The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday, has defended the allocation of EC$1.5 million (US$554,000) in the 2025 national budget for urgent repairs to the Prime Minister’s residence, describing it as unsafe and uninhabitable. This comes in response to criticism from former PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who questioned the necessity of the expenditure, maintaining that the residence was functional when he left. Friday countered that the building’s roof, electrical wiring, and guardrails presented serious safety issues. There was also criticism of an EC$600,000 allocation for new motor vehicles for the Prime Minister, which Friday also defended. He emphasized that the renovation project is about ensuring the residence is safe and structurally sound, and not for personal benefit.
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