 Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker. Thank you colleagues. It's always a pleasure to be in the parliament for budget because it reminds you of how time flies Mr. Deputy Speaker and you know to always give a reason to give thanks and praise to be around for another year. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank my constituents of Shozal Salty bus for the confidence they have reposed in me to represent on their behalf Mr. Speaker and to also to ensure them that I will continue to engage the government on their behalf Mr. Speaker. This morning when I woke up Mr. Deputy Speaker as usual I give thanks and praise and then I have my coffee and while having my coffee I usually browse through messages that come to my phone Mrs. Deputy Speaker and this morning I got a particularly refreshing jingle and I must say it did sort of raise my spirits and put me in a very positive light to for the day ahead Mrs. Speaker and it was something that the Calypso and my bachelor he has a jingle which I think just recently came out called and he was going bonjour saka fete estou bien moi casuité au bonjourné I would sing it for you Mr. Deputy Speaker but you know and Mrs. Speaker the positive vibes I received from that I thought you know maybe I should ask the the the member for Dennery North you know that maybe this is something that we should encourage our young students you know to you know to sort of a competition to create some sort of positive you know jingle you know so that can be used to to give that sort of positive vibe if our students Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker so that they can you know look forward to the next one and you know they can sing it along and create that sort of synergies among students and among school speaker so you know who can outdo the other I think it's a it's a good way to to to to enhance our creativity in terms of you know our young ones but as as we come here today Mr. Deputy Speaker and as I reflect on the estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2324 the sum of one billion eight hundred and fifty six thousand seven hundred and nineteen thousand dollars and what has led us to this point I am reminded of a metaphor and it's a pity my friend from libraries not there because normally you know he's the one who normally give budgets various names but I am reminded of a metaphor I was using parliament many years ago and the expression at the time Mr. Deputy Speaker was milk in the bull I don't know if you can remember that Mr. Deputy Speaker but that was an expression used by former member for the Ford North Mr. Cecil Honorable Cecilly at the time Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker I thought that that expression Mr. Speaker was very apt to what has brought this budget to us and what is currently happening Mr. Speaker and I will explain a little as I as I go further into my presentation Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker I am of the view that this government won the majority vote based on the fact that the populace felt that the mantra of putting people first would be down to a greater social conscience and target especially the many vulnerable sectors in our society and Mr. Speaker I use that premise because I want your indulgence as I provide an element of historic comparison to our current performance and the budget before us Mr. Deputy Speaker in the Prime Minister's statement yesterday which I'm here to receive and I heard the Prime Minister indicate that there's no obligation to provide that but I believe that he is in that because because this is something that we have received in the past remember for Mr. Speaker on the point of order the only thing that I recall that opposition member is on a point of order and he took your seat only saying what point of order I recall what point of order that opposition members got was the estimated expenditure and it used to come on Saturdays on the weekend and used to come to debate it on the Tuesday. In this case they got the estimated expenditure from Wednesday of Thursday I cannot recall and I've been in this parliament much longer than the Minister shows up ever getting after a record of the estimates after a discussion estimates any speech from the Minister of Finance and if I'm wrong I will be. I like the Minister remember for sure to tell me on what occasion did when the Prime Minister delivered the Minister delivered that he got a copy of yesterday. I like if that is I will. Only if it happens but in the budget and I can tell you on the 20th April when we do the budget he's going to get a copy of the budget that has never happened last year it's never happened but even if he wants to believe himself and say that I have no problems. Mr. Speaker. Remember for sure Zell. Remember for Kassarizis I said that they, you're Mr. Linnehouse in that they no statement, no statement has been issued and it is the convention of this House to give the appropriation speech when the Prime Minister makes the appropriation bill to circulate the speech. But I don't know the front speech but I don't know it to be customary to pass on so can you not, if you cannot prove this can you refrain from the statement. Mr. Depp. Remember, remember, remember, hold on, remember for sure Zell, members, members, members. Member for Kassarizis for Miku South. Can you, I understand that you're there with the other member but can you please understand that I am in the chair. I'm speaking to the member for sure Zell and you all were for him to speak in silence. If I'm asking a question I expect and the same thing for the members on the other side and members going to. So remember for sure Zell we're going to carry the business of this House. Go ahead. Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker. However, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as rightfully indicated by the member for Kassarizis Prime Minister, he has been in this House way longer than me and obviously his retention as it relates to previous House sit-ins. But I can recall Mr. Deputy Speaker that when we were in office as soon as the Prime Minister would have finished his statement even when we were walking out we would have gotten copies would have been sent to everybody not this number which statement it is statement made by the Prime Minister. Okay we'll move forward. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Mr. Deputy Speaker we'll move forward. We'll move forward. Carry on member for sure Zell. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Mr. Deputy Speaker, members, members for Kassarizis, member for Miku South, member for Kassarizis, member for Kassarizis and member for Miku South. Can we please allow the member for sure Zell to proceed? Member. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am aware that the Honorable Prime Minister and my good friend they couldn't wait for me to speak because they needed that sort of carry on member for sure Zell. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister in his statement yesterday gleefully indicated that on coming into office his government had to deal with outstanding payables in excess of 200 million dollars. We heard that from the Prime Minister yesterday that on coming into office his government had to deal with outstanding payables in excess of 200 million and Mr. Deputy Speaker it is amazing how the government selectively uses the challenges of COVID when it suits their agenda and I say that Mr. Speaker and there we have replete examples in this parliament where you know the the members have used COVID when it suits the agenda and I just want to to use two of them Mr. Speaker. Yesterday yesterday the the Prime Minister spoke to how destructive COVID was. He indicated that COVID made a lot of people poorer and in some cases he made some it made some people destitute. That's a that that is deep to recognize that that that's what COVID did Mr. Speaker. I also I also want to quote the the member for for for Souffre and I was happy she actually made mention of it in her statement earlier today when she made a statement in July last year and she said Mr. Deputy Speaker as a country we have lived through a dramatic period of setback since March 2020 when we started to feel the effects of the pandemic during this time Mr. Speaker we were hit harder than any other region in the world both in terms of per capita death and economic construction given our openness as a small island development state that is a document of the House that the member for Souffre and I use just these two examples Mr. Speaker to make my point in that the government has continuously indicated that the last administration performed so bad and left a mess when they came in office Mr. Speaker but they refuse Mr. Speaker to acknowledge the impact COVID had on the economy of Saint Lucia Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker and Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I refer I refer to the peak of COVID I refer to the peak of COVID and I refer I refer to year 2020 year 2021 Mr. Speaker year over year Mr. Deputy Speaker we had a shortfall in revenue Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker Mr. Speaker you know the back and forth is nice but members can you allow the member for Souffre to be in silence please Mr. Speaker as I indicated the peak of COVID year 2020 2021 year over year we experience a shortfall in revenue of over 240 million dollars Mr. Speaker that's in revenue Mr. Speaker year over year Mr. Speaker in that same period Mr. Speaker we had to honor payment of bonds of almost 200 million Mr. Speaker 200 million Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker you know you know very well Mr. Deputy Speaker honoring our commitments for bonds and treasury bills is significant because the reputational the reputational risk to our country if we're not able to honor these Mr. Speaker in addition to that Mr. Deputy Speaker as a very direct result of COVID increases in expenditure oh year over year was over 60 million when you add all of that Mr. Deputy Speaker we're talking about a 500 million dollars in shortfall year over year yet still Mr. Deputy Speaker the member for castries east minister of finance prime minister speaks to forfeiting 40 million dollars in terms of fuel revenue Mr. Speaker there is no comparison in terms of the what we had to deal with under COVID and what the prime minister has to deal with in terms of forfeiting revenue of 40 million dollars after what this country went through Mr. Speaker in COVID after what this country went through in COVID the only place we could have gone was up the only place we could have gone up was up barring significant natural disasters or a world war three Mr. Speaker okay that is a fact that is a fact there is no way we could have gone any lower than where we were and yet and you know it is you know it is really sad Mr. Deputy Speaker that the government would have on what they got there and not acknowledging the factors that brought us there it is a sad day Mr. Deputy Speaker Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker I'm very happy to have heard the Prime Minister indicate that you know the government has performed even better than anticipated and and you know I heard my my good friend now in the chair who sits right immediately to my left this morning when he was using cricket as an analogy and he said he said that when the rains came instead of putting the covers to cover the pitch and and go take shelter we were dancing on the pitch but really and truly what we were doing on the pitch Mr. Deputy Speaker was planting seeds the seeds that have been enjoyed now that's what is happening Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker because we heard we heard a member from from Vuford North we heard a member from Vuford North we heard the member from Vuford North indicate the for the first time in so many years enjoying a surplus of 29.5 you know obviously that's that's that's wonderful but it didn't happen overnight it didn't happen overnight there was something that said that in motion and as a matter of fact to come to this house and indicate to the people of St. Lucia that this economy is doing so well that you now have a surplus and yet still so many of the vulnerable people that you you profess to protect a still paying significant high prices for fuel Mr. Speaker to the point and you know Mr. Speaker I paying high prices for fuel is one thing but the effect of the electricity the effect of the electricity on the vulnerable people Mr. Speaker is significant of course the fuel prices effect because the government sets the stage for for for the surge charge that that that Lucy like Lucy like print but anyway the surcharge and electricity Mr. Speaker the surcharge Mr. Speaker I dare say that this government would have performed even better had they not stopped so many of the projects I guess Mr. Speaker I want to make I wish to make some observations and ask some questions under various under some various heads as it relates to to the budget before us I would confess Mr. Speaker Mr Deputy Speaker that while the Prime Minister indicated we got the estimates three days four days it is quite significant to go through within that period Mr. Speaker and so the bulk of my contribution would be made in the when we discuss in the poll when you have the policy debate but today Mr. Speaker I wish to make some observations and ask some questions and hopefully some answers could be given by the the Prime Minister in his rebuttal or the speakers who will be coming forward Mr. Speaker I wish to go to head 35 Department of Justice Mr. Speaker I want to say categorically that while I was absent for the debate on the CCJ I am on record when we had the discussion in this parliament with some of the judges from the CCJ and some of the staff on indicating that I support the CCJ but I had concerns with regards to our local system and how you know we need to really focus on addressing some of our local court systems you know before going to that to the next level Mr. Speaker and I raise that Mr. Speaker because as I as I browse through the Department of Justice and budget and I indicated head 45 Mr. Speaker and and again I said it's an observation and maybe I can be guided further down the line unless the allocation is somewhere else but I don't see anything to give any reassurance with regards to what we're currently facing with our courts currently Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker we have for example in January Mr. Speaker over here the the the magistrate court has not been performing and we have that we have that similar scenario ranging from January all the way to Souffre where the courts have been closed down for one reason or the other and we all know the same Mr. Deputy Speaker justice denied justice delayed is justice denied Mr. Speaker my concern is that I don't see anything under this department to provide me with any comfort that there is going to be some sort of emphasis on rectifying that situation we've been speaking about the halls of justice I don't I don't so I welcome any word to show that you know I I may be misled based on on on what I'm seeing Mr. Mr. Deputy Speaker Mr. Speaker I am however very pleased that under the key programs we see the full digitization of vital records Mr. Speaker and I am pleased to be have been associated based on being part of the last administration when we started that under the DG Gov programs Deputy Speaker Mrs. I move I move you know my my colleague I move I move to head 46 Mr. Deputy Speaker head 46 which is a favorite to my colleague on the left head 46 and I'm I'm very pleased Mr. Deputy Speaker to see the increase in allocation obviously it is required based on you know what is happening in in our country today but I do have two concerns and we will speak a little bit more on that in the in the policy this is Mr. but I do have two concerns one is that with the emphasis that we're speaking on in terms of curbing crime I'm somehow disappointed that we're only looking to increase personnel by 15 I thought you would have seen you know a maximum increase in personnel because the number of people in in in the police force currently I believe is significantly below what is required to police the entire island and to deal with some of the growing issues from a country that is that is growing so that is one of the concerns that I have here I also note I also note with some concern Mr. Deputy Speaker that under the under key program strategies one of the areas speaks to provide professional service to clients by processing traveling documents controlling migration flows and enforcing immigration for the review period and when we look to the achievements and the progress of this strategy there is it's blank so it says to me that there's nothing that has been done to address that particular issue I go further to look at the number of passports received and processed and for 2022-2023 we saw a figure of 5165 passports processed and under 23-24 we see a similar figure of 5165 which says to me Mr. Deputy Speaker that the issue we are currently facing with people coming in at five o'clock in the morning to stand on a line Mr. Speaker will be going on for a very long time and we will not see any any increase in efficiency in terms of addressing that problem where you know many of our senior citizens travel from the south and have to deal with that so it's a concern to me if there is something that can give me a reassurance down the line I would gladly accept that I'm also concerned Mr. Speaker with regards to the intention by the department to increase fourfold the the seizure of weapons and firearms Mr. Deputy Speaker and I applaud I applaud the police officers for you know for for giving themselves that reach but I don't see again Mr. Deputy Speaker the reintroduction of the K-9 units or the you know additional scanners to provide that sort of assistance my colleague my colleague on my left asked and I will answer what's the fascination with the K-9 units and I will answer I will answer because it has been proven that the K-9 unit does not recognize friends or relations the K-9 unit sniffs you out and if you have an illegal firearm it will it will bring that to the attention of whoever's in charge of that of that unit so it's very important that we take out the human factor where there may be some sort of prejudice okay and you know let let the K-9 unit as I said who does not recognize you know colleagues or friends to to to stop that stem which we recognize is um yeah so so I move I move um Mr. Deputy Speaker to head 41 agriculture Mr. Speaker I will say and I have indicated that to the member for denry denry south I did not know the member prior to 2021 elections and um the first time I met him was at a function at Chosal fisheries and we had a chat and I told him my spirit goes with him okay and um I said I said that I said that Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker I said that Mr. Deputy Speaker because I said that Mr. Deputy Speaker because because look who you got the step the one that doesn't go to your spirit I said that Mr. Deputy Speaker because I I recognize congratulations congratulations I said that Mr. Deputy Speaker because the member for denry south you know has you know been speaking quite a bit about trying to revitalize the banana the banana market trying to revitalize the banana growers and also I'll tell my friend on the other side to call out um yeah so Mr. Deputy Speaker as I said I'm a bit concerned because I've heard the members speak quite a bit about you know trying to get the banana you know uh market you know in a better place Mr. Speaker but when I look in the estimates Mr. Speaker bananas will mention I think twice and when I when I look at it Mr. Speaker the the the monies are located to the banana management unit is really and truly speaks to pain of salaries um I don't see for example under the banana productivity improvement there's zero so I don't see the emphasis with regards to assisting the banana farmers in terms of you know production in terms of shipping logistics but I heard I heard the members speak to um an interested party who in the region um and I think you said it was from Trinidad but I do have a concern because from my previous experience in the ministry of commerce trying to assist a manufacturer the challenges we had from Trinidad the foreign currency and um you know it is something we need to be very careful of that our our farmers do not send bananas to Trinidad in the hope of getting the money in a timely fashion we might have some issues um I know the US dollar because of you know it's a I know there is a at one time we had to seek the assistance of the ECCB to assist Winera and and I don't know if it is something you next explore but it it it could pose a problem and could bring our banana farmers into serious hardships if that matter is not addressed um we know the challenges we have with the UK market and um I've based on listening to previous people speak in the agricultural field I have I have listened to quite a few big farmers and there seemed to be a thought that the focus for the UK market should really be on specific farmers and not open to everybody you identify four or five main farmers and you get them to to to to produce to to ship to to the UK um and then based on that success we can bring in additional um but the challenges we have with the UK market we cannot um destroy our reputation with some of the bad habits that the the some of the farmers um I I also spoke I I also heard the member speak and and and the member for before south was not there had he been there maybe he would have prompted the the member accordingly but the member for agricultural the member for for the Henry south he indicated that for the very first time the marketing board would be getting a subvention from government now while that may be true that might maybe and I'm happy that you because I know I know you know better um the marketing board has had to be rescued by successive governments governments time and time again and we're not talking about the 250 000 dollars that he spoke about but significant sums likewise likewise the fish market in board and so the statement you know um is not quite accurate okay I would not my friend from before enough I will not go into argument with bananas because okay which one but mr deputy speaker I am really really I would like to advise my friends on the other side that I am the one on the on the podium members members members members members members the chair allows you all to go through the back and forth but please allow the member for show zeal to continue his contribution go ahead mr deputy speaker I was a bit saddened um when my my friend I said from then re-south sort of gave a unpassed um notification of the 5.7 million dollars to the show fishpot you know that kind of um um allocation we should have gotten a round of applause on the table you know um but you know you did it so hurriedly you did you did it so hurriedly but so mr speaker I I move I move briefly and my my friend I moved to head 46 and I would like you to come back into the room um he walks out head 46 um which speaks to tourism and and and I'm hoping mr deputy speaker you allow me to raise it with you when he comes back but I note I note with some concern that um in last year's budget there was an amount that was negotiated under the OECS tourism community project for 200 000 US equaling 540 000 dollars and that was directed at rehabilitating the show zeal arts and crafts center member member for castry south I'm happy and I will repeat for your yes I'm very concerned member for castry south that an amount of almost 540 000 dollars that was in last year's budget which was allocated to the show zeal handicraft center which was something that was negotiated as a grant actually um which was supposed to have been for the rehabilitation of the show zeal handicraft center and also it had a training component with it um I did not see it in this year's budget and I don't know whether it has been repurposed and it concerns me that um you know for the focus that we have been speaking as it relates to you know our creative industries and and I don't know if it's you know member feels that the the the 5.7 that I got from the Japanese is sufficient and I should not get anything else but I'm very concerned that it is not there because we were looking for particularly to the training component um and and the crafters were looking forward to it so it concerns me now very good you know um the the the the member I would also want to and I to speak to um some heritage sites that were acquired under the last administration's tenure and the the intention was that we would have created some green spaces and um I have not seen anything you know to suggest that the any attention would be given to these to these spaces um I'm hoping member for um through you um Mr Speaker and Mr Speaker I will I will tell you the Deputy Speaker is doing a very good job you know right through you Mr Speaker and I'm directed at the the member for Castro himself because I know he would be in close um conversation with the developers for the Sabisha project that um that particular heritage site you know that that that we should be very careful that there's no encroachment and and and they're not provided the latitude to to to to um encroach on on the intentions for the Schoesel people's patrimony um I note carnival is back I know there hasn't been an increase in carnival um and it was kind of disappointing because I could tell the member for Castro himself that Schoesel Salibus was actually the first community and some may want to argue that Suframi want to argue that but Schoesel Salibus was the first community to actually have community carnival very first we had a queen show I'll never forget that and um it's kind of disappointing that we were not engaged in terms of you know um you know having well I I should say maybe I am not aware whether whether the consulate was engaged because that sort of correspondence flies over my head I don't get I don't get um any sort of um notification so but if they were not you know it's kind of disappointing because you know we were always you know looking forward to that sort of um activity I wish to move to um head 48 um member for Castro central is here and I'm hoping you know maybe he could also provide some clarification where needs be but I speak Mr. Speak Mr. Speaker to under the the housing housing program housing program I notice I notice that they seem to have been a reduction in terms of what was allocated last year and to what was in the budget and allocation of reduction of almost half and um it well and that's why you are not in and I said I'm making observations and asking questions so when you get to present you will you will okay okay so because it concerns me that based on the what I what I recognize as a reduction in the housing program and and we've heard from members across the room how important it is that housing assistance to the vulnerable in our various communities albeit I had some challenges in in in getting the assistance that was originally um agreed upon but um I'm looking forward to um some some yeah but um I also note member Mr. Speaker through you to the member of um to the member of um tertiary central that um the the the number of households whose standard of living was improved in the housing assistance program building material grants and labor and and again that is because of of of the the the fact that they they seem to be um some additional information required 2020 to 2023 it's indicated that 200 people got assistance and in the new year we will well not it will be increased to a thousand um but it so as I said it concerns me that we can increase the numbers but if I reduce budget but as you indicated you will um advise me as to um the the true situation there um the member for viewport north is absent I wish he was there because I again in asking questions and seeking clarification there seem to be a sort of a gap that is very very unclear to me um particularly when I look at um item line 1101 which speaks to salaries okay you and I notice a significant reduction in salaries from 34,541 770 2020 to 2023 to an amount of 20 thousand 20 million 702 762 remember for viewport north I was just seeking your um indulgence here in terms of maybe the prime minister in his rebuttal and and I don't know if there is something that I'm missing I don't know if full disclosure has not yet been made um I remember some uh parliaments ago we came in here to guarantee um loans for okay you and I am not sure if that is part of this whole scenario as to whether there's going to be some shift from the the hospital as we know it whether there's going to be a it's going to be privatized but there's something there that's not clear at all and I am seeking some sort of in um clarity because that's a significant difference in salaries and um I think if there is that sort of um move that's been made you know you know we should get that sort of full disclosure um well let's let's not forget where millennium I started let's not forget my good friend okay so so yeah but but but come full disclosure anyway so I I want to I also want mr speaker to to ask the member for for viewfort north and I think we we share the same sentiments when it comes to that with regards to senior citizens home the senior citizens home as I understand it may have about 25 words um I do understand at St. Jude's we have quite a few people who really and truly should be in a senior citizens home but they seem to have taken up permanent restaurant put permanent residents at at um at St. Jude's and um you know I don't see anything in the budget here to to to recognize any sort of um increased capacity at the senior citizens home well I'm looking for your clarification at a later date yeah okay okay well the member for viewfort north is because viewfort south is indicating to me that there is an allocation because I believe around the island we are seeing the need for quite a few people who who require that sort of care and attention thank you thank you for that yeah looking out for me yes okay um mr speaker um it is very it is very glaring in the because I remember members of the government side you know having a field day when we were in office as it relates to the amount of money um allocated to consultancies mr speaker and I notice and I notice the $122 million dollars for consultancy mr speaker um very glaring in in this year's in this year's estimate so the $122 million so there is a a sort of a you know I'll come to cdp now I'll come to it because we have to give Jackie's jacket um um the the mr speaker I yeah I will be I will be I will be concluding very soon thank you mr speaker I speak to and I heard um I can't quite remember whether it was the prime minister or another member who made notes that for the first time they will be assisting the cerebrial policy association and farmers I'm very happy to hear that um um mr mr speaker but I note I note that there is a matter that I wish to be addressed the the member for view for for for castries north as the minister for physical planning um there is an issue the farmers with disabilities when we were in office mr speaker they came to me and we are located about five acres to them so that they could have done the the farming because while they have disability and many of them cannot do the work farmers with disability yeah I I I am I appreciate that I said I'm talking about the land that we are located for them I spoke to them very recently and they indicated to me that that lease has not been finalized and as a result of that some funding agencies that member for this was earlier I have 10 minutes yeah I'll be I'll be running so um member for view um castries north if you could follow up on on that lease for the the farmers it would be appreciated um sorry farmers with disability no no um the the member the member for the member for castries southeast and I must say I was happy to see him in the parliament this morning he spoke about the bus in in his constituency and I and he was encouraging you know larger constituencies and I I should tell him that actually we have a bus in shows us all the bus we do have a bus which is actually dedicated to senior citizens but it is a bus that must be 100 years old a 14-seater um as old as the senior citizens that they carry yes um and that was that that was donated many many years ago and I must commend the the the administrator and I will mention the name Mary Pierre you know and Mr Speaker we've made light in fact the government have made light of the of you know the the fund raising that we had when we were having our balls Mr Speaker but we must not underestimate the impact the funds that were raised you know in in some of these things because at one point I remember we raised over 400 thousand dollars and that association got 25 000 dollars to assist with the program because they were not getting the kind of support so Mr Speaker you know we pay our politics but I think sometimes there's an element that we have to look at the human element and and you know stay away from that um I also wish to speak to the member for Mr Speaker through you with regards to road rehabilitation and I had a I spoke to the member with regards to a concern and it's not just Choiselle but I recognize it happens in other areas in St Lucia where cement trucks drop cement on our roads and they are not they're not penalized they they do out of impunity and in fact in Rivadory currently we have a situation we're on the left side of the road when you're going up significant portion of the road has concrete vehicles coming up move to the other side of the road and that's an accident waiting to happen so I am hoping that the minister can attend to that as soon as possible to to to deal with that they remember for um grossly spoke to the playing fields Mr Speaker and I I I wish he was here to hear the concern that I have to one of our main playing fields in Lafag um where we had Juniquial who said La Sier and albeit that as the parliamentary rep I was not consulted or had no engagement if all to it only towards the end Mr Speaker the field the field had quite a bit of damage from that activity Mr Speaker and the people who use the field uh a complaining and I'm hoping that we can see some sort of allocation to you know re-level that field so that um you know we don't get injuries Mr Speaker um I I I have quite a bit to say on the Yufi economy but I'll leave that for the the the next debate when we discuss policy Mr Speaker um I must say uh Mr Speaker that the community of Shoes El Salibas seem to be one of the communities that's most sought after right now where a lot of people want to come to live retire relax the member for Yufi South is quite happy um you know in the community despite the fact that you know so Mr Speaker you know I want I want to remind you know remind the Prime Minister that um you know I'm the parliamentary rep and Mr your families from the Mr Prime Minister yes in fact most of Saint Lucian's have roots in Shoes El Yufi but but but I I must you know um and I have always been that kind of individual I don't play politics thing I must thank the Prime Minister for the allocation that he provided to me on the CDP despite the fact that he has said despite the fact that he has said that there are members in his cabinet who who would not like to see that happen but but Mr Speaker and you member through you Mr Speaker remember for denry north has said has said that maybe we experience in a new day and and and if we experience in a new day let's let's because remember when you're in opposition this is one of the things you're fought for even today in the presentation of Yufi North he spoke he spoke about that egregious you know behavior and in terms of targeting the but let us you know my concern Mr Speaker is that there are too many things we will deal with Paulie next time around don't worry Mr Speaker my concern honestly and I think you know we have to we have to do things differently we have to do differently is that we have to do things differently we cannot we cannot as a government spend money and when a government changes assets are left to deteriorate who pays for that who pays for that Mr Speaker okay so we need we need these things Mr Speaker to be addressed let's stop being myopic in our view from a political lens Mr Speaker okay let's try to unite our country it's very important Mr Speaker but I'm very concerned with regards to you know the lack of order order and I I know in the in the policy debate I will speak more as to you know how I wish you know our community would have been would have been treated Mr Speaker but that being said Mr Speaker I thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to the next debate in April to discuss the policy thank you