Govt should not be blamed for the UNC’s blunders

THE EDITOR: It amazes me how the PNM Government has accepted full responsibility for the UNC’s wrong doing since assuming office. Take for example: Rental of Buildings:

The UNC government rented several buildings for government use. Most of the buildings belonged to members, friends and families of UNC officials. Now the PNM is in office the party is taking blame for the whopping $84 millions a year rental.

Crime: Crime was on the decrease in 1995 and continued until 1999. Published reports state that murders for the following years were as follows: 1995 — 121, 1996 — 107, 1997 — 101, 1998 —97, 1999 — 92, 2000 — 119, 2001 — 150, 2002 - 172. Now the PNM is taking blame for the increase.

Parliamentary Committees: Under the UNC they changed the constitution to establish new Joint Parliamentary Committees with the Government having the majority. Now the PNM is in office and having acted responsibly by ensuring the committees function the party is being blamed for the composition of the committees, especially the fact that the Government is in the chair.

Illegal detention of prisoners: When the UNC was in office no action was taken to reform the prison conditions. There was no outcry about the jail terms imposed by the magistrates. Now the PNM is in office and seeking to reform the prison, PNM is blamed for the prisoners serving more time than required by law, the prisoners having being incarcerated during the time of the UNC.

Water: When the UNC was in office, the party promised water for all by the year 2000, that was never achieved. Now the PNM is in office, the party is blamed for the water problems in the country.

Media: When the UNC was in office freedom of the Press was under threat. Remember Panday refused to sign the Chapultapec Declaration on freedom of the press, it has been signed by Mr Patrick Manning. When the PNM assumed office they hurriedly gave Radio I 95.5 a license to save journalists jobs. Now they are working on a daily basis to bring down the PNM Government.

Constitutional reform: Under the UNC there never was a problem with the constitution, now reform is being bandied about as the solution to everything. UNC denigrated the Constitution while they were in office.

Food Prices: Under the UNC, increasing prices were never a problem. Now the PNM is in office blame is placed at the Government’s door for increases in food prices.

Health: The UNC spent six years in office and never attempted to implement the law relating to the Regional Health Authorities (RHA). The problems today with the doctors and the whole health crisis would have been aborted. Now the PNM is in office, blame is attributed to them for the chaos in Health.

CEPEP: When the UNC was in office only the UNC members and supporters benefited from contracts, employment opportunities, etc, large or small. Now the PNM is in office and the small man is benefiting from contracts in CEPEP there is a loud outcry from a minority group. I hope the Government and the PNM do something about the public relations and stop taking blame for the UNC blunders, corruption and mismanagement - it should not be at the doorstep of the PNM.

TERRANCE ST HILL
St James