Put country before political party

Editor: Talk show radio is a part of majority of Vincentians’ daily life, and once talk show radio is mentioned, the names Glen Jackson and EG Lynch must be remembered. They spoke extremely well of their political parties and definitely should not be forgotten

for their contribution. Today, Vincentians are complaining about talk show radio because of the divisions it is creating in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Vincentians are worried and are searching for ways to dismiss this harmful division among Vincentians.

First let’s talk about the Shake Up programme on WE FM 99.9. The people who host the Shake Up programme are: Hans King, Elson Crick, Frank Da Silva, Clem Ballah and Edwin Snagg. They give the impression that everything is going smoothly in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), yet we hear Vincentians complaining about crime, unemployment, victimization, inadequate health care and the damaged state of our economy. It is frustrating when one listens to persons who speak for the ULP. The information they disseminate is false, because Vincentians know the truth.

Vincentians are exhausted by the misleading information from people who are afraid to speak the truth because of politics. Are they afraid to voice their opinions because they fear the repercussions? For some reason, if one decides to question certain things that the ULP should improve on, you will hear the questions “Why are you questioning the Government you support?”

It’s time for Dr Gonsalves and Julian Francis to insist that their mouthpieces tell Vincentians the truth. Dr Gonsalves, remember you promised us transparency. Recently Reverend Adolf Davis, who is the Superintendant Minister of the Kingstown/Chateaubelair circuit of the Methodist Church, wrote that Vincentians need to pay more attention to values and righteousness and stop allowing political radio programmes to dictate their way of living.

It’s extremely good to see leaders of religious organizations asking questions and making comments about issues that are affecting St Vincent and the Grenadines; yet we must ask ourselves why they took so long; but better late than never! I’m fully supporting what Rev Davis wrote about focusing on our values. I’m wondering what are the thoughts of Bishop Sonny Williams, Dr George Frederick, Rev Noel Clarke and Pastor Ollivierre about the comments made by Rev Davis.

This political division is creating serious problems for our country, Vincentians are demanding that today’s radio talk show hosts take their jobs seriously, apply impartiality and put SVG before their political parties. I’m making an appeal to Dr Gonsalves and Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday to insist that persons who speak on behalf of their political parties speak on policies that show a way forward for our country and stop fighting down each other. Can you imagine that former opposition leader Mr Arnhim Eustace sat in the middle seat in the studio of the Nice Radio programme hearing callers and host of the programme making negative comments and he sat idly by and refused to rebuke them?

Mr Eustace is a man of principle and I’m asking him to please don’t make politics get the better of him; do what you know is right. If the NDP stands any chances of winning the next general election, they need to lead from the front and advise their spokespersons that our country’s interest should be priority. Some advice for the NDP: please stop attacking Sir James Mitchell, who is the founder of the NDP; put emphasis on policies and the way forward for SVG and most importantly, stop making Dr Gonsalves your witchhunt. I gone!

Kingsley De Freitas