NDP not attracting enough young people

Editor: I am a 27-year-old young man residing in West St George, my family supports the NDP and I often ask myself why. Most of my teenage years were spent under the Government of the ULP. What little I learned from my grandparents was that former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell had a vision, but he failed to deliver. He fell short on various aspects, e.g: Airport for St Vincent and the Grenadines; Medical Complex for Bequia; National Stadium; Cross Country Road and he failed in the agricultural sector. Sir James and the NDP made Dr Gonsalves and the ULP look like saviours for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Could you imagine our country developing without an international airport? Yes, it is true that we paid a price and we made sacrifices, but one day all Vincentians will say thanks to Dr Gonsalves. It’s extremely disappointing to hear Vincentians question the development of the airport; it’s as if they are against our country’s development.

Today, while we, as young Vincentians, are having challenges, we can still see that this Government is trying its best to ensure that we get the opportunity that are presented to us. Children are being encouraged to attend school and there are many more secondary schools. Vincentians are getting opportunities to study all over the world; young intelligent women are being rewarded with quality jobs.

Yes, we young people face a lot of challenges for example: drugs, HIV and AIDS, crime, homosexuality, unemployment and misinformation from politicians like Pat Matthews, Nigel Stephenson and Nick Francis. These individuals keep saying that nothing is happening for us young people in St Vincent and the Grenadines; they are making this assessment from their own standards. If you pay close attention to Mr Patel Matthews and Nigel Stephenson, they both spent approximately 20 years in politics and have not improved themselves. On the other hand, look at Luke Browne, Saboto Caesar, Deborah Charles and Camillo Gonsalves. These persons are presently working on further developing their skills to become better equipped for the future.

Why aren’t we seeing that type of development from the NDP? It’s all about getting power and they are living on hope laced with fiction, while young Vincentains like myself are in need of assistance with our future. Dr Friday is now the Opposition Leader; is there any trace of hope? No, I honestly don’t think so! While I don’t like the way Dr Gonsalves is talking about transition, there are bright prospects in the ULP and it’s utterly disappointing to realize that the NDP lacks tremendously what is needed to offer persons like myself incentive and the urge to join them.

I am truly hoping that the NDP realizes that finding innovative ways to attract young persons like myself to their party; because we are not on a power campaign, we simply want to set the foundation for our future.

Madam Editor, as I come to an end, I want to take this opportunity to send my sincere condolences to the families of the college students who recently lost their lives in a car accident in Barbados. May God be with you in this time of need.

Alfred Bernard