Matthew Thomas says he likes Anesia’s spirit

Just as he reached the end of his self imposed deadline, at which point he had indicated that he would ‘take a recess’, hope seems to be emerging for political activist Matthew Thomas.{{more}}

Thomas told SEARCHLIGHT this week that he would consider working with sacked New Democratic Party (NDP) senator Anesia Baptiste, who recently echoed his sentiments, that there is the need for an alternative political party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Any group, including Anesia, who are seriously thinking about forming an alternative, and in their program they satisfy my kind of desires, then whatever energies I have, I could join with them and we go on the road and we propagate that kind of thing.”

Thomas, a former supporter of the ULP, moved over to the NDP, and used his radio programme ‘Stay Awake’ to bolster support for the NDP.

Disillusioned by the leadership of the NDP, Thomas, in January this year, broke ranks, calling for an alternative party to be formed, behind which he would throw his support.

When Thomas gave up on the NDP, he introduced the Political Reform, Equality, Socialization and Services (PRESS) movement, and made the call for “men and women of calibre, who were willing to offer themselves for candidacy, and to form the next government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.

Should his call go unheeded by April, Thomas had said that he would “close up the programme”.

Baptiste, who also was a supporter of the ULP, joined the NDP when she became disgruntled shortly after the November 2009 referendum on the Constitution, when the Public Service Commission brought 16 charges against her.

She was removed from her post of senator last month, after a disagreement with the NDP leadership.

In a press release last week, Baptiste stated: “It is clear that an alternative political party is needed; one that has genuine respect for the religious liberty and freedom of expression of all of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, whether they be majority or minority groups. And one that also stands for true economic development and social progress that brings SVG into a golden age.”

A pharmacist by profession, Thomas said that although he does not know Baptiste personally, he believes that her energies were not challenged sufficiently in the NDP.

He said that he did not see her removal from the party coming; but it did not surprise him.”

“When I made the statement, she was not in my mind to be part of it, because she was with a party. I agree that she is young and inexperienced in many ways… but I like her spirit; she is quite energetic and forthright… and as it were, she felt she didn’t have within the NDP the space for her energy and so she broke loose. I think that is it.”

“If she is saying there is a need for an alternative party, means that she has faith in neither, and that’s the same thing I’m saying.

“There is a lack of leadership in this country; there is a need for an alternative party; not a third.”

“We made a commitment on the 9th of January, that we weren’t satisfied with the direction the NDP is going, and at that rate at which they are going, we don’t think they will be able to remove the ULP.”

“Our energies must go towards a group of people that are responsive to our ideas and show us that they are capable of forming government and they are working towards that.”

“So if Anesia is the head of such group, or Junior Jarvis is, or any young man or woman, Matthew Thomas wouldn’t be. I would lend my support there….

“But as of now, I can’t say you will see me down the road joining Anesia’s group. I don’t know if she will ever form a group, if she has a group, and whatever the aims and objectives of the group may be. It may not be enough for me to join them. So it’s still open….”