Ex-FS L. Allen Wheatley blasts Unity Gov’t; Pleads for help for youths
He said if the cash flow problem continues without intervention, there could be an increase in crime, among other negative issues.
Non-payment by Gov’t causing ‘havoc’
In a nearly nine-minute commentary on social media, Mr Wheatley said there is a growing frustration within the business community as well as the “street side of this community” regarding cash flow.
“Now I am asking the Premier and all Members of the Government to listen what I have to say very carefully; the lack of payment to the business community for service already rendered is causing major havoc in terms of the business being able to function effectively.
“The Government, because it is not paying its bills, is causing too much problems for the business community, too much trouble. That is going to wreak havoc when persons are unable to give staff bonuses on reflection of their performance during the course of the year and other things. Some businesses have issues even making payroll this month because, again, lack of payment by Government. This is a reality.”
Stopping of bush cutting contracts ‘a bad idea’- Wheatley
Mr Wheatley also slammed the government for not providing the usual year-end bush cutting contracts to groups of persons, particularly young people.
“I am telling you, that is a bad idea, a mistake.”
In October of this year, the Unity Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said delays in attending to bush cutting throughout the territory were because his government was changing the way these contracts are awarded, so it could be compliant with recommendations made in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
Premier Wheatley had also said, said despite the delays, the government was using the opportunity to improve the bush-cutting exercise and was working on the necessary documents to hire bush cutters through the Public Works Department on a regular basis.
“Please, for God in heaven's sake, the little bit of trust yall have in my ability to know what I am saying, for years, even before my time as FS and even during my time and post my time, every Christmas season, as a matter of fact just before carnival, we always issued some bush cutting [contracts] so the young people of this community could get some work, they could get to buy a little Christmas gift for their children, their girlfriends, whatever..and be able to have a little cash flow in their pocket to look like people.
“The lack of bush cutting is rendering that not possible. That is bad, especially politically. You going to get a lot of backlash if any of you are trying to run early next year,” Mr L. Allen Wheatley stated.
‘We need to get cash flow on the streets’
Mr Wheatley continued that a programme where curb walls were painted and other sprucing up was done via small contracts has also been discontinued.
“We need to get those things done. We need to get cash flow on the streets…the street benefits, the businesses benefit and you as politicians benefit.”
The former Financial Secretary also said there could be an increase in crime if the situation continues, adding that not everyone will be able to ride the hard times without cracking.
He claimed that it was about a month ago that he was nearly robbed by someone on a scooter and he was forced to drive to the police station to shake off the robber.
“I am extremely fearful that if these young people can’t get their monies by legitimate means, they are going to find illegitimate means to do it.”
‘Get it right or face retaliation of the people’
Mr Wheatley also urged the elected representatives to go around the territory to see for themselves the state of roads and the overgrown bushes at the sides of roads, adding that he gets calls from persons every day complaining about them.
Mr Wheatley said it is unacceptable that the Christmas season is upon us and the tourists have returned to such an embarrassing state of the territory.
“I am not asking you to go back to any tactics that the so-called CoI people have a problem with. The CoI is not the government, the CoI is not the people, the CoI is not the tourists. We are suffering from a lack of vigilance right now. You have to pull the trigger to get this country running right...because one thing I can promise you, if you get this place running right you have the support of the people.
“If you don’t get it right, you going to face the retaliation of the people. That retaliation is not going to be a good thing.”
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28 Responses to “Ex-FS L. Allen Wheatley blasts Unity Gov’t; Pleads for help for youths”
Multiple Choice
Therien lies the puzzle
Wait - Why bush cutting was taken away … Under Whose Government set this action in motion :
a) NDP b) PVIM c) VIP d) NUG
Choices made out of badmindness come back to haunt us
They are after the quick big money..An every day Job calls for much desciplined and commitment, most youth ain't built for that... Don't blame government for what the youths chose to do. !
I don’t understand why an educated man such as Allen Wheatley is advocating for once a year hand outs for the youths instead of better educational- and full time work opportunities. We don’t want the boys on the corner for ten months out of the year waiting for bush work. Their children need to eat year round so they need to work year round.
Stop putting a plaster on the sore. Let’s fix the root cause of the issues instead. It begins with improving educational opportunities. Encourage the boys on the corner to seek to improve themselves educationally and to seek full time employment opportunities. There is no place in this world or community for laziness and those who know better should not encourage it.