"Better must come"


OPPOSITION LEADER and Political leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Tillman Thomas says his party is committed to bringing better government to the island that will be more responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable in society and take better care of national assets.

Addressing the annual convention of his party on Sunday, Thomas said that the key to better government is greater accountability and transparency."We have to organise and mobilise to help build a new socio economic path that will ensure that the national wealth ­ is indeed national ­ and that more people can benefit from their government," he told delegates assembled at the Westerhall Secondary School in St. David's.

Thomas declared: "Our policemen and teachers, our farmers and small business owners must know the vision of the National Democratic Congress is to build a socio-economic path that allow them to be better able to deal with their challenges."

The opposition leader railed at what he sees as falling standards and the undermining of institutions by the ruling New National Party (NNP) government, so as to promote its "narrow political goals." He also said government inspired corruption is widespread, effectively raising the cost of doing business in Grenada, and keeping the national wealth from the majority of the people.

"The challenge of any and every government is how to maximise on the potential there is to make a better life for everyone, as well as how to make for a caring system that will take the best care of the weakest among us," Thomas said."Our people deserve better than they have got from this government," he declared.

Thomas told his party's delegates: "We have to continue to work hard and diligently to earn and keep the trust of the Grenadian people.³Our people deserve better than they have got. We must prove that we can provide the betterment for which they rightfully yearn", he added.

Thomas, who is also the St Patrick's East MP further stated: "We have to mobilise and organise to help rescue the country from where it is today. We have to mobilise and organise to help rescue the country from political interference."

"Our youth development policy must not be fashioned by a short term need to campaign for votes, but a comprehensive and coordinated policy that will provide more training and educational opportunities, with the potential of higher paying jobs down the road," he said.

On the issue of tourism development, he said there is a better philosophical way to do it."We can maximise on our tourism potential by heavier investment in the sector, without selling out our national heritage, and without disregarding environmental concerns," he remarked.

"We have to be more determined to give more support to our local people who want to get involved in the sector, even while seeking out foreign investment," he added.

"There is a mentality in Grenada, that only the foreign investor can be provided with the best opportunities and be given the best lands to help us develop tourism. There is no doubting a role for such investors, but it must be done so without putting the local people ­ who will be with us through thick thin ­ at a disadvantage", he said.
The opposition leader also complained that the pubic service has been "systematically undermined" by the Keith Mitchell-led NNP administration.

"The present public service is weakened by government's policy of victimisation. A parallel service through Vote 340 has been established where certain political appointments have been made and disregard is being paid to Grenadians who are qualified, competent and willing to serve," Thomas said in his near one hour address.

"The Public Service Commission has lost its authority really to select and appoint personnel as provided for in the constitution. The public Service Commission has been undermined," the Opposition Leader bemoaned.

"The cost of running the service has escalated by the practice of political patronage, wastage, victimisation and the pursuit of narrow political objectives", he said. Thomas said he sees a decay in public administration and a drop in the morale of workers that are directly linked to government policy.

"The public service today is weaker and more demoralised, more unproductive and more fearful than it has been after several years of so called public sector reform," he added. Thomas added: "An NDC administration will pursue the genuine programme of reform of the public sector which we begun prior to 1995. Public officers can expect and have the confidence that we would address the issue of compensation packages, career opportunities and training.

He declared: "We want to empower our public officers and protect them from political interference and injustice."