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Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace responses to Indepence Largesse
Leader of the Opposition Mr. Arnhim Eustace was quick in his response to Prime Minister Gonsalves independence package of $30-million.
According to PM Gonsalves, the 30,000 school children of this country would received a payment of $200 on November 9th to assist with their education supplies.
Nurses, teachers and persons in the Arts were told that $500-thousand has been put aside for them to assist in their further education.
People on welfare will receive $1.2-million as a special grant while non contributing NIS pensioners have already received $200 on their monthly stipend last week.
But opposition leader Arnhim has expressed his shock at this seeming generousity of the government when he appeared shortly following the Independence parade on NICE radio as he was asked to do by callers to the station.
The opposition leader said during question time in Parliament on Friday, the Prime Minister in response to a question on the economy said that total revenues up to September 30 totalled $371-million while $407-million has been spent leaving the country up to that period with a deficit of $36-million.
In his response the opposition leader said the people of St Vincent would have been better served on this independence day with a removal of VAT from basic food items which would have resulted in at least a $200 saving per month for families. This he said would be permanent as opposed to the one off payment proposed by Prime Minister Gonsalves.
Eustace pointed out that the date of the payment to the school children was significant in that it is scheduled for November 9, just days before the Referendum seeking to change the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The opposition leader has labelled the seeming generosity ‘a bride’ for a yes vote by Vincentians.
