By: Reuben T. Meade.
Who is this Reuben T Meade?
Spent 5 years in Jamaica 1973-1978 as a student and teacher; two years in Canada 1978-1980 as a student; 7 years in Barbados 1972-73 as a student and 1982-88 with the Caribbean Development Bank; returned to Montserrat and worked as an Administrative Cadet in the Office of the Chief Minister and on return in 1988 was Finance Manager of the Montserrat Sea Island Cotton Company before taking up the post of Director of Economic Development in 1989. In 1989 the massive destruction in Montserrat by hurricane Hugo and my management of the recovery effort caused me to be offered a medal of merit and a Certificate of Honour for my management of the recovery effort. In 1991 I asked the question of the people in a newspaper advertisement – Do You Want this Man? We formed the National Progressive Party contested and won the 1991 general elections offering management skills to the redevelopment of Montserrat under the slogan – give youth a chance. What were some of our major achievements?
· The infrastructure was rebuilt – a new Government headquarters and Parliament buildings;
· A completely renovated hospital both old Glendon and new Glendon to include proper dental facilities;
· School buildings rebuilt;
· Police Stations rebuilt;
· The Plymouth jetty designed, financed and constructed;
· Expansion and rebuilding of the Corkhill to Plymouth main road;
· Island wide cleanup;
· Increased tourist numbers from 10,000 in 1990/91 to over 40,000 in 1994/95;
· Expansion of electronic manufacturing to increase the labour force in that industry from less than 10 in 1991 to over 350 workers by 1995;
· Negotiate for and build a rice processing plant which generated over $1m in tax revenue to Government in 1995 creating over 100 jobs.
· Development of a major sporting complex for basketball and netball totally locally financed;
· Trained many young people who otherwise would not have had the opportunity in a range of skills at BOCES in Oswego, New York.
· International mountain biking races; International participation in around the island road relay sponsored by MILO;
· Saved the Bank of Montserrat from collapse thus making sure that the poor depositors did not loose their savings. We now have a stronger and healthier Bank of Montserrat.
Montserrat was on the move and in less than five years the economy was moving on a path to prosperity. Check the facts. We did it because we were capable of getting the job done. The volcano without warning attacked us and had we not fought against the British Government who tried its best to get us off the island, we would not have been here arguing. They promised tent like structure without floor but with outdoor pit latrines and outdoor showers to house 1,000 persons and I refused those structures as an insult to the people of Montserrat. I got assistance from the rest of the region and the Caribbean Development Bank for funds to build more decent housing and we got the wooden family units which people use up to today. In 1997 another government accepted the unacceptable Davy Hill houses.
What of the talk against Reuben T Meade –
· In 1991 they said I had a cloud over my head – The people said: we believe in Reuben T Meade – I led NPP to victory at the polls.
· In 1996 the claim was that if I was voted out of office the volcano would stop. NPP lost the election, I won my seat. Did the volcano stop?
· In 2001 same old same old same old.
· In 2006 I had enough Roselyn Cassell-Sealy took over leadership of the party and it was renamed MCAP they changed the attack to Roselyn.
· 2009, I am back as leader and the attacks are worse than ever. Why? Because they see a wind of change with a huge support for MCAP so they are out for my blood.
Ask yourself the questions –
· are they afraid MCAP will take over the government and continue the good work which we have shown that we are capable of?
· Are they afraid that we will stabilize the economy and create more work for the people?
· Why have they not challenged my ability to do the work – never once have they said I am incapable of doing the things that are necessary to rescue and rebuild Montserrat.
Instead, what are they trying to do? Destroy the good reputation of Montserrat by claiming that its leaders are all corrupt for the following reasons:
Local politicians getting over 100% housing grants ahead of more needy applicants – ask that of MLP.
Former minister while being a Minister in charge getting two 100% grant funding for at least two houses which are currently rented. Ask that of the MLP.
Which MLP candidate continued drawing payment for years from a Union which they claim I killed while the members got little or nothing? Ask that of the MLP.
A wife of a Contractor and co-owner who while being a Minister being involved in the construction contracts with Government – ask that of the MRP. Also ask them how many persons either have won court cases against their company for not completing their work but spending all of the money or how many suppliers and workers they still owe on contract works, including government contracts.
A candidate who is on trial for major fraud with a case currently before the courts – ask that of the independent candidates.
Enough said.
What are the new charges against me? They claim that I did not declare my interest in a company I formed with a friend in 1997 to assist in the rebuilding of Montserrat houses. It is public knowledge that I was part of that company as a Manager, shareholder and Director. In March 2008 on becoming a Minister I wrote to the Speaker and the Governor indicating that I had given up my interest in the company as Manager, Director and Shareholder. The Registrar of Companies records will show that in 2008 the returns of L&M Construction did not include Reuben T Meade as a shareholder or Director. L&M’s owner has informed the authorities that I am not employed by the company as a manager.
In a radio statement in August 2009 while responding to a caller I indicated that I was a Manager of L&M, but did not indicate that I was currently a manager. This is the basis of the continued distractions of those who do not wish to see Montserrat progress.
Where do we go from here? Let us focus on the issues and not be distracted by those who do not have the interest of you the people at heart. Judge them by their history – has anyone of them been imprisoned in the United States? The two brothers have been so imprisoned.
The economy of Montserrat like that of the rest of the Caribbean and the world is still undergoing a major recession. We must immediately start the process of planning a way forward to cushion the shock while at the same time creating work and growth. MCAP will have an economic roadmap produced and discussed with the public before presentation to DfID within 3 months of getting into elected office.
MCAP will commence the HOME Initiative which was being developed by the Ministry for housing. Through this programme we will inject $7m into a soft mortgage scheme to allow for qualified borrowers to obtain affordable mortgages. A special allocation of $1.5m is being set aside for Davy Hill to rebuild some of the totally inadequate houses in that community. This programme will start within 3 months because the Director of Housing and the PS in that Ministry have already done the necessary work to allow it to start quickly. This is an effort to create a substantial number of construction related jobs to include truckers, block manufacturers and other suppliers of materials. MCAP will.
The Port Construction Design work has started to allow for the projected start of construction in late 2010 to early 2011. This not only has a larger jetty but includes a breakwater. We will find the means to build it and not make the same mistakes that were made in building an airport which cannot meet the minimum needs of a recovering economy.
The design of the Hospital reconstruction will commence next year to allow for planned funding in 2011.
We will introduce a medical benefits scheme to allow persons to obtain the most affordable medical care as we can supply.
Consultation have been ongoing with a medical school to try to get a properly certified medical school to be located here again to create jobs and other income generating opportunities.
We will work to obtain more affordable air fares and connections from Antigua to Montserrat. We can already see the day tour fares from Montserrat to Antigua return at $270. It can be done and we will continue working at developing a proper airline service to Montserrat. Once properly marketed the day tour market from Antigua to Montserrat will again be rebuilt to create jobs for taxi and tour operators; souvenir shops and restaurants.
We already have pre-project approval on the Government Office buildings. Already, local architects are at work designing these buildings to allow for tendering to take place by the end of this year for work to commence early in 2010.
We also have pre-project approval on the major roads rebuilding project to allow for the start of surveys and designs to be completed. We will expect to start actual work on the actual construction in a few months.
The legislative programme for the remainder of 2009 must include not only the completion of the integrity in public office bill but also minimum wage legislation; consumer legislation; housing legislation; road traffic legislation as priorities. However, it is important for all to participate in the discussions of these bills before they go to second reading in the Legislative Council.
We must also tackle a host of education and welfare issues and we will.
In closing, I urge you not to be distracted by persons who have personal vendettas. Do not encourage them to drag the name of this country into the mud. Do not encourage them to stop progress and job creation. How do you do that? On September the 8th place an X in the box to vote for all the persons on the ballot box with a yellow background -
Herman Francis
Easton Taylor-Farrell
Leroy Greaves
Charles Kirnon
Reuben T Meade
David Osborne
Colin Riley
Roselyn Cassell-Sealy
Jermaine Wade
Do not waste your vote. Vote for a Government. Vote for a team that is well organized, managed and have been together as a party since 1991. Vote all nine for team MCAP only one way you voting. Do not let people tell you to split your votes that will only cause confusion.
Thank you and GOD Bless.
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