Dr Lowell Lewis
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Brothers and Sisters of Montserrat. I thank you for the privilege of serving you as a legislator for the past 13 years.
We will soon exercise our democratic rights to offer our selves to serve our people at the highest level, and I once again ask you to vote for me, to be one of your representatives in the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat, and to be part of the new government of Montserrat.
I commend and congratulate all the other persons who have come forward to be candidates at the coming general elections. I wish you all well and trust that whether elected or not, we will work together to make our country the great nation it can be.
My record of service to the Montserrat Community at home and abroad, and the training and experience that I have gained as a senior health professional, a senior public servant , a legislator, Minister of government and Chief Minister has provided me with the competence to continue representing you at home and abroad, to participate in the management of our country and the delivery of our vision for Montserrat.
I remain committed to “Ensuring that there were appropriate plans to prevent injury and death from the ongoing volcanic eruption, and the restoration of the economic status of families, businesses and the Government of Montserrat, so as to bring the island out of dependency on United Kingdom grant aid, thus allowing the people of Montserrat to once again take full control of their country and future.”
I remain as energetic as during my 2 years as Minister of Communication from 2001, when I guided the implementation of over 70 infrastructure projects, including the Brade’s Police station, Look Out sheltered housing for the elderly, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, and the Jack Boy Hill Tourism site, and started the development of the Little Bay playing field, Blake’s football field, and the reopening of the roads into the Silver Hills.
That period of service ended when I failed to gain support of colleagues for a change of leadership, to bring about the policies and election promises that had been abandoned. These included a commitment to placing an airport in the Silver Hills area, acquisition of a ferry and twin otter aircraft for the exclusive use of the people of Montserrat, construction of a port and tourism destinations to make possible cruise tourism on a scale similar to neighboring islands, the development of geothermal electricity production, and modernization of our constitution to give our people more self governance.
It was indeed an honour in 2006, to become the 7th Chief Minister of Montserrat for 3 years, during which the economy of Montserrat grew by 8%, Government expenditure going from EC$115 million in 2006 to $142 million in 2008. In addition to securing additional $60 million from the European Union for infrastructure developments at Little Bay Port and Town Centre, we gained EC$8 million extra budgetary aid funds from CARICOM partners, to start a variety of projects, yet to be completed.
These included the Small Business Grant program, Drummond’s housing development , Agricultural feeder roads to the Silver Hills and Dick Hill area, an MVO, Hope to Runaway Ghaut bypass road , Isles Bay to Foxes Bay access road and barge ramp/jetty preparation, Extension of Public Market at Little Bay, Inland Marina and safe harbor at Little Bay and Pipers Pond, an OECS Climate Change Centre at the Silver Hills, a Pilot project for a Disaster Research and Management Institute and a Search and Rescue training program for the region in Montserrat. During this time we ensured the completion of the Montserrat Cultural Center, and the Little Bay Playing Field team and commentary facilities.
These are among the projects that our party would seek to complete.
Brothers and sisters of Montserrat, the next government of Montserrat will have an opportunity to provide the people of Montserrat with better housing, better health care and better transportation in and out of Montserrat.
My team pledge to make Montserrat one of the top destinations in the Caribbean for cruize ships and winter expatriate residents from North America and Europe, and to create a manufacturing sector which utilizes the geothermal energy sources and the volcanic materials with which we have been blessed. Through these activities, we intend to achieve a level of industrialisation, that will see Montserrat become self sufficient and able to take charge of our destiny.
Number one priority for us will be the creation of employment, not just for residents on Montserrat, but also for the many nationals overseas, who wish to return to participate in the rebirth of our country.
As stated in in 2009, I will continue to fight for an educational program that places our children among the best competitors in the world.
I will use whatever influence and authority I have, to the fullest, to bring down the level of crime, drug abuse and child abuse, and end corruption. To increase housing opportuities, to build better roads, ensure a supply of good food and support for our vulnerable people. Find scholarships and grants for our children‘s education.
Once again , I thank you for the privilege of serving you, the people of Montserrat in the past, and ask you to vote for me again. I pledge to abide by the key moral principles of governance:- Love, fairness, reconciliation and mutual respect for all people, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability or national origin.
I also commit myself to meeting the essential needs of all our people.
In my next statement, I will share with you further proposals that the Montserrat Democratic Party will actively persue, if chosen to be part of the next government of Montserrat.
Thank you for your attention and support.
I am your humble servant.
Lowell Lewis
