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Pestaina says DLP engages in blatant misinformation as a political strategy
It is unfortunate that the Leadership of the Dominica Labour Party in obvious desperation have sought to engage in blatant misinformation as a strategy for their political campaign. Only recently, we heard the Minister of Communications and Works Honorable Rayburn Blackmore misinform the people of Soufriere and Scotts Head in a Town Hall meeting, seeking to create in their minds the impression that Dr. Moise was an impediment to the completion of the Soufriere Scotts Head seawall. This was done when he had information which gives the true picture namely that Government had NO intention of extending the seawall to that part as they felt that the area was adequately protected.
On the heels of this blatant attempt at misinformation comes another desperate and patently false accusation by the Petro-Caribe Minister Hon Reginald Austrie that I Judith Pestaina am preventing agricultural development in Portsmouth because I do not want to lease, rent or sell land.
Reginald Austrie knows that to be blatantly untrue; or if he does not know, he should take the time to ascertain the facts before misleading the people of Portsmouth and the Cottage constituencies. But in the true style of the political leadership of the Dominica Labour Party, he has chosen to misrepresent the facts for political gain. This is why right-thinking Dominicans have lost trust, faith and confidence in the political leadership of this country as they are strangers to the truth. In Mr. Austrie’s case, it would seem that not only does he have a difficulty with the truth but indeed seems to have a difficulty with basic comprehension resulting in his current outburst which is nothing new.
Mr. Austrie has challenged me to respond to his distortion of the facts. I have my own challenge for Mr. Austrie and in fact for all those who conveniently prefer to believe the untruths coming from the Labour Party, not only about the Garraways but about a number of other issues including the garbage bin scandal, the fertilizer scandal and other scandals which continue to unfold.
Mr. Austrie – where were you when the Garraways sold land for the Portsmouth Secondary School at 25cents a square foot so people like yourself could get a secondary education?
Where were you my Grandfather donated land for the construction of the Portsmouth Hospital and its environs so that the people of Portsmouth and surrounding villages could get medical attention?
Where were you when the Garraways donated land to house the Anglican Church and cemetery?
Where were you when the people of Delawosin were able to build their houses on land sold to them by the Garraways?
Where were you when farmers were leasing land from the Garraways at $12 a year to enable them to make a livelihood for themselves and their families?
Now that you are a Minister of Government and have acquired some obvious good fortune I urge you to share it with the people of your Constituency and follow in the footsteps of the Garraway family, take a leaf from their book and donate something to the Cottage and Portsmouth constituency.
I refuse to allow you and apologists for the Dominica Labour Party to use my family and myself as a scapegoat for the lack of a proper planning policy for the country whether this is in Agriculture, Tourism, Education, among others.
I am NOT INTERESTED in accepting any GIFTS while in public office but wish to focus on the development of my country which can only be guided by honest, transparent and accountable leadership. I therefore advise Mr. Austrie to do likewise and put an end to the economic misery of the Dominican people instead of adding to that misery through a campaign of misinformation and untruths. Please focus on improving the conditions of the people you claim to represent instead of looking for smokescreens to hide your obvious failure in providing your people with the quality leadership they deserve.
