We’re out to build New St Vincent

AH NEVER KNEW dat Ebenezer Duncan wrote this very popular patriotic song “We’re Out to Build ah New St. Vincent” around 1979, coinciding wid the independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Actually it is ah beautiful song with good Lyrics and Melody, sung in schools during October, In-deep-an-dense month.

De lyrics call for national unity, setting aside greed and hate, and working together to build a strong new Nay-shun.

Verse 1 says: “Oh there’s a lovely island in the Caribbean Seas… With Cocoa, Citrus, Coconut and fine Banana Trees. Dey’s Arrowroot and Sugar Cane ah Waving in the Breeze….St.

Vincent is its name. Sadly though, today 47 years after de song was written, we have none of de above!

And de chorus:” We are out to build a new St. Vincent (repeat 3-times).The future’s in our hand!”

Oh please give me ah break!

Verse 2 recommends dat “We must learn to kill our country’s pests and rid her of their blight! And while against these deadly foes we earnestly will fight! We’!ll not forget the other pest!

More deadly in their might, dat spoils St. Vincent’s name. Let’s go straight to Verse 3 dat speaks to de hate we bear within our hearts! De Grudge that never ends! De envy, greed and selfishness, the pride that never bends. The Ugly self that keeps us back from saying: “Let’s be friends!”

These spoil St. Vincent’s name.

Finally Verse 4 reminds us dat God has a plan for everyone, for me as well as you. To rebuild this little Island till it’s altogether new. So men and women, boys and girls there’s work to do.

So ah asked Lie-Za what in her opinion is commendable about de new NDP Add-mini-strayshun. She says she loves her man when he makes his promise and keeps it.

Doc Fry-dey’s first full-fill elect-shun promise was to tap-up de monthly Poor Relief from $175.00 ah month to $500.00 nearly triple, and to de dismay of de doubting out-going Pry-Mini-star, Fry-dey paid Christmas bonus to Public Servants within two months of assuming office. Tek note, de ULP never paid ah Christmas Bone-us!

One of NDP’s calm pain promise was ah VAT-free shopping day less dan ah month in office. Not only did de NDP full-fill dat key commitment on Friday, December 19, 2025, but has had ah second Vat Free Shopping on August 28th 2026, “ dis time to assist household budgets and school preparations for the new academic term”.

Now hear dis. Lie-Za say big up NDP when dey come good, because when de stray we will all fetch away. She loves Housing Minister John, ah hard honest worker, so is de quiet back seat driver Nearcha. And she talking bout de N-A-G coming from all de ministers, suggesting ah leave some fee later.

FROM AH PAUPER TO AH PRINCE.

Grampa Nay-tan ask me to big-up his two great nephews and my cousins, Trevor (Buju) and Dwayne, of de Bailey family. Same mother, same father, real poor people pickney. Bad like storm growing up in Gomea Village. But it is not very regular if at all, dat two youngsters- brothers from de same yard, could have attended de same village Primary School, den years after both young men,returned one day to school, dressed in full police uniform. Trevor Buju de Top Cop, ( Ag) Commissioner of Police, and his brother de chief of Prison Scurity, Sup’t of Prisons. Nearly caused ah riot on dey arrival like Santa Claws wid gifts foh dey Alma Mater, ah complete sound system.

Well done Buju and Wayne go and read de story “De prince and de Pauper” Mek yuh village, yuh family and yuh Alma Mater proud. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy.

_ Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.