Brenton Smith is new General Secretary of NDP

President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr Godwin Friday is confident that the newly elected executive can advance the political party’s goal of transforming St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) politically. 

The NDP’s annual convention is slated for two days this month, February 6 and February 13; And on the first day, the party held its internal elections virtually and installed a brand new executive.

“I want to thank all of the people who put themselves forward to be candidates for the various positions. As you know, we have quality people in every position. It makes me feel so reassured and so proud to be a leader of this great party, to know that so many capable people are willing to stand up, put their hand up and say I want to hold a position in the NDP, I want to do something on behalf of the party,” Friday said while speaking on the New Times radio programme yesterday. 

“I know that the party is not there for itself. It is there for the people and in order for us to do that work effectively, we have to have the effective structures within our party, we have to have people who are capable and willing and who have legitimacy with the support they receive via elections in our party.” 

Friday was returned unopposed as president of the NDP at Sunday’s elections.

A new vice president in the person of South Leeward parliamentary representative, Nigel Stephenson was also installed after Sunday’s election. 

He joins parliamentary representative for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock as one of the two vice presidents for the party.
 
Brenton Smith, a former police officer and president of the Police Welfare Association who lost his job as a result of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine policy, was elected as the NDP’s General Secretary. 

Smith edged out his competition, Tyrone James, who has held the position for the last five years. 

Harvey Farrell was elected as assistant secretary general. 

Daniel Cummings, who is also the parliamentary representative for West Kingstown was returned to the position as chairman of the party, and Lavern Velox, the party’s East St George candidate in the November 2020 general elections, was voted in as his deputy. 

Lavern King was also re-elected as the party’s PRO. 

Louann Hadaway was successful in her bid as the party’s treasurer. 

Bert Francois, Johan Stewart, Crystal John, Amos Cruickshank and Maurice Horne were elected as committee members. 

Now that internal elections are over, Friday said his team has “one goal in mind”. 

“We have renewed the structure of our party, and support and all of that is just simply to put us in a better position to do the work of transforming this country politically…and in every way possible,” he said, as he thanked all who participated in the voting process over the weekend. 

He also thanked the outgoing members who served on the executive prior to Sunday’s election “for the tremendous service they have given to the party”. 

“Politics is a relay, it is not a sprint, it’s not a marathon…it’s always good when you have persons who have done their part to get us to where we are and others who would come and help carry [the]baton further as we continue this great work our wonderful New Democratic Party,” he said.