Griffith defends record in St John

The first Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate to represent St John after 60 years of domination by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has defended his stewardship of the constituency and vowed to do more once the people of that rural parish re-elect him on January 19 this year.

Speaking during a spot meeting at Sherbourne, St John on Wednesday evening, Charles Griffith said that his community work began over 20 years ago and he has continued to build on this foundation since coming into political office.

“My opponent [DLP candidate Andre Worrell] … says that I am unapproachable. But how can I be unapproachable when I coached basketball for over ten years and brought a championship back to this parish, was the Chairman of the St John Community Development Council and also served as the chairman of the Project Oasis committee which provided employment for young men from the block?” he said.

“I do not see my journey as one of winning an election but representing the people. When you focus on winning, that means you are only interested in self, but I want to reassure you that I have your best interests at heart and will continue to agitate on your behalf.”

Griffith noted that a new bus service from the rural parish to Oistins will be coming on stream soon, and roads in the parish would soon benefit from the Chinese government-funded Scotland District Road Improvement Project.

“These include the road from Andromeda Gardens to Bath, Martin’s Bay, and phase two of the Pot House development is on its way as well. We also have a community project coming on the site of the old St John Polyclinic which will house 12 shops, and we are hoping to have a SurePay outlet there so people won’t have to go all the way to Bridgetown to pay their bills, and there is a housing project comprising 174 new homes at Pool,” he said as he outlined plans in the works for the constituency.

“In terms of agriculture, there is a sugar cane project at Mount Tabor, and 40 young farmers will benefit from a project entitled Project Phoenix. We have also managed to install water borne toilet facilities at several houses which previously relied on pit toilets, and the water supply has improved tremendously over the last three years as well.”

Griffith also made mention of the fact that over the last three years, he had provided computer tablets to all Class Three primary school children in the parish, as well as put together packages for those same children when they completed Class Four and moved onto secondary school.

He said he was also in discussion with two coaches to establish a track club in Gall Hill.
Griffith told the audience: “We have a lot more plans to be unearthed, but three and a half years was not enough time in which to complete them. We have accomplished a lot so far, but we need more time to finish all we have set out to do.” (DH)