 Good morning. This morning I'm here to update you on some of the developments in Miquud North. So I'm happy to announce that a week and a half ago, we officially commenced work on the new number 4 cemetery. This project is expected to span over a period of a year and a half until we get to completion. Also, we recently installed lights on the past year's playing field. I think I made a pronouncement sometime ago about putting lights on the past year's playing field. I'm happy to announce that we have officially completed the installation of the lights and we're going to have an official lighting ceremony on the 25th of February. Also, the past year's preschool, I'm happy that we were able to... This preschool has been an eyesore in the community. It has been incomplete for two and a half years and I'm happy that the Prime Minister has finally found the funding to complete this school. So we are going to be starting towards the completion of this preschool this month. More importantly, the Miquud jetty. This has been something that has made the airwaves over and over. So I'm happy to say that as we speak today, the materials for the Miquud jetty has landed in Senusha. The final consignment of materials is going to land on the 14th of February and we're looking to commence work immediately after the materials have landed. And also, the past year's water project recently went to parliament to allow Wasco to go ahead with the expansion of the water project in past years. And this water project supplies communities from Prowling down to Mabitut. So Paseus, Monripo, Laoba, La Pointe, Setmari, all these communities get their water from the Paseus water project. And this water supply has been overused, if you want to say that. And no longer can supply the volume of water that the community requires. So we're backing on the project where we're going to put in a new treatment plant and we're going to move away from the gravity and use the pump technology. So we're hoping that it's going to cure a lot of the ills as it relates to the problems that people have to endure in the community as it relates to water supply. Okay, so we've seen you over the past two and a half years serving as the deputy speaker in the House of Parliament. Can we see a change in your duties this year? Well, as I've always said ministries, that is up to the Prime Minister. And when he decides I'm more than happy to serve in my current capacity as deputy speaker. I said, I think that this is a role that I've grown in, if I'm honest with you. And it's a role that really, initially you really don't know what to expect. And having served on the stewardship of the current speaker, Mr. Claudius Francis, I can say that I really got that big brother experience. I feel comfortable sitting in the chair. But this role also allows me to spend a lot of time in my constituency. If you notice over the past few weeks, I've been in my constituency basically every day except on Monday. And part of that has to do with me not having the ministerial responsibility. Not saying that I don't think that I can offer more. But however, as I said, this is the Prime Minister's decision and I'm more than happy where I am. And when the Prime Minister decides, or if he decides to change my current designation, then when that time comes, I will be ready for whatever it is. So no discussion has been had. Maybe just chatting casually about what role or the roles you could probably take up. Well, I will say it again, that is up to the Prime Minister. And when he is ready, or if he is ready, then that's fine. But currently, as I said, I'm comfortable in my current position. I'm happy doing what I do. It allows me to serve my constituency without having to worry about ministerial duties. And I think when somebody or when people go to the polls, they go to elect a parliamentary representative first and foremost. They go and they elect a parliamentary representative. And we should never forget that that is what the people go to the polls to get somebody to represent them. And to add to that, you know, usually there is that misconception that if you're not a minister, then you're not able to do certain things or you're not as powerful as you should be. I just mentioned to you the amount of things that have happened in my constituency. And that is because I have the full support of my cabinet colleagues who will not withstand any fact that I may not have a ministerial designation. They continue to give me, provide me with the type of support that I need to get some of the things that I want done in my constituency. I don't even know if I want everybody to hear all of the things that I mentioned because I may put some of my colleagues under some pressure when they hear the amount of developments that we could not have come in its way this year. Okay. Well, having gone through that experience then, what are your thoughts on, I know some people have a bind on our whole parliamentary system about, I guess, because as you said, people go to the polls to elect a parliamentary rep. And from that, the ministers, the cabinet of ministers are chosen. Your opinion, do you think that the system probably needs to change up where you could have people who are dedicated to their constituencies to ensure that it gets the necessary attention and maybe another process to choose the ministers? And I'm guessing that this is stemming from a recent lecture. But the reality is that we operate in a very small jurisdiction. And sometimes it may be a little difficult to strike the right balance. And it is important that you have persons who are committed to their constituencies because I said, and to their constituents, because these are the persons who elect you. But we also have to take into consideration that when men and women throw their hat into the political arena and they decide to run, it's because they too believe that they have something that they can contribute to the society. And for instance, if you have someone who is a qualified economist and who can, I don't think that you should limit them to just being a parliamentarian and then you have the divide of powers just because or you have the separation of the powers just because I think it's just a matter of striking the balance. So I don't think that we, or I agree with the statement that because you run, that you should, they should take away all ministerial duties from you. Notice the fact that I said earlier that I'm happy to be able to serve my constituency in the current capacity that I am. It gives me a lot of time that I need, especially given the dynamics of my constituency. My constituency is very unique. You know the history of Mikunov. But I don't think that all together that we should say, okay, separation of powers and that everybody who runs, because sometimes I think we have quite a few ministers. If you look at the current couple of ministers, the court of men and women who form the current cabinet, I think all of them are able to perform very well as ministers as well. So it's for them now to strike the balance to understand that here's what, I have a duty to country, I have a duty to my constituents as well and finding the right balance and be able to work through it. And to say that because you run, you should only be a parliamentarian and then allow persons who don't face the wrath of the electorate to become, or to form the cabinet. Because at the end of the day, we have a responsibility to those persons who elected us. And we are the ones who go and face the wrath. I'm the one doing the house to house. I know exactly what it is that the people are asking for what they require. And I think to have just a separation, making the decisions on our behalf, we must have a balance. It's not good on the left, only on the right, only we must find some common ground and be able to work from there. Yes, sir. As a person with disabilities, what more do you believe can be done for people who are, I guess, less fortunate in that way, in Tadusha? Because I know that many times people not only look down on these individuals, but also figure that they cannot get into that situation. You have a unique situation where you were in an accident and you became a person with disabilities. So what more can be done for these individuals? Well, there is a lot more that can be done for persons with disabilities, if I'm honest. But why is it wrong that I want to remind you that about two weeks ago when we had the handing over of the checks of the Taiwanese, one of the checks that was handed over was to deal with a national disability plan, and that is one step in terms of where we see ourselves as a government in terms of what we provide for persons with disabilities. I said there's a lot more that has to be done. We've already started the consultation process. I'm thankful to the Taiwanese and the people of Taiwan for ensuring that they gave us that grant to start the process. We've always been, for me personally, I think when you find yourself with a disability, you really understand what it is, the challenges that persons with disabilities go through. So I'm happy that not to stand in my own disability, that my cabinet embraced me. They treat me no different from anybody else, but not everyone is blessed with that privilege. So as a society, we must do better. And even as a government, we are doing better. As I said, we are embarking on a holistic plan to deal with persons with disabilities. Thank you very much. I'm not sure exactly where I should start if you are asking questions. I can go ahead. I think this morning, the main issue I wanted to deal with is I think you would have seen a lot going around about the opening of jazz. I think I want to make it very clear that the opening of jazz will be at Mindou Fede Park. Last time when we spoke, I indicated to you that we had not yet decided where it will be, that we were in discussions as it relates to the venue being upgraded and being prepared for the ICC Cricket World Cup. And we wanted to make sure that it would be available. Both in terms of the works having been finished and in terms of ensuring that the handover is within the contractual period. And I think I can confirm because I saw a lot of speculation, persons making a lot of as usual baseless statements and whatnot. But the opening of jazz is at Mindou Fede Park and jazz will get off in a fine style as we did last year. We also want to, and I think the last time we spoke again I mentioned that we were seeking to reestablish the Rangers Unit. I can confirm that the Rangers Unit will be launched by the middle of the year. We intend to complete all the preparations and all the necessary equipment and to have the Rangers Program in full in place and to lend further support to the police force as they delay further issues that confront them. So I trust you will take note that I can confirm on both of those calls the establishment of the Rangers Unit and the opening of jazz for Mindou Fede Park. I know you have no questions for me, so I can... Refersing to apologize, is it important to apologize? No. Seriously. I think politics is serious business and I think governing and being a minister and being a representative is serious business. I must tell you, when I listen to his response it almost seems very childish, you know? Almost like a petulant child, you know? You tell me, say, sorry, well, I'm not me that sorry, it's you that sorry, and then, you know, that kind of little children quarreling in a school yard. I will not quarrel with Dominic Fede. I will repeat that he is disrespectful, he is insulative and offensive and to see that Labour Party supporters are largely criminals is totally unacceptable. That he embarrassed St Lucia, not only locally, regionally and internationally, he's convinced we'll carry it all over the world. And if you go and see... If any respectable journal had to write about the, you know, the usefulness of such a comment by a politician, he would rank very, very low. I mean, there's nothing more you can say. I will not argue with him. I will not, you know, engage in this school yard back on for who should apologize. I should apologize. Well, you want me to apologize while I apologize for you. You know, this really, really is comical and I think Dominic Fede comes across, you know, as a child, a very petulant child and that's how he appears. So I will leave him in his childish behaviour. There were reports that a cruise passenger tourist was found in castries with fire armours which license was expired as the tourism minister. How do you feel about that and how would you say perhaps ports could strengthen their security to ensure, you know, these little things do not get slipped past them? I mean, I can't speak of all the details. I think the police are best suited to do so. But this was not the first port he had come in. He had been to two ports before St. Lucia. He had the, from what I was told, the fire arm in his sack. You know, he showed the bag, showed the bag and I think the police dealt with it and in a sense it showed that the systems won't because he had been to two previous ports and it had not been discovered but of course it was discovered in St. Lucia and the police in keeping with the protocols dealt with the matter. And of course we want to make it very clear that, you know, there is no, you know, tolerance of, you know, persons carrying illegal firearms. In his case he had a permit for it. You know, but still then what he did was not in accordance with our laws and the police had to deal with it. Like I said, according to protocols. Well, that's the point. But I think the police and them and through governmental channels the matter would be addressed along those lines. There was a recent banning of a Trinidadian dancehall artist in Grenada. The government I believe cited that his lyrics were incited violence. Given our challenges with crime in St. Lucia would we see something similar if somebody would want to come to St. Lucia? Well, of course. I mean, we're very clear in our minds that we do not support persons who engage in the promotion of lyrics that incite violence and, you know, and disrespect to other persons. So we're very clear on that. Of course the police is the one who is the final approvals for the hosting of mass fraud events and they would have to use their judgment. But our, you know, guidance on it is very clear. We would not support those individuals having shows in St. Lucia. One of the coaches who trains on the SAP he recently raised concerns again about the use of the playing field for all entertainment purposes events. He says that, again, after some of the events you still get the feel not at the condition that it was what they handed to the events company. And I think just the general use, if you can speak to that, I know the Minister for Sports had made a declaration last year or the year before about the use of the playing fields for entertainment. Your thoughts on all of this? Well, I think, let us just sit down and reflect on it. We have no dedicated facility for mass fraud events as it relates to shows and entertainment. We don't in St. Lucia. So we have to double up. You know, Pigeon Point is used. Pigeon Point is a national park. There are serious issues of conservation and what not. So we too have challenges there. Darren, some of the cricket ground is used and of course we have challenges and of course you would recall the Minister had made a statement expressing his desire that there would be no more mass fraud events there because of the wear and tear on the surface. We are about to spend millions of dollars to upgrade the facility again and it makes it even more challenging for us to have mass fraud events there. Mindofili Park has been used in the past. It is very problematic to use Mindofili Park during the rainy season because of the surface. The sub is a more versatile surface and if you would know that because it is a sand base it is very easy to do remedial works and to get it back in condition as against a dirt or soil surface. I've heard a couple of comments from individuals at the sub. Everybody wants the surface to remain pristine and remain perfect for sports. We don't have the luxury right now of having a dedicated facility to go to. It is our intention to build a facility and I think I would have said to you previously we are looking at seeing how we can develop a piece of Kaldi Sacklands to have a dedicated entertainment facility there and until we do so we have to double up. That's just the reality. An individual did comment to me about the state of the sub and like I said to him we get permission, we use the facility when we finish we provide money to restore it. It is no longer our responsibility but the management of the facility has to restore it and I pointed him to go in that direction. He's a user but we pay to use it and we pay for restoration. So whoever is responsible for management ought to do the job properly and ensure that the surface is restored as much as possible. But until St. Lucia can have a dedicated facility for entertainment we'll have to double up. That's just the reality. So I'm hoping that we can get a facility built as quickly as possible and we won't face those challenges but it is a challenge for us. How important is it for us to learn more about government? It's a significant item for us. I can tell you that. And also it's in Calisac which I have special interest in what goes on in Calisac area. The thinking is to have a youth creativity pack alongside an entertainment facility and it's a creativity pack that will allow young people to have incubator units for businesses, creative units and to really engage our young people and to add to the youth economy project that we are implementing and of course to have the entertainment. You probably will notice that the company that's in the construction Namalco is actually occupying part of the lands that we have identified for that purpose so you can understand some of the challenges but they needed somewhere so they can commence the work. But hopefully we should be able to. We need to build it. There are no two ways about it. We need to have a dedicated entertainment facility. Saman's pack used to exist but you know the hotel and the hotel eventually buying it over is not available anymore so we need to get one. Speaking of areas for entertainment are there any plans to upgrade the National Cultural Center? I know for several years I mean there have been infrastructural challenges over there. Are there any plans to upgrade the facilities there? In fact we intend to build a National Cultural Center. It is something I've done a lot of research on. I've actually spoken to the Taiwanese government about it because the initial discussions started off with them. There is a deep interest in assistance in getting a National Cultural Center and as we continue to work include it and the priority will raise. I think this year it has already been made very clear that our emphasis is on the infrastructure upgrading roads, bridges and some community facilities. So I'm hoping the year after probably will be the year for the orange economy. So we can raise in the level of priority for some of those items. As you mentioned Saman's pack could you give a general update as to where the hotel developments are in terms of the construction what's going on and stuff like that? No, thank you very much for this. Of course Cannel's development is continuing and the last briefing I had from them they expect in hotel construction to finish in around the middle of next year and to do the final touches for the property to open. In the next two to three weeks we will have a sorted in ceremony for the Grand Hyatt in St Rosel. We will start the construction of the bypass road because we need to do the bypass road before any works can take place in Shabusha itself. So we will have the sorted in ceremony for that hotel. The hotel on Redri Beach in April, Staffish will be broken down and Mystic will continue to open. In fact there is such a huge demand for rooms in St Rosha. Now I think the developers are thinking of extending Mystic to the end of the next season because they already fully booked for the year but we hoping by the middle of the year we will have the sorted in ceremony. After Staffish has been broken down and the surface cleared we will then have a sorted in ceremony towards the middle of the year for the hotel developing on Redri Beach. The Atlas Development, LifeCo, the wellness result work has started in terms of clearing the site and for the refurbishment of the existing buildings and we expecting to have a sorted in ceremony the ending of May for the actual construction to start. Very shortly an announcement will be made about Black Bay for the construction of a hotel there so I will wait for the developers to make the official announcement but very soon we will have an announcement on this. Today's cabinet will consider a suite of incentives and concessions for the Prahle. You recall the hotel at Prahle that has been abandoned since 2008. We are going to we finalizing discussions for the recommencement of works by another developer there and cabinet this morning one of the major items for discussion will be the concessions and incentives to allow the developer to advance their preparation so we will give you an update on it. We really hoping that all works well and that the project can recommence it has been a priority for this government to find an investor that can recommence it because it's not only an ISO but the potential impact that the development can have on that region from then right now fall the way to Miku is hugely significant so we will be updating you on it but we are very advanced discussions with a developer and cabinet like I said will spend a lot of time today putting together the package to make sure this development can start the St. James Club the refurbishment is continuing and the plan is by the end of the year it will reopen as a five star secret St. Lucia so we certainly looking forward to this and of course the Kazaba the hotel should be opening towards the end of the year so we are making considerable progress we expect between Raidery and Mon Pimad to add you know close to a thousand five to a thousand 700 new rooms just in that area and then if you add canals you add Black Bay you add the Grand Hyatt in St. Rosel you can see over the next three years also there will be a significant increase in the number of rooms in St. Lucia our target in the manifesto was 500 rooms I think we will surpass that so over the next few weeks be prepared to attend a number of certain ceremonies for construction to start in on various projects and in addition to that we have quite a lot of tourism products that will be upgraded the new Mon Leibai will start you know in March so you will be invited to this as fair on Millennium Highway another Leibai will be built in that area again you will be part of that we are looking to upgrade Leibais all around the island so visitors as they go around the island will have more updated upscaled stops with proper toilet facilities vending facilities so you will see an upgrade to ancillary and upgrade to canaries you will see one being built in Souffre you know as you go around the island we want to make sure that there are strategic points at which locals can enjoy the beauty of St Lucia the project in Grosile the beach park is also progressing quite nicely some of you who are the opening when we had it there we will start a new beach park at Mon Pimad that's next to Staffich Hotel at the bottom there were quite a lot of solutions go we will be starting a beach park there in the next couple of months we will also be the Bacai beach park which was built under the previous government by Bacai and handed over to the government had been allowed to deteriorate so I don't know if you've been there it's actually a fantastic place I mean from volleyball court small goals beach barbecue pits what not we are really going to restore it and upgrade it and you know it's going to be a really fascinating place to visit so you will see over the next few months a lot of the tourism infrastructure have been upgraded in St Lucia do you have any details of the what do you call it I know in Barbono they wanted to set up a whole ecotourism project any details on that? for Barbono the project I know we are working on now is something in Plateau we are working and there was a meeting last week between a community meeting which included discussing the community along with the parliamentary rep what we can develop because it's a fantastic view I'm from Plateau I mean of the east coast a really fantastic view so yeah we will be working on something in Barbono as you mentioned Barbono the Pima development we are seeing like a new sort of infrastructure development where developers are no longer looking for a really flat land they are going to take the hills as it is and do something with it do you think the government because there have been calls for more development in Barbono trying to turn it into a town do you think we could see more since we know Barbono is very hilly some more infrastructure along those hills for the people at a shopping centre maybe a bank or something like that well I know the parliamentary rep and her team and the council have developed a concept for the Barbono central for shopping centre and development Barbono has tremendous potential Barbono is one of the most scenic areas and both in terms of the hills and the valleys and the rivers what not so Barbono offers a lot a lot in fact there is a developer that is interested in started discussions with us but you know we've made our policy position very clear in terms of what can be done with Grannans I mean we recognize the environmental sensitivity of that area and we've indicated to them you know our feelings about that area what not so that's a very special area in St Lucia but throughout Barbono like you said I mean they have a lot of potential they already have some tourist developments in Chasse area you know the sky rides and other commuter tourism attractions but Barbono is working now I know the parliamentary rep you know has been having meetings she's been engaging us and we certainly looking forward to more developments in Barbono yeah thank you very much I'm sure you all can recall that some time ago I literally showed that we had submitted some plans for approval to DCA for the construction of five buildings in Casaba I am pleased to report that at the Development Control Authorities meeting on Thursday last week on Wednesday sorry last week that the National Housing Corporation received full and I mean full approval for the construction of those five buildings each of which will contain 15 condos that are emat for the citizens of this country as I indicated previously the government in its discharge of its social responsibility to the citizens of this country will not incorporate the price of the land the price of the land will not be included in determining the sales price we will strictly factor in what we spent administratively for the construction and pass on that benefit to the good people of this country each of the condos like I said 15 two bedroom apartments and we are hoping to commence construction pretty pretty soon our prime minister has a very palatable way of putting it when the resources become available I do know that that will happen in due course and I'm eagerly anticipating the construction in Kazaba the good thing about this approval is that it does not limit itself to the Kazaba area alone given the fact that the plans have already gone through the rigorous processing of assessment the engineering the engineering the electricals and everything else have been assessed what we are going to do is to use them as generic plans for replication in different areas so once we identify the land in a given locality it is a matter of DCA giving a site approval for that locality and we can proceed in other words all the hard work has been done all the engineering and electrical assessments have been done so DCA no longer would have to interfaith that again as long as we are using the same drawings what will happen is they will just approve the site and we are ready to go so I look forward to the commencement and I look forward to the identification of other localities where we can put down some buildings at least to cause some kind of indentation in our house shortage which hovers around some 14,000 deficit houses that we need now so we are hoping that something will happen and it will continue on a steady path to relieve the people of St Lucia and meanwhile to empower those who will be buying into those houses or condos rather Last week the Barbono Parliamentary Rep she revealed plans for Barbono Central summer apartment buildings as well is that part of Yes she has been watching like the Parliamentary Rep from Grosally was the one who literally pushed me into ensuring that approval was done with dual acuity she has been waiting in the wings so to speak to ensure that approvals were granted because as I indicated earlier it is just a matter of replication the good thing is in Barbono NAC already has the lands we have the lands and that would even expedite it further so I do see St Lucia going on a tremendous development path in so far as housing is concerned and I could tell you this is a tip of the iceberg because there are many investors who have basically signal the interest their desires to assist the government of St Lucia in ensuring that we our housing shortage is dealt with in you know expeditiously I remember some time ago there is a discussion about relocating some of the residents at Foa Show is this still ongoing I cannot speak to relocating the residents of Foa Show you would understand that I am not the district representative for that area neither do I or myself or my ministry have any developmental plans for that area so in that regard I must express total ignorance but whatever it is we as a government operate as a team and when push comes to show if my involvement is required it will be at the table to ensure that whatever we do we down to the benefit of the people and it's one thing I can tell you this government will not relook at anybody without you know commensurate comfort in whatever we give to them so we are government that put the interest of people first and I can assure you if anybody is removed from Foa Show it will be done with due consideration for the other areas that they will occupy in the year for infrastructure are there any plans for redevelopment in the city center in terms of particular in terms of tourist attractions I mean castries is our capital and there are not many tourist attractions in the city per se so are there any plans in that regard well you see you are right castries is the capital and there are not many in my previous life as a government minister there were two things I envisaged that needed urgent execution thank god GPH has come on board and will be executing one that is a walkway along the seaside in fact on top of the sea so to speak from point Seraphine to Laplace Carinage that is in the making the other thing I really wanted to do for which plans had already been developed was pedestrianizing the boulevard you pedestrianize the boulevard you make it something like Brian Lara promenade in Barbados you close it to traffic vehicular traffic and I think now the need is even more urgent because when you look at the lackluster way in which vendors set up their apparatuses for sale I am not against any vendor I need to see this I am not against any vendor if there is one person who is four vendors is Richard Frederick I like to see a poor person attempting to survive and attempting to make an honest dollar but that has to be done within the realms of reasonableness it cannot be done in a lackluster manner it cannot be done continuously I mean my reputation as a rep all each and every one of them the vending boats that were constructed in castries were under my watch I built between 2006-2011 I was out of government for 10 years and nobody in my absence built one I resumed governance in the very capacity in 2021 and I'm sure you'll have seen a number of new ones constructed so it's a situation where I understand the plight of vendors but you have to provide a balance with competing interest you have traffic, you have pedestrians, you have the vendors one do you compromise the right of a pedestrian to use the pedestrian walkway because a vendor wants to fully occupy it do you do that do people meet a vendor to sell where invariably they are causing traffic hazards do you do that not too long ago where we demolished the CDC that CDC there the following day I went there and there was a vendor we don't have no difficulty but the vendor actually placed a tent which was too wide for the sidewalk and had two feet of the tent and pushing upon the road now folks come on no matter how you support vendors no matter how you support vending we have to understand that this thing must be done just like you all are now interviewing ministers in a controlled environment in a regulated manner rather than meeting ministers and just shoving a mic in their faces this thing need to be regulated and I am one who can ensure that the balance of competing interest would be taken care of so we take care of the vendors I will do my utmost and that is why I am thinking of pedestrianizing the bullvard so I can send all vendors in the bullvard take your apparel, take your artillery take your tools, take everything when the day is over it's very unsightly and I'll be dealing with that I have some pictures yesterday I'm driving through castries so to have seen I passed parliament on the right hand side of the road by the print tree I mean you would swear you in the jungle I mean it's not aesthetically pleasing it does not augur well for a city as you indicated and so we have to do things in a better way I want the vendors to make the money but I don't want businesses to be compromised I was inundated with calls persons who own businesses in the bullvard persons come set up tents right in front of businesses how can you do that you know so their visibility is compromised and invariably their visibility is compromised their business activity will be compromised as well so if I ask you not to place a tent in front of somebody's business you know you'll tell me you are against vendors no we need to assert our rights without necessarily infringing on the rights of others so all of those things need to be balanced we need to put the interest of all stakeholders on the table and let's do it in a manner where basically everybody will be satisfied you cannot get full satisfaction anyway but at least there will be a greater degree of satisfaction when it is done in a regulated manner so if we pedestrianize the bullvard and we send vendors there no cars we would obviously have to deal with the police stakeholders have meetings prior to executing that plan but what we want to ensure is that give them that area so that other areas are totally relieved from all those iso-apparatuses that we see you know when they are not around I think some members of the public on social media would have complained about things that are unsightly some of the buildings we have in the city and the state they are left in are there any plans from your ministry to deal with this and also I get I rather suspect you if you drop on cabinet okay I'll tell you this the the prime minister came to that very observation there are loads of derelict buildings in the city there is absolutely no doubt about that on saturday and sunday myself quantity surveyor and my attache dax novel we walked the length and breadth of the city and we came to the realization that there are many many old buildings that need knocking down and I'll give you one example you live Shouseiro you're going towards the convent as soon as you enter that lesion road on your right you have a series of old buildings all galvanized you know the place looks like an iso we are hoping to get something done there even at the triangle right there that place is in a mess we approached the parish yesterday I was pleased that the parish indicated we asked them to pressure wash a building that is unsightly and to repaint it they said not only you can do that but they have an old derelict wooden building they wouldn't minus demolishing it so I think the expression of willingness on the part of owners of those derelict properties is that they may not have the money not too long ago I don't know if any of you knew the old mondial lodge you know what that is right I demolished it I demolished it with the permission of the large persons they were so happy that we approached them to demolish the lodge and that was done so we are hoping to get something done we are doing the costings now and I'm sure all of you will appreciate that with every exercise of manpower needs a commensurate amount of financial indulgence and so as long as those areas can be fully rectified regularised I think we will be on the go to have a better looking city can you give us an update on the boxpark where is it at okay the boxpark is on schedule it is on schedule and I'm hoping I don't know what the completion is I don't know off the top of my head but what I can tell you it's on schedule and whatever deed we are supposed to it is supposed to be delivered it will be delivered without delay any up yes I am about to ask that yes the parking meters we had well it's not a difficulty really our people we had to employ people and train them to ensure that they know what to do and how to get it done that is in the pipeline and I do believe within the next six weeks or so the parking meters will come on stream and will be fully will be a full effect in whatever locations that they are I remember you were talking about developments at Serenity Park building and Ampe Theater we just had a conversation with the tourism minister who said there are plans to construct entertainment places in Kalisak but do you think as well once that is done the Ampe Theater in Serenity Park organizers would be encouraged to have you know the events there because it's in castries and it's organized well to be honest we will be I could tell you the plans for Serenity Park the Ampe Theater are in planning we will be executing this before the CA is over we will be getting it done I mean as long as I am involved we get things done there is absolutely no doubt about getting things done I will not be micromanaging in terms of the use of the Ampe Theater and I cannot tell you with any degree of certainty that it will be a venue that you can pay to use whatever whatever I just I will not get involved in that I am more interested in the aesthetic upliftment of the constituency of my country and of course providing an avenue for persons to event whatever talent that he or she may have as to use and the compensatory aspect of it I cannot speak I cannot speak with any degree of certainty in that regard but if persons want to use it yes it's in the city city council will make a determination as to what conditions are imposed for its use and by whom it's a really good day really really good day well we are officially in full swing for preparations for ICC cricket woke up we had the launch last week we have all contractors engaged we have employment being pretty much sought after in terms of various skills in the constituency of grossly surrounding constituencies and so we are cooking with gas I would say we are full steam ahead in terms of where we are and what we need to do for cricket woke up we have the lights which is an integral part of how we are going to have a good event being broadcasted being procured and shipped to St Lucia we have the roof totally dislodged right now and it will be replaced by a brand new roof the air conditioning is also a cause for concern in times past we have officially engaged a contractor in fact multiple contractors for our air conditioning and we are just ready to go and ensure that we have the sort of implementation of a local organizing committee that will have one of the best events in the region for sure one of the coaches who uses the VG plane field he complained last week about the conditions of the field and state of the facilities and what not I think he said that he had engagements if you are trying to have engagements if you can just tell us from the ministry's perspective what's happening with the VG plane field well we have a situation in all our facilities and I think we can and I've asked some of the elderly people in my constituency whether they've ever seen a period where from January of one year until January next year you have rain consistently every month and so it has really hampered some of what we can do in terms of the interventions that we need for the maintenance of facilities in addition to that we are transitioning as a nation as it pertains to facilities we have engaged contractors to develop a number of plane fields in St. Lucia to pretty much transition them to many stadiums and of course VG with the imposition of a semi pro league will receive that attention so I can smile today because I know we are transitioning from VG being multi-use by anybody and pretty much transitioning to ensuring that we can continue to have that but in an enclosed setting with lights and the proper facilities in terms of toilets in terms of pavilion and so VG after the budget you'll be hearing certain pronouncements about what we are doing about the VG plane field and central castries being historically one of the powerhouses in terms of football and so I am not concerned about VG playing field I know for sure that it is not where I as Minister would want it to be but I am very confident that by the end of this term we will see a complete transition, a transformation for a number of facilities in St. Lucia including VG. I know earlier in your tenure you had mentioned about Darren's Army Cricket Ground not being used for any entertainment where are you where do you stand on that right now? I stand in the very same place I stood as a national, a former national athlete I really am somebody who is passionate about sports development and I want to see it happen from I mean 6 in the morning until 6 in the evening and then from 7 in the evening until 7 am because I believe that is how we develop a nation we ensure that our athletes have full access to our facilities we have had cabinet discussions about an entertainment centre for St Lucia that would really assure that we could transition from actually having entertainment on facilities to reserving those facilities solely for sportsmen and women and of course this is the position that I have had from day one and I will continue to have that position as we as a government work to provide that sort of mandate of providing the best facilities to sportsmen and women while the entertainment that we enjoy could be done in a separate venue until such time I still hold true to the fact that I believe as a sports minister and I am not sure that you will find another sports minister in the region who does not agree with me I don't think you can find another sports minister in the history of St Lucia that would tell you the absolutely love the use of sports facilities for entertainment but this is where I am and I am very confident that I have a cabinet of ministers and a prime minister who knows where I stand as a minister of youth and sport which is the portfolio given to me on how we as a nation ensure that there is complete usage for the youth for sports individuals and of course the wider community you want to make judgments that I think in your community your constituency sorry we have been having a series of block meetings in the constituency of Grosele and we have decided that we are going to use that modality simply because it is more intimate than going into necessarily a community centre or somebody's homes we have had divided communities because of having meetings as a particular individual that is perceived to be either SLP or UWB so we took the approach this year that we are going to literally stand in the light pole and have engagements and allow people to speak freely so what we see happening in the community and how I as a parliamentary rep can engage them to ensure that the community is better so we had a meeting on Tuesday in Marysale and we had two in Corinth we had one on Wednesday and one on Thursday Flamboyant Drive and of course if you know the history of Flamboyant Drive and what happened on November 6 we really had some intimate discussion on retaining walls in that community and of course the river and the roads and what we could do in that community to also not just have discussions on the infrastructure but how we developed the human capacity of our individuals I discovered in December that there were a number of elderly persons even within that community that were not given attention by persons living right next to them and so we had discussions about how we could be our brother's keeper and how we could work together to develop our community and of course we are going to continue those block meetings we have one on Tuesday night which is black and white and we have another one in the community of Grand Riviera on Wednesday after my constituency day and on Thursday we are going in the community of Moshi to have another one of those block meetings so we are continuing to engage people because this is really what it is about a parliamentary rep that is staying connected to his people and just to finish on the engagement with persons the grocery police station continues in earnest we have had the opportunity to employ a number of young people from the community to be part of the construction of the grocery police station and similarly the grocery recreational area the work continues in earnest and I invite the media to go and see the progress of that project and the amount of young people through this government that have the opportunity to develop their community maybe a bit of a selfish question but are there plans to upgrade the press area at the Darren Sarmic ground when it rains they definitely pause in that area so are there plans to upgrade it in any way? Absolutely, that is one of the sore points that we inherited the Sports and Lucia Inc. and the national authorities and me as a minister the roofing issues at Darren Sarmic were something that we were significantly concerned about and this is one of the first things if you go there right now you would see the intervention and of course with the Cricut World Cup that was one of the things that really needed priority because we have press coming from all corners of the world and so we are going to be expanding that press box we are going to ensure that we have adequate shelter in that press box area and it's more comfortable in terms of the utility in terms of internet access and I mean we remember that I was also a sports journalist and so I know some of the shortcomings of that area and so we've given that maximum we've given that maximum attention Ladies and gentlemen the press good afternoon afternoon Yes, what can I help you this morning? Alright, I guess I'll go first Yes, I do the leader of the opposition recently had a New Year's address in it he gave a scathing review of the government expenditure habits according to him what he said they were lavish in in but I do not know I've asked you a question I do not know he said well but he did reference what he called expensive trips to Dubai and other things in his address what is your response to that? Well unfortunately I didn't hear what the leader said I I don't like to I don't respond to these things these things are based on they're not based on any fact they're just emotional things that have been said so I really want to deal with the important things the government is going to be we're going to have our financial statements next month 2020 for 26th of March and we're going to see all the expenditure we're going to see all the hotel bills this prime minister has never slept in a hotel for 2,000 pounds per night so all these things are going to be shown I already deal with most substantial things I really don't want to get involved I can tell you I've never spent 2,600 pounds a night to stay in any hotel never from since my tenure so if the former prime minister can answer that question I can answer his let's move to some things that are a little more no he didn't finish I'm actually asking a crime related question we saw in Grenada that the Grenadian government banned a dancehall artist citing that his lyrics were filled with criminal intent I guess should something similar happen in Senusha in fact we have we have done so artists have been banned from Senusha they have been probably you didn't pick it up but that's happened before unfortunately we are in a sad situation of what's going on right now we see the crime situation already for the second second man we're going to have currently 10 homicides we have heard the opposition spoke about the government is not doing enough we know that the injection that the government has done in recent times but something is definitely wrong the prime minister with our country what's going on the time has come for the government to come together to see what they could do to avoid those nails the government to come together well the government under opposition did indicate they are willing to come together to how can you come together with people who call you criminals you see these things are first of all there is absolutely no reason why any government or any citizen will want to crime in the country I mean what does a country have to gain but violence where is the gain by violence you understand so the idea of coming together as if it's something that you should be divided about is superfluous you come together on things that divide you but there ought to be no reason why we need to have any doubt that crime is not good for a country so why are we why are there two sides as it relates to crime why is an opposition side and a government side when it comes to crime why of violence there is no need for a government side and an opposition side I have said publicly and I will say it again that the police have all the powers to bring an end to the situation all the powers within the law and the observance of the human rights of individuals all the powers we've given the police more resources than the last government gave for the last five years we have given them more resources we've given them more independent operational operational strength we've increased the numbers we are increasing the physical the physical space you understand what we are doing what any government can do last week we gave the police two vehicles this week we've given them another two we've given them drones we've I just signed for the improve the fingerprinting capabilities so what's the amount coming together there is no division if the opposition wants to create division with crime and violence then they need to come together when a leading member of the opposition a former parliamentarian can accuse more than 50% of the people of being criminals this is a statement which I didn't want to answer but you are asking me because I consider it ignorance and frustration at its highest frustration had been in opposition so I didn't want to answer it but since you answered me desperation at its highest and that desperation can lead to other things you understand I didn't want to get involved that's why I didn't answer it last week but since you answered me I'm going to answer this is desperation it's ignorance and it shows the sign of joining men who are clutching at whatever they can but anytime the people of Senusia are called to respond they respond and I'm very happy with the response from the people of Senusia because the people of Senusia are not falling for that rhetoric the people of Senusia are interested in Senusia moving forward you see the responses to the battle relief you see the responses to independence you see the responses of you see what the young people are doing I went to a ceremony at the Sanders Grand and when you talk about view fought you would think that view fought is completely complete chaos the students who did the best are from the view fought secondary school that must be reported the students who did the best are from the view fought secondary school from an area that is castigated you understand so I want to tell you that many good things are happening in Senusia many good things are happening in Senusia Senusia's economic growth when you hear it at the end of this period you understand it is something that it could be more our unemployment is decreasing many things are happening in Senusia but there are some people because of the political the political wilderness they will try to sell the name of our country for their own selfish political gains there is nothing to be gained by the citizen making crime sensational nothing to be gained the united workers party had their own problems with crime they had their own problems with crime problems of crime and violence are not new this country they are not acceptable but united workers party pretends as if when they are in government there are no issues of crime and violence from the time we have been in opposition we said that let us not make this thing political there was a national security conference the then prime minister was not there he chose to go to Jamaica to speak at a political convention I was there but you see we seem to have short memories the united workers party pretends as if they were never in government and when I say that some people say I should not get involved in that because I am the prime minister I should be above the fray I say above the fray all the time if I had to go into the fray it would be much different so that pretends as if they were never in government and that pretends as if when everything was nice and Celcius became violent on the 26th of July this is hypocrisy at its highest I don't condone violence we have been partnering now you speak about partnering you speak about partnering with non-state people if I tell you if I tell you the resources that we have put with non-state people in the NGOs the resources that we last week the SSDF had a major conference to get non-state actors in touch too so that we can have some social interventions this government has had the most interventions to deal with crime than any government before we have put resources we have put money behind it and we continue so the idea that that this government is staying back and allowing crime to fester is wrong I have made the point before I cannot give operational advice to the police force this morning we had a meeting and I said to the police do whatever you can do not breaking the law to bring a stop to what is happening in this country we had a government that brought in the regional security system the opposition criticized us for it we had a government that escalated crime areas the government criticized us look at our record look at the interventions that we have made as far as crime is concerned look at the resources we have put as far as violence is concerned look at the operational independence we have given the police force look at the legislation we have passed we had the strictest gun laws we have passed the strictest gun laws ever in the history of this country we did that so let's not get carried away with frustrated opposition people look at our record and if you don't want to go into their record the record of their personnel the statements they have made on political platforms if I commit crime I will commit crime on my own we pretend as if we have forgotten all these things I mean a situation where we have come from heaven and we have dropped into hell crime is something that everybody dislags everybody like a country that's peaceful but don't pretend as if the government is doing nothing look at our record look at our record as far as crime is concerned look at the statements my ministers have made compared to statements their people have made look at my record in terms of giving resources giving financial resources to the police services look at my record a number of people are calling for your resignation a number of people are not covering that is wrong so I can't continue that's not true it is the opposition using crime as a political football would you say that are they using it the opposition will use anything they can at the break I don't just talk about the same thing why don't you tell us how the students did well why don't you speak about how these students are the island scholar the island scholar we didn't record oh you did thanks very good okay very happy you did yes his accusations regarding your cabinet and its composition again the opposition leader made the statement in his address yesterday accusing your administration of harboring well what do you say let me use these words there's a junior minister within your midst that is criminal I guess that's what he's saying this is not the first time we've heard it why do you think these accusations keep coming I don't know who he's speaking about but if the person he's speaking about is who I think that guy was only a member of his party you see and these are the things that you'll forget that I mean I don't why are you forgetting that why are we forgetting that suddenly suddenly you found that out only now you were prime minister you had all the power in your hands you had this guy five years on your back consistent and consistently you did nothing and you found that out now that is hypocrisy hypocrisy is frustration it bothers I can say on national tv let's segue back into crime but not that way it's more like a statement not even a question really what is your issue with crime is that we don't really record our statistics of when cases are closed or when we have breakthrough in certain cases because yes the number of murders may be high but what is our closing rate do you think that would actually help to alleviate public opinion on the crime situation in St. Lucia I think as in most things and you're asking a very good question our communication strategy needs to change you know like what happens first the violence and crime is concerned there are other countries in the region that also have an issue of violence but their approach is different you understand but you know I agree with you because the police are making some very important breakthroughs they've been solving some very even what you used to call cold case crimes in the forensic lab we've put resources in the forensic lab to upgrade the level of scientific detection crime the forensic lab has just got certified that these things are not not being told but so you're very correct but again we can have discussions with the communications unit in the police force to see if they can prove on the communication strategy but you're very correct the more ought to be told about that Mr Prime Minister a lot of crime fighting strategies comes down to technology I think most of the homicides that happened this weekend it would have happened on the open street and so we have to ask ourselves were there CCTV cameras I know there was some move recently to install them so as the Minister for National Security I know you've said you're giving the police resources but what's the move to make not only resources but technology available so they can fight these things in a modern way you're very correct technology all I can say to you right now is that the roles in Russia police force is at the moment upgrading its technological capabilities to deal with the crime situation can you accept that to me as a national security answer I would like I prefer not to I mean just bear with me for that I prefer not to we often don't get to ask you this question but what is going on in your constituency any updates I don't I don't want people or areas to get jealous go ahead okay sports wise we'll be doing some serious we've done two stands and we're going to work on the players we're changing the lights up there on the minifigure park Marshal grounds we spent a million dollars there and I made that point it was vandalized I was zero tolerance to vandalism and I've told my constituents when we repair it again vandalism will not be tolerated we are we are we doing the stands at the Marshal grounds we just we did the in Bocage we did the lights we did it we are in the process of doing two children's two children's playgrounds we did the playing field in Bocage we put lights in it we built a court in Pavi that was vandalized we intend to redo it in terms of sports in terms of of housing we're making a major announcement very soon we are changing the face of the constituency you will see it for yourself at some point we're going to complete a facelift that will please you any additional, nothing additional in terms of facelift what does that mean it's going to be so conspicuous you can't even be able to miss it I spoke about the playing the playing facility in Pavi I know somebody in this room has been very very persistent and consistent in wanting a road that is going to happen so you know we want to do some land we want to get the people in Bagatell to own the land that's there that's a consistent problem because there are several owners so you want to go to some land rationalization as far as that base is concerned so generally we're going to be fixing some of the roads as you know the roads, the main roads are okay but some roads in the areas in Chippewa are going to be fixed so generally we the people continue to benefit out by the way I want to invite you to the Martian school you see a brand state of the art kitchen you've heard so? see the good news I want to invite all of you and I've asked my press secretary to take you to the Martian school the Bishop Charles Garcia school to see the state of the art kitchen rest of the art you like it, you understand so I want to give you an open vision to go see it so many things are happening I don't know who told you they lost it you know I don't know who said they lost it but I mean I guess you see joining men clutch at shores so there's a big headline and this and that I don't, I'll tell you something I'm so focused on this job I'm so focused on the encouragement that I get from the people of St. Lucia I'm so focused on the excitement I see among the young people going into the youth economy trying to get loans to go their businesses I'm so focused the products that I see young people are producing I'm so focused on that that I really to have the time or the energy to listen to negativity to listen to to listen to people who wish to be bad listen to people who get up every morning and saying what is the bad thing that will happen to us today who get up and speak about castigating people I'm so focused what I'm focused on is the development of this country I'm focused on why is I'm prime minister to see the young people get more and more involved in business the number the number of small businesses that are coming all over the place and I'm excited about the year of infrastructure I know that the roads are in a state that not pleasing not pleasing, I can't tell you that I'm satisfied with the state of the roads in the country, I'll be lying it's not down there I can't tell you that but there are certain things beyond our immediate control one of them is the weather beyond our immediate control is the weather but we're not satisfied with the state of the roads we're not but we are hoping to have a big impact on the road conditions in the country so what are your thoughts on the manner in which I know that the OECS has said made a statement on it, they were not pleased with the way Mr. Hygienus Leo was sent on administratively as a the OECS made a statement no no no no no get it right original broadcast made a statement and he said it came from sources in the OECS let's keep it this way the CDB is a very important institution I'd rather let the processes flow because I did something sometimes we don't understand the damage that we do to our country by dealing with sensationalism and propaganda the damage we in a small country have to understand what bad news and rumor causes we have to understand that so as we look for being and this is why I'm so measured in the words I use and the things I say particularly in things like um violence and this kind I'm very measured because we've seen people pay and this is why I treat you I treat you with so much respect this is the press you agree right I treat you with respect I don't cast a gate to you and call you names and tell you I should be ashamed of you I don't because even sometimes I don't agree with you but I treat you with respect because you doing what you think what is your job I won't call you criminal never I'll never do that and you shouldn't forget people who call you that any question is it possible what you have to ask them you can ask them I speak to the media of infrastructure you can do that's your you ask them to meet you you can do you can do you can do you can do you can do you can do you can do that's your you ask them to meet you ask them to meet I also made that point I mean I tried to be pretty straight-forward and frank I want you to be able to always fact check me like I was very concerned about the tax bill She didn't believe me until she got the truth. And now you believe me. I'm sure you didn't believe me on the tax bill. You see, I always want you to fact check me. I've always said to you to fact check me. You understand? You didn't believe me about the tax bill. I just thought it was all about nothing. It was just propaganda, frustration, propaganda. Just fire bullets, fire this, fire that. And you see, you've got the truth now. I wanted to ask on behalf of the media though. One thing that has kind of hindered our work is that there's this legislation that we've been waiting to see passed. The freedom of information passed. Can we see under this administration, this legislation coming in? The Minister of Information has spoken about it. We have a very active legislative agenda, but the Minister has spoken about it. I think I can ask him for an update, but it's something that we are considering. Because you ought to have learned to hide in government. And this is why when we put the bill out, the bill is put out, I didn't put it out, but it just shows you how we run this government. We run this government with complete transparency. Transparency in its entirety. So it went out, the technocrats put it out, you feast on it. But that's all in the days of, but always what always sets me free is the truth. That's what always sets me free. So when you hear all the accusations, when the accusations die off, the truth comes to bear, and you see how the truth always reveals. So I want to invite you to go see the custody suites. You're coming with me? I'll tell you when. I go to, I travel, and I also want to take you to see the Sanctuary at some point there. That things are going well there. I want to take you to see the close of the police station. I want to show you the work on the House of Justice. We're going to begin that. I'm going to show you a lot of things. I also want to show you some housing. Okay? Have a good day.