West St George constituency report by Cecil McKie
REPORT BY HON. CECIL MCKIE, PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE WEST ST. GEORGE CONSTITUENCY: WEST ST. GEORGE SECONDARY SCHOOL, SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER, 2014
SERVICE THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE
I am humbled yet honoured to provide my report of my stewardship as your representative over the past four (4) years with particular focus on the last fourteen (14) years just completed, given that full reports were given for the first three (3) years – 2011, 2012 and 2013.{{more}}
West St. George Manifesto,
West St. George Strategic Plan:
The successful implementation of our agenda is premised on the backdrop of the West St. George Manifesto and the West St. George Strategic Plan which were supplemented by the role out of annual work plans. These provided the guidance along which the various projects, programmes and activities were implemented.
Accountable:
As the Parliamentary Representative and as an Executive Council, we hold ourselves accountable to the constituents who were instrumental in providing the information on which these various guiding documents were formulated. Further, it was the constituents who provided the energies and physical strength to complete the many talks involved in the annual work agendas.
Administration:
It is important that we highlight the various bodies that has kept us current, functioning, active and successful over the years.
West St. George Executive Council:
The Council has been led by Mr. Joel Woodley over the four (4) year period. The Executive has been active over the period and have met regularly. Mr. Woodley has been a tower of strength to me over the years and along with his Executive have provided critical guidance on all matters impacting the constituency and constituents. In a clear confirmation of confidence, Mr. Woodley has been elected for the third time to lead the Council.
Strategic Committee:
This Committee has met several times over the past two (2) years and has provided Strategic recommendations for the council and the Parliamentary Representative. The members are all c and have a long history of activism and solid ground knowledge. This mechanism will be both important and critical going into the next general elections.
Youth Arm:
We must all be proud of the operation of the West St. George Youth Arm over the past eighteen (18) months. Over this period they have met every week (with few exceptions) and are extremely active with a busy annual agenda. Their outstanding work is reflected on their Facebook page the West St. Georgeâs Youth Group for Progress and Development which enjoys healthy traffic.
Mr. James Gibson has been re-elected for his second term as President of the Youth Arm.
Womens Arm:
The Womenâs Arm has been re-established and Mrs. Pat Barker has been elected to head up that unit.
PROJECTS/ PROGRAMMES/
ACTIVITIES:
The following were accomplished for the past fourteen (14) months 2013/ November 2014:
PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED OVER LAST FOURTEEN MONTHS/ IDENTIFIED FOR ATTENTION
INFRASTRUCTURAL:
Much of the development hinges on the proper infrastructure being enhanced and or put in place.
A) ROADS:
1. Worked with six (6) communities to stabilize challenging and in some cases concreting dirt roads using self help model. Including three (3) roads at Arnos Vale, two (2) at Dallaway and one (1) at Villa.
Have identified at least twenty (20) additional roads for similar support with discarded asphalt from roads for repair or for concrete works.
2. Worked through Ministry of Works/ BRAGSA to put in long outstanding roads at Fountain, Ashburton, Queens Drive, Belair, Cane Hall and Warner Hill.
Worked through CWSA to grade road and put in storage tank at Airy Hill, Belmont. To install roads at Cart Road (Lower Cane Hall), Airy Hill and Guinea Hill.
3. Worked through Ministry of Works to complete first phase of the Vigie Highway Project from Cane Hall roundabout to Fountain Gap.
Shortly commence Phase two (2) of the Vigie Highway Project from Fountain Gap to Belmont.
4. Identified footpaths at Queens Drive and Robinson Hill for attention in the short term.
Did drive through and submitted extensive road patching/ repair work to roads throughout entire West St. George Constituency. Also, major repairs to roads and bridges at Fenton
B). DRAINS:
1. Worked through Ministry of Works/ BRAGSA to repair/clear/put in drains at Upper Cane Hall, Queens Drive and Dallaway.
Identified culvert works for Dallaway, Villa and Belair and additional drain works at Belair Clinic, Upper Cane Hall, Belair, Dauphine, Villa, Arnos Vale, Queens Drive and Fountain among others.
C). STEPS AND RAILS AND FENCING:
1. Put in steps and rails to playing field at Dorsetshire Hill. Also, rails at Rocky Hill. Also, fenced vegetable plot for the Dorsetshire Hill Primary School and fenced and paved Schoolâs compound at Belmont.
Identified work on steps at Gomea and rails at: Belair Clinic, Upper Cane Hall, bridge after Tropic Breeze Hotel and Casson Hill.
D). BRIDGES:
1. Worked with BRAGSA to enhance bridge at Belair (Francis Gibson Corner).
Identified upgrade to bridges at: Belair, Gomea, Fenton and Arnos Vale.
E). AGRICULTURE:
Much of the constituency is occupied with agricultural activity and we are well known to be one of the major agricultural crop producers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. As such, it is important that we engage these producers and work with them to further enhance possibilities and capacities.
A). CROPS AND LIVESTOCK AND FERTILIZER:
1. Worked through the Ministry of Agriculture to provide opportunity for farmers to access 2 per cent low interest loans.
Continue to sensitise farmers on the availability of this facility and encourage them to access same.
2. Sensitise farmers of possibilities through the Root Crop and Livestock Export Programmes and of significantly enhanced market access with the commissioning of the Argyle International Airport in 2015.
Continue Town Hall discussions with farmers/stakeholders on the way forward.
3. Strengthen seeds/seedling distribution programme in schools and with farmers.
Encourage even more backyard gardening and vegetable production.
4. Continue to work through the Ministry of Agriculture to provide fertilizer support to farmers.
5. Distributed hundreds of Maringa seeds/other seeds and seedlings throughout constituency.
B). POULTRY:
1. Now onto Batch #8 of the Poultry Project in West St. George. Some twenty (20) poultry farmers are engaged in this programme. We provide the chickens and feed, assist with the slaughters and access markets (individuals, supermarkets and hotels) for the participants.
Establish co-operative to oversee the general farming, poultry and sewing programmes. Distribute dividends to poultry farmers for December 2014.
F. EDUCATION – Schools:
1. Worked along with five (5) Primary Schools – Belmont, Gomea, Belair, Sion Hill and Dorsetshire Hill and the West St. George Secondary School on several initiatives. We are happy to report that all five (5) Primary Schools repeatedly realize in excess of a 60% pass grade in the Primary Schools Exit Exams (previously Common Entrance) with the Dorsetshire Hill School achieving an impressive 100 per cent pass mark in 2014.
The West St. George Secondary is celebrating their tenth (10th) anniversary. That school has burst into the top ten (10) academic performing schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
We have supported all six (6) schools over the years in a wide array of areas from: stationary, medical supplies, sporting equipment and musical/ cultural items, agricultural items and clothing and textile items. Special thanks to the St. Matthias Charities Inc. for their outstanding support.
Continue to work with the schools, through their wish list, in satisfying their various needs.
2. Proud of our two (2) West St. George National Scholars in 2013: Alana Cumberbatch and Shontelle Murphy who have both gone off to pursue studies in Universities in the West Indies.
Continue to provide support and the enabling environment for our students to excel.
3. Supported over seven hundred (700) students to take up classes in September 2014 through the Government Support Programme and other initiatives with support from individuals and the business sector.
G. EMPLOYMENT:
1. YES: Continue to place twenty (20) or so young persons on the annual revolving Youth Employment Service Programme.
2. SET: Able to place sixteen (16) persons on the SET Programme in February 2014.
A new batch will be placed in February 2015.
3. GENERAL: Assisted several persons in gaining direct employment or making contact to gain employment.
Ongoing on the YES and SET annual revolving programmes. Promoting the development of entrepreneurs, self employed and employment through the various empowering programmes and the Co-operative.
H. HOUSING:
Worked through HLDC to effect the construction of new homes and significant repairs to others (7 in total) which were extensively impacted during Hurricane Tomas in 2010. Supported hundreds of homeowners with repairs/ upgrades to their homes.
Ongoing support to homeowners in need.
I. SECURITY:
The security of residents of West St. George and persons visiting and passing through West St. George is of paramount importance. The fact that we have many Medical Students, particularly those attending the All Saints Medical College and St. James School of Medicine, also demands additional attention to the aspect of security.
1. The structure to accommodate a Mobile Police Unit is complete and the Unit will be put in place soon. A vehicle has also been made available.
2. A neighbourhood watch group was recently put in place in the Villa/ Fountain Road community. Will work along with that group to achieve its objectives.
J. SPORTS:
West St. George has always been strong in sports. As such, we will continue to utilize sports as a central pillar for the development of our various communities and by extension St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
1). UPGRADE TO FIELDS:
At Arnos Vale 1 and 2/ Belair/ West St. George Secondary/ Dauphine.
Construction of a Hard Court at Belair with a professional surface/ putting in place a Beach Volleyball Court at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.
2). SUPPORT TO TEAMS/ COMPETITIONS:
A). Provided support to the following: 1. football teams from Fountain, Belair, Fairbaine/ Belmont and Upper Cane Hall. 2. Cricket teams in Belair and Pole Yard. 3. Competitions – TBPO (softball cricket), ASCO (netball and softball cricket), Belair and Arnos Vale (football). 4. Sporting gears to individuals, teams and schools.
B). Special mention of outstanding achievements – Delshorn Welcome in Beach Volleyball who was a member of the duo representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Youth Olympics in China which was a first for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in a team event at the Olympics.
Also Cammie Adams who is one of the top cyclists in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Examine and promote a playing field for residents of Belmont/ Fairbaine. Commence sporting and fitness programmes at Dauphine, Dorsetshire Hill and Upper Cane Hall.
C). Support given with the Table Tennis Development Programes at the West St. George Secondary School, AVESCO Club House and the Doris Mckie Learning Resource Centre.
K). TOURISM:
The constituency is growing in importance for providing support in the development of the tourism product.
1. Further development of the Belmont lookout facility to include offering craft.
2. Developing a trail Airy Hill – Jack Hill
3. Develop waterfall and pool at Upper Cane Hall.
4. Three (3) Phase Development Programme of the Spa (Phase 1 completed).
5. Work has commenced at the comfort station at the Indian Bay beach.
6. Further enhance Dorsetshire Hill – Queens Drive tour.
L). Developmental programmes:
- New city at arnos vale
- Tye dye programmes – Dorsetshire Hill/Belmont/Dauphine/Upper Cane Hall
- Chicken ham project
- Encourage hotels/apartments development in West St George
- Sewing project – now have twenty of our own machines, thanks to Mr. Mcbarnett (new york) and Mr. Lewis (Canada).
- Consideration of a modern medical facility in west st. george.
- Continued support to the national emergency unit (nemo) with support items. youth group has a support committee established.
- Development of the youth through training programmes and a youth symposium in January/ February 2015.
- Capitalise on opportunities at the Argyle international airport
- Obtain support through the West St. George/svg diaspora.
- Strengthen streetlight programme
- Establish more neighbourhood support programmes
- Provide support for applications for water connections.
- Strengthen support with wheelchairs and other medical accessories.
- Support adult education programmes at upper cane hall and mike browne at the West St. George School
- Further develop the library at the doris mckie centre
- Establish new christmas programmes to existing ones at doris mckie and pole yard (children) and Dorsetshire Hill/Fountain/Arnos Vale/Belair (light up).
- Continue/ strengthen annual beach and river clean up programme
- Continue various road clean up programmes.
- Establish a craft centre and possibly duty free zone in West St. George.
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