Message from Eddie Edgecombe
Our Farmers must be afforded all necessary financial and other expert assistance which they require to increase production. Help with the provision of fertilisers and safe pesticides is one obvious way in which they must be aided. Where practicable, the farming community must be provided with the means to obtain water for irrigation. They need serviceable roads leading to their fields. And afterwards, they need a Central Market Place where their produce can be bought and sold either by a central agency or as it was in Plymouth with the Market on Strand Street.
Our Farmers are most important members of our Private Sector and they usually
do not ask for much. I intend to help them fight in order that they can achieve
and maintain a decent standard of living.
Similarly, our Fishermen must be assisted in such a way as to enable them to
provide the quality and quantity of fish which we require. They should have
proper preparation and storage facilities for their catch and they can share the
Farmer's Central Market Place. But, perhaps even more important for them is the
urgent need for a facility for them to land their catch and also protect their
boats during severe weather or otherwise.
Our Fishermen are also hard-working and important members of our Private Sector.
They, like our Farmers, make significant contributions to our economy and I will
not forget them.
One of our national aims must be to produce suitable surpluses which can be
properly prepared and stored against situations such as hurricanes, or in the
event of reduced yields. For example, crops such as beans and corn readily come
to mind, but there are others. Also, with the proper facilities, our fishing
industry will be invigorated as the fishermen will know that any surpluses will
not be wasted. Surely this is not costly and it must be done with immediate
effect.
The Private Sector must also depend on investment from overseas. Such investment
will not be forthcoming unless Government provides the incentives necessary to
induce investors to come here. We need factory and office buildings, better sea
and air terminals and these, in addition to fiscal incentives. I expect that the
administration with which I am associated will have these high on their list of
priorities.
I know of many promises which are being made by political aspirants. Statements
indicating what they intend to do when elected. How these promises will be
financed is hardly mentioned. This surely suggests to me that either there is no
intention to keep the promises or else there is no thought given to the
provision of money. The leader of one party has indicated that he will
immediately negotiate a pay-rise for civil servants, who, according to him, have
been neglected since 1991. My recollection is that as a result of the RAR in
1995 civil servants were promised a pay-rise and an overall 30 percent was paid
in 1997/98. Now, I am not saying that they are not deserving of another. They
are, and money must be found to satisfy this requirement, perhaps from DFID, but
only with the correct approach.
But the Private Sector will also be expected to match any Public Sector increase
and one can hardly expect the British Government to finance Private wage or
salary increases. Such funds will have to be found at a time when there is very
little economic activity and when the Private Sector is still burdened by heavy
past and present taxation, mortgage debt and cost increases. Their partnership
with the Government demands that relief from past tax debt and a meaningful
reduction of current tax liabilities must be allowed in order to stimulate
future economic growth.
Finally no single individual has a divine right to govern Montserrat. No
single individual has all the answers necessary for our recovery. Many
Montserratians possess high levels of intelligence and they are willing to work
with anyone for our future good.
Remember, "Many are called, but few are chosen."
CHOOSE EDDIE EDGECOMBE. I WILL AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE