Demonizing Ralph would not matter

Editor: Permit me to make few comments politically. Many times as a Vincentian I wonder if this present crop of politicians in the NDP is serious about regaining power in SVG.

Come to think of it, the demonizing of Ralph and making him look like the devil with so many allegations can not help the NDP’s cause. We know that both ULP and NDP have a base which will remain regardless to what. So demonizing RALPH would only appeal to its base supporters.{{more}}

Making RALPH look like the devil will not appeal to many young persons who today have had the opportunity to go to university when their parents could not afford to send them. When a young person can own his/her own home, demonizing RALPH would not matter. What matters are the bread and butter issues.

We have seen where members of the ULP have tried to make Daniel Cummings look bad with the famous “stone church,” yet it did not matter, for he won twice now. Making Leacock look bad did not matter, for he won better than in 2010. Therefore, demonizing a person and bringing their character down does not matter in Vincentian politics. It is time NDP learns that.

Do we remember the days of James Mitchell when he was in opposition? Many times he single-handedly handled the might of the Labour Party, whom Milton Cato boasted of as being the strongest government in the world. Mitchell never tried to demonize Cato; instead he dealt with issues and was able to convincingly win the Labour Party and amongst the casualties was the ‘Iron Man’ of Labour, Hudson Tannis. Mitchell never walked out the House of Parliament; instead, he stood and opposed intelligently the Labour Party.

NDP missed their opportunity since 2010, simply because they spent their time daily demonizing RALPH and not offering a convincing alternative. They continued doing the same in 2015. Until the NDP learns to deal with issues and show how they can do better than the ULP, I am afraid they would not win the hearts of the young people.

The NDP portraying hatred can never appeal to the young persons who look at issues and to them, it does not matter what is said about RALPH as long as they can have food on the table and progress.

It is time for the NDP to take a closer look at their methods of operating and deal with the issues, while at the same time offering worthwhile alternatives. The sad thing is that the NDP on many occasions fail to effectively expose the weaknesses of the ULP, while at the same time showing the alternatives.

Thanks for your space. We need a strong opposition. Get cracking, guys in the NDP and be a force to be reckoned with. Failure to do so will mean ULP again and again.

Kennard King