THE LOAN RANGER....... An Excerpt From Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthonys address to the nation.....I AM EXCEEDINGLY PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) HAS AGREED TO EXTEND A LOAN TO SAINT LUCIA ON CONCESSIONARY TERMS TO ASSIST IN FINANCING THE COMPLETION OF THE HOSPITAL. THIS LOAN WILL NARROW, CONSIDERABLY, THE FULL AMOUNT WHICH WE REQUIRE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE HOSPITAL. AGAIN, I EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN). While the effort to make the much needed St Judes Hospital whole and operational is exceedingly commendable,and necessary I think it necessary that we also be very cognizant, as well as concerned that that we dont encourage going down that simply slope perpetuating the practice that has our country this seemingly perpetual economic gloom. In making these decisions a prudent Gov’t must at all times ask itself ….Does the means justify the end? The Practice of Borrowing whether concessionary or under ordinary terms amounts to debt increased in our dire situation, that ultimately have to be paid back. The course of action should be to avoid by any means necessary. Now the term concessionary as so eloquently mentioned to by the PM failed to detail the terms of the said loan. It is my hope we get more detail on the loan in the soon to follow budgetary address. A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO LOANS...... Despite the “ Concessionary Terms” One of the claims to fame of this Labor Party Gov’t has always been its ability to make it so called “hard decisions”. However given the status quo of these decisions one can’t help but wonder to what end and at whose expense. I personally , given the futile outcome of many of these “ hard decisions” would prefer to settle for right and prudent decisions. Health care provision to the hard working folks in the south of the island should be a priority and in my mind, no excuses accepted. Not to mention it should take precedence over the political defamation it sort bestow on the previous Administration when the Labor Party decided to axe a guaranteed revenue source. The previous administration’s policy of Taxation by Without Representation with its introduction of the Individual Airport Tax, would and could have served to assist the current Labor Gov’t in getting St Judes out of its current state sooner rather than later without the dynamic and trappings of a TAIWANESE LOAN, and its “concessionary terms”. In fact while our tourist industry boasts with quotes its yet to be seen statistical data without highlighting the inferred benefits to all St Lucians of with its record stayovers, at least there would be some tangible monetary accountability as those persons traversing our shores would be subject to that very tax which at the time of axing stood at some $60 million (I stand corrected). At the time of its axing which for all intents and purposes served nothing but political expediency for the Labor Party Machinery, at the expense of the PEOPLE, the Labor Gov’t forfeited a good thing which served no malice to the bigger picture of our island’s fragile and failing economy. Oh but it now seeks to justify its bad habit with concessions……We are still out loan securing loans for long overdue and needed infrastructural projects when a practical source of funding had already been in the works and working. Here is a practical suggestion...... In the interest of COUNTRY and PEOPLE while there could be a possible further windfall of curious travelers visiting our shores as of the result of the TOP CHEF fame brought to our island by soon to be crowned, our very own Top Chef Nina Compton(my own bold prediction), a proud daughter of the Land that gave us birth, that this “ hard on” um excuse me, “ hard decision” making Labor Gov’t consider some humility, swallow its red pride and reintroduce the individual tax whether modified in its own image or as it was to give the economy that much needed economic, and stop with lame excuses already…..Just follow your nose LABOR it always knows.......
Posted on: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 22:34:52 +0000
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