Senators Laud 2013 Appropriations Bill

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Economy

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - Senator and junior minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Gender Affairs Winston Williams has proposed a gleaming list of plans for the year ahead, having embraced the 2013 Appropriations Bill currently under debate in the Senate.

Praising his ministry’s successes in 2012, Williams pledged to build on this success beginning with the well-received school meals programme, which will see an expansion into the Potters Primary School, the Bendals Primary School, and the Mary E Piggott Primary.

Senator Williams also announced plans to increase the programme’s efficiency by enhancing the business systems that support it, and introduce a food delivery van to maximize reach.

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He cited the progress of sports programmes and professionals in the country, with specific mention of repeat Sportswoman of the Year Tameko Butler, who copped several coveted regional titles last year.

The minister also pointed to growth in sailing, swimming, and other disciplines, all of which will see further enhancement through government directed financing during 2013.

“As the year rolls on, we will keep the public in tune and informed of what is happening,” he said, adding that plans previously outlined for the year of sports remain on the cards.

In the health arena, the senator said his sports ministry was prepared to put in considerable effort this year, having officially launched a call to the Ministry of Health to partner with it to reduce the health bill through sports.

UPP Senator Malaka Parker threw her weight behind the Bill, and focussed her presentation on the fact that the country’s economy is growing amidst the continued global financial challenges, having now been removed from the listing of Third World states.

Parker said the UPP government had literally revived a dying nation, doing “nothing short of a miracle” for the country since taking office.

But the elevation, she said, brings with it an increase in responsibility from the government in managing the country’s affairs, through firmly solicited financing and understanding and committed people.

Speaking directly to matters relating to her own portfolios of Social Transformation, Consumer Affairs, Local Government and Social welfare, Parker said that her ministry was critical to the country’s development, and she was positive that allocation to her ministry in the Bill under debate, would certainly go a long way.

She acknowledged the “hard working” staff and social workers at the ministry, and urged that if the country were to invest more in the preventative arms of government services, like her ministry and National Security, then the nation’s resources would certainly be well spent.

Moreover, she lauded the government's swift action in establishing a home for embattled young women, and suggested that there be more dialogue in the country to oust the varying forms of abuse facing the nation’s youth.



“We in this country have to break our culture of silence that feeds the type of abuse and intimidatory circumstances that a lot of our young people survive under…” Parker said. “We need to rip off the window dressing.”

She has called for a complete review of all legislation regarding the nation’s youth and their protection, calling for them to have “more teeth”.

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