“Dr. Lowell Lewis wishes to inform the people of Montserrat, at home and abroad, that he once again wishes to represent our beloved country, as a member of our Parliament.
At this election, I am pleased to work with and support Mr. Gregory Willock, incumbent Montserrat Legislator, the founder of the Montserrat National Congress, as an appreciation of the unconditional support that he has provided for me in the past.
I am also pleased to be working with and supporting Mr. Chedmond Browne, former Montserrat Legislator (2001-2006), who like me had a military background and has dedicated his whole life to the fight for freedom, democracy and equal opportunities for all people.
We promise to continue working for our people and our nation, for the rest of our lives and look forward to collaborating with all the other candidates in this election for the development of our Nation.
I also support and acknowledge the common objectives of other candidates, Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, incumbent Legislator and Miss Veta Wade who have shared our campaign platforms; and my close friend and colleague Mr. Wilford Meade (Moose) who I was pleased to nominate as a candidate for this election.
The following is the list of policy issues and programs that will be actively pursued by our team.
Policy Issues and Programs proposed for Session 2019 to 2024
“Good governance exalts a nation and eliminates corruption”.
The enactment of Legislation for Integrity in Public Office and a Freedom of Information Act will be a priority.
We will involve our young people as they embody the future. They will be provided with opportunities for education, training, sports, cultural activities, jobs, land, and capital to support small business ventures.
All Ministries will support community development projects. We will provide budgets for the activities of Village Councils.
We will promote linkages and partnerships with overseas Montserratian associations and friends of Montserrat.
We will aggressively encourage the return of retired Montserratians living abroad by seeking finance for housing construction for persons over the age of 65.
We will aggressively encourage the return of middle agreed Montserratians, by seeking funds for the financing of private sector business.
Constitutional Issues
• Review of the new Montserrat Constitution Order Amendments of the draft to:-
i. Alter the electoral system. National consultations and a referendum to determine options preferred for:- Number of constituencies Size of constituencies number of votes per voter At large representatives
ii. Remove vote of non-elected members of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly
iii. Establish criteria for postal ballots.
iv. Compulsory leave, without risk of loss of employment, for all candidates at a general election.
v. Revision of requirement for nomination of general election candidates.
• Ensure comprehensive discussion of the new Montserrat Constitution Order with the public, prior to its enactment, and ensure enactment provides for constitutional advancement and self-determination.
• Review procedures for overcoming the restrictions of contingent liability associated with Overseas Territory status.
• Continue the comprehensive law reform exercise to modernize Montserrat’s laws.
• Implement activities of Human Rights and Integrity Commissions on Montserrat.
• Continue participation in the United Nation’s Decolonization Committee consultations
• Establish a program for achieving political maturity, administrative capacity, and economic sustainability, through regional integration.
• Continue constitutional modernization towards self-governance, whilst retaining the special relationships that currently exist between our administering country, the United Kingdom and its previous colonies.
Sustainable Development Plan
Implementation of the Sustainable Development Plan of Montserrat will be a priority to allow the achievement of our objective to increase the population of Montserrat to over 8,000 and be out of grant in aid by 2020.
Our programs will be prioritized in 3 phases.
Once our government demonstrates commitment to good governance and integrity in political leadership, the United Kingdom, Europe and other aid agencies, whose mandate is to create sustainable communities and alleviate world poverty, would support our proposals.
Government of Montserrat would then cease being a financial burden for their taxpayers, and guarantee for its people a good quality of life. Good governance legislation will be further improved, to facilitate the attraction of more investment to Montserrat.
Our listed project proposals have the potential to provide over 10% growth in the economy for each year. This will require the provision of grant aid, investments and loan financing of approximately EC$1,500 million for the next five-year period.
Allocated as follows:
Breakdown ECD$ Millions
ECD$ Millions Investment Capital and loans – 850; Capital Aid – 650; Total – 1500.
Port – 300; Little Bay Town 100; Roads and Utilities – 120; Housing – 200; Government facilities – 60; Airport improvements – 100; Geothermal electricity – 80; Industrial estates and projects 500 – Tourism destination sites – 40; Total – 1,500.
Project proposals
This estimate is derived from an analysis of the following proposed 40 projects, many of which are linked, some ongoing, and some in planning phase:-
• Montserrat Development Corporation
• Small Business Financing Program
• Private Sector Development
• Statehouse, Court House, and Parliament Building
Tourist Destination and Facilities Development
• National Trust Museum and Archeological sites restoration
• The Montserrat Cultural Centre extension
• Institute of Performing Arts and Film Production
• Sports facilities developments at Blakes, Little Bay, Brades Salem, and St Peters.
• Inter-Island Sports Project
• Split-site 18 hole golf course
• Little Bay Town Development
• Little Bay Marina/Safe Harbour Developments
• Carr’s Bay Port Development
• Airport improvement and extension or relocation
• Education Facilities Development
• Hospital and Health Services Development
• Social Welfare improvement
• Vulnerable persons Housing
• Home improvement and volcano evacuees housing
• Returning Montserratians housing
• Residential and Commercial Housing Development Projects at; Look Out, Drummonds, Davy Hill, Brades, Barzeys, and Jones Hill.
• Jones Hill, Silver Hill’s and Blake’s Residential Tourism Developments
• Electricity generation projects (Diesel, Wind, Solar, and Geothermal)
• Public works equipment and road rehabilitation and expansion
• Montserrat Volcano Observatory
• A Montserrat Volcano Observatory through Hope to Runaway Ghaut bypass road.
• School of Disaster Research, Education and (Search and Rescue Training)
• OECS Climate and Volcano Institute and Mountain top Hotel
• Isles Bay to Foxes Bay access road and barge ramp or jetty, for export of volcanic materials.
• Cement manufacture and export projects at Sturge Park and Trants
• Rehabilitation of South of Belham properties by the provision of road access and utility services, to areas in Foxes Bay and Brandsbay Point which are at low risk of exposure to the volcanic eruption events.
• Conveyor belt mining, stockpiling, and exportation of volcanic material from the Trants area.
• Roads to the Silver Hills and Dick Hill area.
• Agricultural feeder roads in the north.
• Food production, processing, exportation, and security project.
• A north of Montserrat Corbett Spring to Silver Hills water supply project and water bottling plant for export.
• A fish and turtle farm and recreational beach facility at Marguerita Bay, Look Out.
• A People’s Pentecostal Cathedral at Look Out
• Medical Schools locally designed and owned
• Public service review and rationalization
The foregoing is a ‘paid-for’ party political publication
