For a third consecutive weekend top officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) headed by party leader Tillman Thomas engaged on a market square walkabout.
Following similar excursions to the St. George’s Market Square and the Gouyave Market area, the team met with market vendors and shoppers at the Grenville Market Square on Saturday.
The touring cast included St. Andrew’s candidates Sylvester Quarless, Allyene Walker and Ingrid Rush.
They heard a litany of concerns from the vendors and shoppers, ranging from the cost of living to the conditions in some of their communities.
One elderly woman begged for representation to get the roads to her farm fixed.
She said after many promises she still does not have adequate access to her lands.
“I really want some help to get to my property; the road has been in a poor state for years now”, she remarked.
One of the St. Andrew’s market square vendors is poultry farmer Lloyd Hutchinson of Mt. Craven, St. Patrick’s who bemoaned sluggish business.
“Everything is down, I’m now fighting to see how I can survive because sales are very slow”, he stressed.
It was the same cry from Mt. Rich farmer Raphael Phillip.
“We produce but there is no market, people want to buy but there is no money”, he lamented.
Phillip has been a farmer for 40 years, but said these are the worst times he has encountered.
“Sometimes, I have to go back with three quarter of goods, sometimes, I can’t even pay my bills², he added.
Hutchinson, the poultry farmer, said his industry is in urgent need of government assistance.
“It is really hard trying to survive in this business, things are tough”, said Hutchinson.
Alleyne Walker, the NDC candidate for St. Andrew’s North West said he has heard the cries of the vendors and farmers.
“Poor people have been neglected by this government and this should not continue”, he contended.
Ingrid Rush, other than being a Senator and NDC candidate for St. Andrew’s North East is herself a full time farmer.
She said the state of the agriculture sector in rural St. Andrew¹s and St. Patrick¹s is a big concern.
“People in rural communities feel that agriculture has been neglected but under a NDC government, it would be a main priority”, she asserted.
Walker said he was encouraged by the faith people have shown in what he called his party’s message for change.
“People are searching for an alternative and that is what the NDC will offer them”, said Walker.
NDC leader Tillman Thomas said he was satisfied with the reception the team received when it visited the Grenville Market.
He spoke of being touched by the many stories of difficult times he heard from scores of people.
“We must find new ways to bring back hope to the people of Grenada”, he contended..