By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

WALT Saunders, Free National Movement candidate for MICAL, said yesterday he is “more than confident” he will win in that constituency, claiming that current MP V Alfred Gray’s poor visibility in the area and “unfulfilled promises” have hurt his chances at securing that seat in the next general election.

Mr Saunders, in an interview with The Tribune, said MICAL constituents are “simply disgusted” by Mr Gray’s performance as their MP. He said there are “basic things” Mr Gray could have assisted with but has not, such as repairing damaged roads and ensuring that schools are properly staffed. He said these factors have “really worked against” the Cabinet minister’s reputation in the community.

Mr Saunders, a native of Inagua, said he is “certain” that he has won the confidence of the MICAL constituents, adding that he is looking forward to capitalising on their “positive and encouraging” responses to his prospective representation “one day at a time.”

Mr Saunders, owner of GWS Worldwide Express Ltd, was one of four candidates ratified by the FNM last week ahead of the 2017 general election, along with current Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames for the Mount Moriah constituency, and former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Chairman Mark Humes for Fort Charlotte.

Mr Gray, a native of Hard Hill, Acklins, has represented MICAL since 2002.

Yesterday, however, Mr Saunders said he is certain he will win the MICAL seat.

“…His promises that he made, a lot of them are very upset about it,” Mr Saunders said. “And he did actually very little to improve upon each of those islands that need so much. Things such as school just having adequate teachers - thank God we had retired teachers in Inagua who voluntarily went and assisted the principal there.

“The principal in fact, is a retiree, who actually is working as the principal at (Inagua All-Aged School). In Crooked Island and Acklins, it’s the very same kind of thing, a lack of teachers, lack of supplies in the schools, basic things that he could have assisted with, has not been done.

“And I think all of this has really worked against him. Roads that need to be repaired, the airport he promised he would have built at Abraham’s Bay in Mayaguana, never happened. A lot of promises never fulfilled. And so the people are simply disgusted or just not pleased with his performance.”

However, Mr Saunders said his personal campaign efforts have gained traction in the MICAL constituency since his ratification, adding that his prominence in the MICAL area, mostly due to him being a “son of the soil”, have only aided his efforts.

“I am certain that I won the confidence of the people and as I always say my trust will be earned one commitment at a time,” he said. “And in that light I think once I live up to their expectations, and understanding the principle that I am a servant and I came to serve, I will do my best to be the best I can be at serving my people with quality service.”

“The people know me very well,” he added. “I’m very well known, in all areas.”

Mr Saunders told The Tribune he is in the process of completing his platform - something he said should be finalised by the end of the week.

However, he said his platform would focus on capitalising on MICAL’s natural resources to boost economic productivity in that constituency.

This, Mr Saunders said, includes capitalising on Inagua being a natural haven for some 80,000 West Indian flamingoes in order to tap into the bird watching industry, and then subsequently creating a “Caribbean Safari” in Inagua in a bid to promote bird-based tourism.

Other endeavours he said he would be looking into would the establishment of tuna, conch, and grouper fish farming in Inagua, Crooked Island and Acklins.

“If I do the right PR on this, and (cultivate) that particular thing, I think we’ll have more cruise ships in Inagua stopping, because all those cruise ships that come from this area go through and between Cuba and Inagua,” he said. “And if we’ve got the Safari there that they don’t see anywhere else in the Caribbean, I think we’ve got something to sell. I’m very excited about that concept.”