On the eve of the March 30th General Elections, two United Progressive Party (UPP) candidates have unveiled a vision for a responsive government, anchored by a new community security application and a localized overhaul of the healthcare system.
Upp Candidates Propose Digital
Speaking on Observer AM on Friday, Emanuel Peters and Harold Lovell argued that the current administration has become disconnected from the needs of the ordinary man, citing ongoing industrial action and dilapidated community infrastructure as primary evidence.
Emanuel Peters, the UPP candidate for St. John’s Rural South, announced that a new digital tool, the Alert App, is nearing completion. Designed to combat the rising crime rates in his constituency, the app serves as an emergency broadcast system for residents. Peters explained that the community app will feature an alarm system where, if a resident sees or hears anything around their area that is uncomfortable or seems illegal, they can click that alert.
It will immediately send an alert to residents around that particular area and the closest police station. He emphasized that the app, which will be available on both Android and iOS platforms, is intended to replace the community grapevine with factual, real-time information. Beyond security, the platform will be used to promote local small businesses and provide residents with advance notice of infrastructure projects, such as road paving, to avoid overnight surprises.
The conversation turned toward the state of national healthcare as Harold Lovell, the UPP candidate for All Saints West, presented evidence regarding the continued closure of the All-Saints Clinic which has remained closed for exactly three years as of this week. Lovell stated that the administration originally said they needed six months to get it right in 2023, but to date, has failed to do so.
He pointed to photos from inside the facility showing scaffolding and unfinished flooring, claiming the government is trying to rush in two days what they did not do in two years. In the interim, Lovell has proposed Pop-Up Health and Wellness Clinics to bring medical services directly to the elderly and disabled who are unable to travel to distant hospitals. Similarly, Peters pledged to transform the community center in Rural South into a full police station equipped with a clinic and pharmacy to serve the area’s residents.
Addressing the recent wave of picketing by tourism, port, and education workers, the candidates challenged the government’s claims of a financial surplus.
Peters noted that while government buildings for workers remain in disrepair, the ministers’ offices have been upgraded to high standards.
Meanwhile, Lovell further detailed a plan for a $2.5 million Micro-Enterprise Boost Fund for All Saints West, aimed at assisting grassroots entrepreneurs and young farmers who do not qualify for traditional bank loans.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, the UPP has established dedicated transportation hotlines for voters on Thursday. Residents in All Saints West can call the hotline at 732-9735, while those in St. John’s Rural South can contact the branch at 561-3681 or use the WhatsApp lines at 725-0132 or 734-1012. Peters urged voters to consider the state of their surroundings when they head to the polls next week.
“When you see the evidence, you must believe the evidence,” Peters stated.
