Now that the tri-partite coalition, Team Unity, has won the country’s elections, it will soon be time for Prime Minister, Dr. Timothy Harris and his team of ministers to deliver on the promises made in their manifesto.
Page two of the 52-page Team Unity Manifestot lists the coalition’s key policies.
Among them are promises of a $500 SIDF-funded family support grant for households earning $3,000 or less monthly; a guarantee that programmes like the People’s Employment Programme [PEP] will continue and be upgraded; the removal of the Value Added Tax from medicine, educational supplies and funeral expenses; and the prompt payment of $16 million gratuity to former sugar workers from the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation [SIDF].
Other notable promises made are the creation of 2000 jobs; the construction of 2,000 homes and provision of 3,000 house lots for people in need of decent housing; reduction in mortgage payments for houses constructed by the national housing corporation; lower student loan payments; free preschool education and the development of an education guarantee fund to underwrite university costs for young people lacking collateral for student loans.
Team Unity is led by leader of the People’s Labour Party and longstanding politician Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris. Its deputy leaders are Hon. Shawn Richards and Hon. Mark Brantley of the People’s Action Movement and the Concerned Citizens Movement respectively.