6th June 2021
Chastanet said we inherited a country on the brink of collapse
By Chastanet Facebook page
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When we began our mission of Building a New and Better Saint Lucia back in 2016, we inherited a country on the brink of collapse. Unemployment was the highest ever, the economy hadn't grown in 4 consecutive years. Healthcare was unacceptable, our schools were crumbling before our eyes, the roads were in a deplorable state and Saint Lucians were feeling an increased sense of hopelessness and frustration.
Upon assuming office, we immediately sprang into action to reverse these negative trends and indicators. Some of the key initiatives which we implemented to significantly improve the lives of Saint Lucians are as follows:
-We promised to reduce VAT. We Reduced it from 15% to 12.5%
-We promised to forgive outstanding Hospital bills. We did so to the tune of $12 Million
-We promised to reduce vehicle license fees. We reduced the increase by 50%.
-We promised to double the budget for the school feeding and school transportation Programme. We did so with pride.
-We promised to freeze personal property tax for 3 years. We’ve done so for our entire 5 year term.
-We found a yearly budget on school repairs of $1 Million. We increased it to $10 Million
-We found a deplorable health system. We’ve upgraded 17 health Centres, opened OKEU Hospital, Transformed Victoria Hospital into a Respiratory Hospital, built new health Centres in Micoud and Anse la Raye and commenced the process for implementing National Health Insurance.
-We promised to inject $10 Million into SLDB to assist Saint Lucians who want to own land, their own home, start a business or to further their education. We injected $20 Million!
-We found unemployment at approximately 25% and youth unemployment at 50%. Before the pandemic, we had already reduced unemployment to 17% and youth unemployment to 33%. Unemployment even during this pandemic remains lower than it was at this point in 2016.
-We promised we would create new jobs. We’ve created over 2000 new jobs in the ICT Sector
-We promised that we would repair our roads. We’ve fixed 30% or one third of all the roads and we aim to do even more!
-We promised that we would fix the mess with the St Jude Hospital. The new world class St Jude Hospital is currently in its final phase after only 2 years of construction.
-We promised that we would build a new International Airport. True to our word, work is currently ongoing at the site of the new Hewanorra International Airport with hundreds to benefit from employment during and after construction.
-We promised that we would invest heavily in sports. We have created the Saint Lucia Sports Academy, upgraded playing fields in Dennery, Micoud, Desruisseaux and Soufriere. Major work has also been done on upgrading other playing fields such in Balata, Jacmel, Canaries, La Fargue and Forestierre.
-We promised to reopen the Forensic Laboratory. We refurbished and upgraded the facility and our lab also provides support to other countries in the region.
-We promised to invest more in agriculture. We have opened the new National Diagnostic Facility, a new Boxing Plant in Odsan, a new Ripening facility in Dennery, a Honey processing facility in Dennery, the new Livestock Station in Volet and Agroprocessing facilities in Anse Ger, Fond Assond, Soufriere and Dennery.
-We promised to support local manufacturers. We deferred VAT on their imported inputs to help improve their cash flow. We also created the entity “Export Saint Lucia” to provide support to local manufacturers.
-We increased Public Assistance Support to Fire victims, persons in need of medical support and vulnerable Saint Lucians from $800,000 to $5 Million.
-We reconfigured the budget for Saint Lucia Jazz and invested more into Saint Lucia Carnival, Jounen Kweyol, Roots and Soul and other local pageants and community events.
-We inherited deplorable Police and fire stations across the country. We have done repairs to every single station.
This list of achievements is by no means exhausted. Whilst we have achieved quite a bit there is still a lot more to be done.
At 7PM this evening, Tune in to "Flambeau Forum" via DBS, Hot7 TV, UTV-124, GVD TV-115, Hot FM, Sky FM or LIVE here on Facebook to hear more from our team of Workers on what we have done and what we propose to do to keep fair Helen on the path of progress and development moving forward.
Thank You Saint Lucia!
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