Embracing the Legacy and Shaping the Future in St. Mary’s South
As we celebrate our 42nd Anniversary of Independence, we are thankful for God’s blessings as we work together to address many challenges in St. Mary’s South. As a community, we are proud of the contributions that we have made to nation building.
We have made our mark in music and culture, we are known for excellence in sports, our unique culinary skills, warm hospitality, and outstanding entrepreneurial contributions to the tourism industry.
Let us celebrate our national and community leaders who helped to pave the path to success that we now walk on. I am proud to be the representative of a constituency where the people have a legacy of talent and tenacity.
In the years leading to our Independence in 1981, we were determined to throw off the chains of colonial servitude and oppression to build a democratic society to benefit all people. Therefore, it is the greatest irony that on the occasion of our own independence, we see our government literally doing the same thing as our colonial masters.
How can we truly celebrate independence while our government today displays the same repressive behaviour which frustrated and disadvantaged our pre-independence leaders and citizens?
I call on this administration to remember their constitutional responsibilities and to suspend the modus operandi which has seen them operate as a government for “the few and not for all”. The true meaning of Independence is providing empowerment for all people. We must be able to stand on our own feet and realize our dreams without being mentally enslaved by the promises of politicians.
The ABLP continues to engage in a new style of colonialism, where the well-connected get all the benefits, while the ordinary man is neglected, just as it was under colonial rule.
Unfortunately, they treat Independence as a partisan event for ministers to promote themselves and make sweet-sounding speeches, while failing to empower the people to take charge of their own destiny.
When we embarked on the path of independence, we did so with confidence in ourselves that we could manage our own affairs and chart our own course.
The people of St. Mary’s South have always embraced an independent and entrepreneurial mindset and the desire to fend for ourselves.
I call on the government to find ways to harness the accomplishments, dynamism and world-class talents of our people, to ensure that each citizen is inspired to be more involved in every aspect of nation building .
A truly independent nation must have an agricultural sector that provides food security, and a vibrant diversified economy with multiple areas of growth, thereby reducing dependence on a single industry such as tourism.
We must develop community partnerships that will lead to grassroots empowerment, that will enable our people to be more independent, despite government inaction. As part of my plans for community development, I will support the creation of cooperatives for our farmers and fisherfolk.
This will help them seek funding to improve production and find new markets for their produce. Our Antigua Black Pineapple is one of our national symbols, but sadly, the Cades Bay Farm has been abandoned. We must work together to find ways to revamp this national treasure, as part of our heritage and legacy in St. Mary’s South.
Too many of our people, especially our youth, remain unemployed and underemployed and are vulnerable to the high cost of living.
The ABLP has not provided any real solutions to help those who are struggling in this tough economy. We will create an employment directory and job bank to assist those in search of work.
We will also advocate for the revival of the vocational school in Urlings to provide training and apprenticeships in various trades, to secure greater opportunities for our youth. Our strong sporting culture in St. Mary’s South, will also be leveraged as a generator of jobs and opportunities for education and entrepreneurship in our community.
A country’s health is its wealth and as an independent nation, we must strengthen our healthcare system. The people of St. Mary’s South have been shortchanged by the ABLP administration in the areas of health and wellness.
We will work together to ensure the upkeep of our clinics. We will provide health screenings, community wellness and beautification programs to take charge of our physical and mental health.
The time has come to embody the true spirit of independence, as we mark this day which all citizens should hold dear to them, given its historic and life-defining significance. It should be a day for national self-introspection, as every citizen is called to critically assess the role they can play in community and national development.
We all have a responsibility to help pave the way for the next generation and we will not advance as a community or nation, unless we unite around a common purpose to fulfill the dream of our ancestors about the true meaning of independence.
Improvements in the quality of life that we long for in St. Mary’s South will not be achieved overnight. But each journey, no matter how long and difficult, is made easier by the knowledge that we are on the right track and victory is within our sights and our reach.
As independent thinkers in St. Mary’s South, we are proud of our democratic traditions and our sense of objectivity.
As creators of our future and masters of our destiny, I have faith in our strength, resilience, innovative spirit, and courage and I call on all of us to reject those who seek to promote divisiveness, oppression, and tyranny in our community.
I wish all citizens and residents a very happy and reflective Independence Day.
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Hon Shugy,
Your lengthy speech is one thing but actions from you is another….. Stop focus on what the govt has done & did not do…. The blaming game is cheap politics. Show us what you can do. Let your light shine so we can see the great works in you. Your actions will speak louder than words…. The blaming game of 28 yrs was UPP’s downfall during their time in office….. DON’T REPEAT IT. IT MIGHT CAUSE YOUR DOWNFALL ALSO……
After all the promises made by ABLP and the use of state resources to try to win the St. Mary’s South seat, Shugy has every right to hold their feet to the fire. They need to finish Cades Bay Bridge and make the Bolans Clinic functional. The government has access to our tax dollars and they have the means to improve things. But the only way to get them to do their job is to continue to apply the pressure. Continue to hammer the government Shugy. Don’t ease up. This can’t be business as usual!
I actually strongly agree with you Bluddy Bloke. But I do think highlighting grievances are also important.
Great message Hon. Kelvin Simon. Happy Independence to you.
Well said!!!!
Well spoken so let us get work started as soon as possible the time is now let’s we work together as one blessed independence to Antiguan an Barbudan near or far one love big up SMS 🇦🇬💯🙏👍
Gan Jah I c u been sneaking in and out the MP yard..
@Bluddy Bloke,its idiots like you who probably accounted for this idiot,lunatic DAWG still as PM. Blaming? You must be joking! Check Gaston Browne if you want to know the full meaning of blame. 10 years in and he blames Covid-19, UPP, whatever else he can find to blame. Shuggy has every right to blame the dunce who controls the taxpayers purse. Do you live here? Do you see the garbage, the overrun highways with bush, the mold- infested offices? Our tax dollars are supposed to deal with those issues,or didn’t you know that?
Why mention UPP? In ten years they did more than ALP has done in damn near 50. Failure? That’s a word synonymous with Gaston Browne. Wow.
@Watching, ok you’ve highlighted your grievances, but what am trying to understand is this cote that kept popping up “done more in ten years than the ABLP in fifty”.
UPP must have been doing something wrong, or don’t understand politics all together. How could you have done more in ten years yet the voting population continued to push your accomplishments aside? Was former PM Spencer a great PM, then what went so wrong that gave the people of this nation cause to give PM Browne a Prime ministers record of leadership which will stand for ever?
Yes you did alright on the last run but it was still a lost and all this talk of shouting at MP’s to resign, not gonna happen. The people put them there and the ABLP will govern till the next election.
Hope by then you will be ready, keeping in mind the people is who put a party in power.
INDEPENDENCE cannot thrive on a disguised APARTHEID SYSTEM, which only benefits a few. From Mill Reef to PLH to YIDA to WESTERN IMPERIAL to Nelson’s Dockyard it’s the same play calling, from the same playbook. Since, for the most part it’s handmaids, landscapers and cooks!
Yet, they’re claiming we’re a POWERHOUSE taking billions on the books.
Then if this is the case, why is apathy like crime is rising, in this place, faster than Bolt winning the 100 Meter Race.
Talk about fixing things is one thing!
But, without action, as we have witnessed in this fair Nation; time, and time again, it’s #dust_in_da_wind!
Can you even imagine if this guy or Pringle were to become our prime minister!
Yes. We would be in a much better place with Gaston Browne gone. He has made a mess of this country. When something as simple as garbage collection is out of control. Let’s not mention the Alfa Nargo and the reckless spending while St. John’s looks like a Shanty town. We can’t do any worse under Shugy.
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