We campaigned on change — Fraser

Third District Representative Julian Fraser has urged the government to chart a new course as it relates to several of the issues that have been plaguing the territory over the past few years.

Collectively, the parliamentary Opposition now boasts nearly 70 years of representation among its ranks in the House of Assembly (HOA). But Fraser argued that despite the fact that the House does not function the way that it should for the Opposition to be effective, he felt the Opposition was the most potent he had ever seen.

“We don’t have the resources. We don’t have the mandate to advance the country. It’s the government that has that mandate and the resources. However, we have a responsibility to ensure that the government does its job,” Fraser said while speaking in the House recently.

Fraser called for several changes to be made across the territory, including an end to the way residents are affected by the wanton and open burning of garbage in Pockwood Pond, which is located in Fraser’s Third District.

“[The Opposition] ran a campaign on change, and change for us meant that the constant dumping of raw sewerage in the ocean has to stop,” Fraser added.

The Third District Representative also called for residents in his community and across the territory to have access to potable water for twenty-four hours a day, instead of the intermittent access they have had for several years now.

He argued that the change that was campaigned for includes the removal of derelict vessels that have remained in the Sea Cows Bay harbour ever since the hurricanes of 2017. It also includes the rebuilding of the West End Ferry terminal that was promised by the current administration during its last term in office.

Fraser said that, although there have been struggles between the government and the opposition in the past, his promises of moving multiple motions of no-confidence in the HOA against the government will only arise if the government turns a deaf ear to the cries of the people.

“We don’t intend to be a hindrance to your success,” Fraser said. “However, we know what our constitutional role is and we will be working towards that end.”