed data access but it currently costs too much.
Hopefully, these costs can be reduced as more fibre optic projects are completed throughout the Caribbean. Additionally, since the initial failures of the call centres, there has been little action and apparently no success related to attracting other technology businesses. We often hear talk about schools computerization programs, but putting computers in schools is just the beginning.
The schools need internet access, the teachers need training, the computers need software, the students need to learn how to script and programme, not just how to type. Finally, government has not used IT to make government operations and the public service more efficient and effective. True, the use of productivity software has increased throughout the public service but there has been no reengineering of processes to use IT for greater efficiency. The PM said the new customs will be computerized – but what does that really mean?
Will VAT make a difference?
Ironically, the value added tax VAT might be the best thing to happen to IT in SVG. It is foreseeable that both government and businesses will increasingly rely on technology resources to properly handle the accounting needed for dealing with VAT. Point of Sale systems will necessarily be on the increase and those systems will require management and maintenance, hopefully this need will create an organic growth in the number of young people interested in working and seeking training in the IT industry. At the very least, the introduction of VAT should at least get more people thinking enough about software and data management to raise an awareness of and an interest in the IT sector. Then maybe we can get some action from government?
In the meantime, Happy Carnival.
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BUSINESS
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Written by MANAGER
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 11:21 |
A Letter From the Ground, by Candy Edwards
Introduction
Vincentians, particularly Carnival lovers were in shock when we received the news that Roy Ralph, the Dragon had left us for the great beyond. Over the past four decades or so Roy Ralph had emerged as the single most outstanding exponent of mas and masquerading in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and perhaps the rest of the English speaking Caribbean. Roy was a household name that has been long associated with the artistry, colour, pageantry and splendour of Carnival celebrations in this country. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has indeed lost one of its greatest sons.
I know that the host of this programme, Randy Dopwell has had a very close relationship with the Dragon spanning more than four decades. I have listened to Randy during the course of the week and I am convinced that Roy and Randy were like siblings. They were family. I would therefore like to extend my condolences to you Randy on the loss of a good Comrade. I also invite your listeners to join you today in paying tribute to the life of Roy Ralph the Dragon.
I heard you, Randy. This is not a time for mourning. It is a time for celebration. I therefore deem it a distinct honour and privilege to join you and the family, friends and colleagues of Roy Ralph in celebrating his life.
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Read more...
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CULTURE
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Written by MANAGER
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 11:19 |
KINGSTOWN, May 29 - Twenty-nine computers and printers, were donated to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by the Indian High Commissioner, Ashok Kumar Sharma.
The donation was made yesterday, and the alotment has been allocated for use by the public sector.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office – Hon. Conrad Sayers was at hand to receive the equipment.
He thanked High Commissioner Sharma for his government’s continued contribution to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and noted that the computers will go a long way in improving delivery of service by the public sector.
Meanwhile the Indian High Commissioner said that the handover is just the beginning of the cooperation between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and India in the Information Sector.
High Commissioner Sharma also indicated that as part of the cooperation effort, his government would like to assist this country in setting up an Information Technology Centre where Vincentians, especially the youth, could have the opportunity to pursue studies in Information Technology.
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