UPP candidate happy to see MP Clarke retire

THE United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for the upcoming by-election in St. George North, Ambrose Grosvenor, has described Member of Parliament Gline Clarke’s departure as “really good news for constituents”.

He said that constituents “will have the opportunity to free themselves from the illusion of representation that has been the hallmark of the lost decade and more, a period that constitutes almost half of his time in Parliament”.

Clarke, who served the people of St. George North since 1994, announced on Sunday that he will be retiring from his post as Member of Parliament, having been appointed Barbados’ High Commissioner to Canada, replacing newly appointed President of the Senate, Reginald Farley.

Grosvenor, the UPP’s former Campaign Manager, is of the view that St. George North has been adrift from as early as February 2008.

He went on to identify, “Residents of The Glebe are still unable to use their homes as collateral to borrow money to pay for their children’s advanced education because they do not have title deeds. Residents of Airy Hill still have to walk to Charles Rowe Bridge, sometimes through neighbours’ properties, to catch a bus or PSV to go about their business.

“The heavily used road in Thorpe’s Cottage remains the same nightmare that it has been for decades. Thrice weekly water outages in Jericho, Paradise, Retreat, Roach Village, and Sweet Vale are perennial.  The safety of children in Lower Estate has been at risk for decades because there are no speed humps. Traffic in Charles Rowe Bridge, The Glebe, Lower Estate and Walkers continue to be near chaotic.”

Grosvenor said these problems are neither inconsequential nor insurmountable. “These are matters that affect people’s daily lives.

“These are issues that must attract the interest of a MP or a potential MP,” he maintained, while disclosing, “I have already started to tackle these problems and have met with success. To get things done while one is outside of Parliament is a tell-tale sign of a prospective MP of consequence.” (TL)