The Government of St. Lucia needs as a matter of urgency to up the tempo if it is achieve economic growth in this financial year. It is becoming a matter of great unease that we are into the second quarter of the financial year and the plane is still taking fuel, when we should be at takeoff. The metaphorical symbolism is chosen to show that there is a time lag between policy declaration and resultant effect, and the function of effective governance is to ensure a closing of that gap. I wish to again stress that there is need to look at the implementation capacity of the public service, and to be bold to recognize that the commercial mindset is not evident within our public service. This is not organizational bashing, but the expression of realistic expectations. In small island states, the Government will always be the largest employer and largest investor, and thus efficient spending and wise investment by Governments are fundamental pillars of a strong economy. In closing while one appreciates the potholing on the Gros Islet highway from Gros Islet Town to Cap Estate, it should not have been done solely because we are having a Caricom Heads of Gov’t meeting. The Ministry of Infrastructure must be fully aware that the major road networks in the island are prioritized work in any road rehabilitation programme. The suggestion that Kamla Persad Bissesar is of greater importance to the Gov’t of St. Lucia than I am as a St. Lucian citizen, one finds most offensive.