Choiseul/Saltibus MP Bradley Felix expresses his disappointment with the government over his constituency allocation for the Christmas Short-Term Employment Programme (STEP).
Felix describes the decrease in his STEP allocation as a form of victimisation by the Pierre Administration. He adds that he is prevented from positively impacting communities in his constituency.
“It’s very apparent that there’s an attempt to victimise the people of Choiseul/Saltibus because when you want to look at the largest or one of the largest constituencies in Saint Lucia and provide us with only $50,000 for cleanup, it is, I mean, it is a disgrace. When the last Administration was in office, Christmas STEP would be at about $200,000,” Felix explained.
The current Administration has long lamented that when in Opposition, the Chastanet Administration did not provide Opposition MPs with any funds under the Constituency Development Programme.
Upon assuming office, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre promised to break that cycle by allocating MPs with funds for various projects in their constituency.
Felix notes that despite prior engagements with the Prime Minister, this current STEP allocation points to a shift in tone on the part of the government.
“I had an engagement with the prime minister at a function and he decided to provide me with at least some flexibility. But they’ve come out with the same situation and it’s very upsetting that they would want to dictate where we can clean in the community,” Felix said.
Felix says the overgrown trees and grass are concerning issues for his constituents, noting that the decrease in STEP allocation prevents him from beautifying to the extent he needs to.
“As a parliamentary rep, I’m faced every day with people complaining about the state of the drains, the state of the roadsides. Most of our roads have become single-lane because of the overgrown bush and the overhanging trees,” he said.
What was there to edit about my comments. People are free to express the truth and their opinion. Day by day i am seeing who our people teally are. Biasness on every level and its a matter of who you know. Honesty no longer exist in our fair country. Does democracy still exist here?. No wlnder our land is plague with murders and all. People hsve to continually leave in fear. Not even your opinion are you free to express. I see now why 90 percent of our people ard fearful lf speaking up. I thought expressing yourself on this forum was ok but now i know. Can someone create a blog to share with people where they can ecpress tjemsrlves. Anyway there is a time and a season for everything under the heavens.
This comment is in reference to thr one that was not published. Anyone who reads that will wonder what is she talking about. Thete was a previous comment based on hon bradlys comment that was not publishec hence the follow up comment. Its ok sa la ve. Life goes on