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Percy Barrett, MHA for the District of
Bellevue and Opposition Critic for Labour, says the third year
in office of the Williams=
government blazes more as a hallmark for what has not been
accomplished by the administration, than a celebration of any
achievements for the province by the Conservatives.
Today marks the third-year anniversary of
the administration led by Premier Williams, following the
election in October 2003. Williams campaigned on the promise
that he had spent the previous two years growing a team and
formulating solid policies he believed would create jobs and
unleash unprecedented economic activity.
AMany
are starting to openly acknowledge that despite the strong
promises made to woe voters in 2003, the sad reality is that
this government has accomplished little or nothing during its
first term in office,@
says Barrett.
AIt would appear that Premier Williams set out large
footsteps for himself that he has not even come close to
filling; and unfortunately, while this may be smarting the
Premier=s
ego and pride, the larger issue here is that our province and
our people have taken the licking for his lack of action and
progress on just about every issue he has tried to kick start.@
Barrett says one has only to recall the
extraordinary number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who
have shown up for the recent job fairs promoting employment in
other province to highlight the abysmal failure by the premier
and his cabinet ministers to create any meaningful economic
progress, particularly in the rural regions.
AThe
high level of out-migration in the past year reinforces the
ineffectiveness and unproductivity of this government.
AOn his
first anniversary in 2004, the premier boasted through an
inflated press release that he had implemented aggressive steps
to kick the economy into high gear. Massive out-migration and
massive turn-outs at other provinces=
job fairs certainly have dispelled that massive illusion. In
his Bluebook, he branded himself as a leader who was used to
success, expected success and got success. It is time for the
premier to broaden his self-admitted naivety to the whole
spectrum of provincial politics - that what worked in business
is not working in government. This third anniversary should
prompt the premier to refocus his direction. With only one year
left before an election, the people of the province will soon be
judging his unflattering record the way the people of Signal
Hill-Quidi Vidi did this past week.@
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Media Contact: Kim Ploughman Caucus Communications
Office of the Official Opposition tel: (709)
729-6427
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