SVG’s 2025 General Elections; Sheer Madness!

I have for a long time been monitoring elections in our so-called ‘Blessed Land’, but I have never seen one like this. This one is Sheer Madness! If the future of our country and people were not at stake making it serious business, then I would have referred to it as a Comedy Show.

Lies, misinformation/disinformation, character assassination, bribery, treating, people collecting food vouchers and other gifts. With parliament dissolved and elections eight days away (at time of writing), we hear of COLA (Cost of Living allowance) for public sector workers and pensioners, Homeowners receiving title deeds at Cumberland, announcement of a $100 million Palm Island Resort deal with promises of more jobs for Vincentians. In fact, everyday one can expect some announcement about some new thing that is supposed to benefit Vincentians and to take us a few inches nearer to First World Status. In fact, there are multiple things happening as if Rip Van Winkle had just woken up and realised that he had a thousand things to do. All of this is sickening. And it has to do with what politicians think of Vincentians. Are these multiplicity of things happening because we are on the last lap to elections or because of the concerns and goodness of the hearts of the persons whom we had sent to parliament to work on our behalf?

There is a lot of hot air floating around. Two paid posts urge Vincentians in East Kingstown and Northern Grenadines and in fact, SVG, not to waste their votes because their victory will be successfully challenged. I have read what has been written about the dual citizenship issue, particularly by Dr Jason Haynes and Dr Linton Lewis, in fact two pieces by Jason Haynes; one in which he responded to Dr Lewis’ piece.

Haynes’ second article is entitled “Why constitutional claim against dual citizens’ election likely to fail”. Dr Haynes is not a fly by night person. He is a barrister-at- law and solicitor and associate professor of law at the University of Birmingham. He is a national scholar, British Chevening Scholar and Commonwealth scholar.

This does not mean that his opinion cannot be questioned and must be accepted. I have read his two pieces, particularly his response to Dr. Lewis’ piece and felt very convinced by his comprehensive treatment of the matter and the conclusions at which he arrived.

“The fallacy of a constitutional crisis” should be read to get a better understanding of the issues. Instead, we hear statements to the effect that the NDP will have to win 10 seats to be assured of victory since the challenges to the selection of Bramble and Friday will be successful. A number of persons who commented on the matter are merely falling into line to suit their political allegiances; many not even having read the relevant sections of our constitution and the Courts’ opinion in other Caribbean cases where there have been challenges to the citizenship issue.

Bramble is seeking a second term as a representative for East Kingstown. Friday replaced Sir James Mitchell when he opted out as a Prime Minister and parliamentary representative. The question is why are they now being challenged? This is really a rhetorical question.

I have heard references to some matters listed in the Code of Ethical Political Conduct being violated but no statement from the Monitoring Committee. I must note that there is so much on social media that one has to be careful about accepting without having them verified.

This is my last article before the election. I believe that Searchlight’s publication next week might await the preliminary results before being finalised for publication. There will be no time to do any analysis of the results.

As I think about the elections, one of the issues that the electorate has to take in mind is that of selecting the same party for a sixth consecutive term. It is not normal in democratic societies where a change of parties is widely expected and accepted. But apart from the issue of the democratic process, it is my view that once one party or an individual has the reins of power, even outside the political realm, for any long period of time, there begins to develop a sense of ownership and of entitlement. Those holding the reins of power become arrogant and the people over whom they exercise power are paid scant respect and in the case of politics and elections regarded, as ‘Voting Cattle’.

In any election campaign the focus is going to be on those who hold power, with the people theoretically reflecting on their tenure in office and vote based on their assessment, remembering that in reality the masters of the process are the ones who elected them to do their business. In the case of the Opposition the focus should be on the candidates. Are they trustworthy, what is their track record, what are their platforms for developing the country? Are they acting as a team? This should apply not only to the Opposition. Are candidates for the contesting parties ones who are likely to challenge the leader on issues or blindly accept his/her decisions. How did those who we elected to parliament perform? Were they acting in the best interests of the people and the country? Are we prepared to continue to tolerate the manner in which politicians neglect their constituencies for most of the term and then come alive as elections approach? Do we the voters not see this as total disrespect? There are of course many other issues that we ought to consider before we make a commitment to vote for a party. We have a responsibility to exercise our right to vote. Our vote is confidential and sacred. We must keep it so. Please go out and vote!

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian