The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has expressed renewed concern over the high cost of living as parents prepare to send their children back to school.
UWP Public Relations Officer Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute told a news conference Thursday that aside from crime, the most pressing issue is high prices.
The former Gros Islet MP told reporters that single mothers who have children in school are the ones who feel the impact more.
He observed that with schools reopening in the next few days, mothers must provide uniforms, school books, transportation, and other necessities to ensure their children return to class.
“This is normally a traumatic time for single mothers especially,” Montoute explained.
He recalled that when the UWP was in office, it took steps to make life easier for parents.
“That is to provide children with E-books,” Montoute told the news conference.
He observed that the devices came with downloaded textbooks, the licenses for which the government paid so parents would not have to buy the books.
Montoute urged the government to reconsider implementing the E-books.
The former MP said although it was a UWP initiative, once a good idea benefits the people, it should not be scrapped due to political considerations.
Montoute declared that it was not uncommon, especially at the secondary school level, that one textbook could cost over one hundred dollars.
“I shudder to think how of how some of those parents could manage, especially those with more than one child,” he told reporters.
“I call on the government to show conscience, to show consideration and have a heart, especially for the poor,” the former Minister said.
In addition, he called on the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration to reverse some of the measures it put in place, making life more difficult, especially for poor people.
“We are looking for the government to provide greater assistance to single mothers and poor parents in assisting them in providing for their children who have to return to school very soon,” the UWP official stated.
Headline photo: Stock image.
I’ve been looking for the inflation numbers from the government. Not seeing it. I’m sure they will claim 10%. It is closer to 50% from my analysis.
Says the party that took away computers from children…etc etc..
Try living in Barbados for prices….
Mr Montoute has a very valid point there regarding *textbooks vs e-books*. E-books ARE the educational bonus of the now and the future. Just because one party implemented e-books for the students, the other party coming in, should continue with the initiative. Also – which party saw to it that most households (especially the vulnerable) with young students got free internet in order for them to do their studies?
“We are for the people”. “We are looking after the young people.” Whatever happened to that mantra?
Politics should have NO PLACE in the field of the education of a country, and frankly, Mr Montoute should not have to mouth these words – his “insight” should be a given, regardless of which party is sitting on the throne of the people. Further primary education facilities in all its facets should BE FREE!
Talking a whole bunch of crap as usual. Sending children back to school is not easy on fathers either. If you provide for your children every September is a nightmare as long as I can remember it’s never been cheap to send your children to school,new bag, new uniform, shoes text books chooops where is the UWP back to school handouts since he care so dam much NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.
School was always expensive but this has become way too much. There must be rules in place to prevent schools from changing text books too often just because the publishers want money and decide to change a paragraph. Teachers should encourage students to still use the old editions of books. Now, What facility fees for primary school I hearing about? This should be banned. Teachers are already being paid to teach. Where is all that student money going? The ministry should put a stop to this at all primary schools. It should be free
You have been elected in office for many years but never enacted a minimum wage come and see the amount of young boys under the ackee tree from the age of 14 drinking rum , smoking cocaine and marijuana and disrespecting people in La Ressource yet still when the police are patrolling refuse to stop under the ackee tree not even the parents can control them as the parents of those boys very soon mothers will come and say that he was a good boy .