Crenston Buffonge
Crenston Buffonge – 2014 Elections Candidate
People of Montserrat, I am forced to take to a stand against an apparent disregard for the essence of what it takes to better do the greatest good for the greater amount of people. We have all being guilty at times of Standing by and enduring while tyranny, greed and selfishness tear away the spirit of what it means to be a Montserratian, to live in Montserrat, in this God fearing nation.
Life is a reality, and so uncertain as we mourn our loved ones daily. Friends, we all deserve better. Under the current conditions, it seems that we are surviving while our present administration is dreaming. Citizens we can no longer tolerate mere survival, you deserve the right to thrive. It has been another five years of broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. Promises of change and prosperity, yet our basic living conditions are on a hand to mouth basis.
Comrades, our solution to our agricultural security is simple. Yet we struggle to cater our table needs much less export. We boast we waste 66% of the water produced, yet our farmers can’t efficiently produce in dry conditions. Our neighbour Antigua is still begging for water, yet they supply our local Merchants with food and I’m forced to tell my old aunty when asked why the food no longer have no taste that, “a no Montserrat e come from”. Instead of self-sufficiency some would rather we revert to the 40’s and borrow from our neighbours. Embarrassing!
Montserratians, we must never become beggars! I will never become a beggar! We must insist that we become self-sufficient within our economy. Montserrat is blessed to be afforded financial aid from the British government. It is our God given duty to ensure we do the greater good for the greater amount of people. Our cost of living remains one of the highest in the region as hard working people find it more and more difficult to survive even under British aid. My friends, some would have you believe that things are not as bad as it seems, comparing us to our neighbouring islands instead of finding ways to make us better.
They talk of national development and national pride loosely. Our high council meetings have become theatrical performances as they decide our fate with ill advised, inappropriate and non-prioritized decisions. We are moulded by nature, yet we destroy our landscape contrary to regional and local expertise. As global warming rises we can be assured, our natural disasters will be of epic proportions, yet little is done to mitigate and prepare.
Citizens, the American heritage dictionary defines the word “movement” as the act or an instance of moving, a change in place or position, an evacuation of bowels or defecation. Residents, we are all tired of these movements that get nowhere fast. My friends, we need a revolution, an urgent change, a far reaching and drastic change in the economic and social structure of this country. One that is holistic to all of our society, particularly in our ideas, methods and customs.
We already have the systems and young intelligent people in place to administer their duties. It is high time that they had representatives that genuinely care about their needs without disrespect or abuse, a representative that will be your champion for rights to immediate professional medical attention 24hrs a day. A Champion who will ensure our children has every opportunity to excel in education, sports and vocational development. No longer should they finish school without any qualifications. No longer can we accept crushing defeat in sports. No longer can our athletes be denied the attention and representation they deserve in medical care, facilities, training and technical support.
Ladies and gentlemen I guarantee you that when elected, at end of my first term in office you will see a revolution in national development, in all sports, agriculture and cultural rejuvenation. We all have to know, not just believe that Montserrat is the best place on earth. We all have a duty to our ancestors and our grandchildren to preserve our indigenous customs, culture, traditions, and festivals which are the essence of what it means to be Montserratian.
Citizens and friends we no longer want to survive but thrive! As high prices, low wages and extreme cost of living challenge most of us, we still see a selected few feast the lions share then challenge you for the remaining crumbs. Our private sector struggles to turn a profit and unemployment is high, especially among our school leavers. We know of once thriving businesses that have been since forced to close their doors. This has been all too familiar. Voters, solutions to our unemployment problems are as easy as revamping our Agriculture program in school curriculums and vocational courses in our colleges. With the introduction of split shift on all national projects thus doubling the amounts of workers and shortening the completion time.
Friends over the next few weeks at elections we will have the opportunity to choose our future. We as a people have a privilege and a duty to vote. Be not blinded by the noise, lights, fibs, the gimmicks and facades that will be sold to you. For once let us deviate from the tradition of having long belly and short memory. Let us not have to vomit so they can see we are not eating well.
Renowned author and poet Maya Angelou states “Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation.” Having ideas is not enough but they must be practical and chiselled into our institutions. We cannot allow little progress to overshadow the fact that our people are still suffering. We can no longer sit on the side-lines, complacent, tolerant of this unfair and unjust treatment. Equal opportunity for all is an idea to live for but which we must be prepared to die for.
”People of Montserrat, if you are like myself, tired of “the movements”, fed up and frustrated with our current administration, unhappy and disappointed as we have all been, then vote for this new revolution. God has brought us thus far as nation and I Crenston C. Buffonge your independent candidate, need you to step on to this brand new path with me. Vote for realities, not dreams. Vote for a much better option, vote for prioritising our future, vote for a humble, selfless, dedicated champion. Vote the name you know and trust. Vote for me Crenston C.Buffonge.
I thank you.
