Part 1: Have They Earned Another Term?

Recently, while sitting in the Miami International Airport, someone asked me a simple question:

“When was the first time you flew?”

It took me back to when I was 18, travelling to Barbados to begin studies at the University of the West Indies. A short 20-minute flight, yet for me, it was everything. I was finally on an air plane, accompanied by my mother and a bubbling excitement that words could hardly capture.

Growing up, I watched friends and cousins travel abroad for summer vacations. For us, that was a  distant dream—something my mother, who struggled to provide for us, simply couldn’t afford. At 18, I only boarded that plane because I had earned a national scholarship — an opportunity that changed the trajectory of my life.

Now, 11 years later, I’m travelling for work. And once again, it struck me that this journey, too, was made possible because of that same national scholarship award.

I have often said that I understand why people like me — and our parents — may feel indebted to the Unity Labour Party. Many will argue that it is the job of the government to provide scholarships. But the magnitude and reach of the ULP’s “Education Revolution” was not the norm in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A friend once reminded me that the NDP prided itself on running surplus budgets during their time in office. I asked, “How much did they invest in education? How many scholarships did they award?” His answer- “One or two”-said it all.

This stands in stark contrast to our monstrous national debt, which understandably frightens many.

But it has never unsettled me, because I’ve always asked myself: how else did we expect to fund all these projects and opportunities? Development comes with a cost -and for a small island developing state, investment in human capital is perhaps the most worthwhile debt of all.

Still, it would be irresponsible to ignore the shortcomings in the ULP’s leadership. Many of the capital projects we proudly boast about- from community centres to sports facilities- struggle with poor maintenance or have slipped into disrepair. And while thousands of Vincentians have earned university degrees through government support, too many return home to low salaries and limited upward mobility. It creates a painful disconnect: we are producing more graduates than ever before, yet not enough opportunities that match their skills or their aspirations.

So yes, the ULP has undeniably developed St. Vincent and the Grenadines and its people. But does that alone warrant them a sixth term in power- or is it time for the NDP to be given a chance at the helm?

To be clear, I am not opposed to the NDP forming government. In fact, I do not believe it is healthy for a small nation like ours to be led by one man for three decades. But as I grapple with the choice of who to vote for in the upcoming election, I find myself wondering:

If given the chance, can the NDP build upon the foundation that the ULP has set?

Can they truly be a government for all Vincentians- something the ULP has often been accused of failing to achieve, amid allegations of victimization and preferential treatment?

As we weigh whether the ULP has earned another term, it’s important not only to measure their achievements but also to confront the moments when- in the minds of many Vincentians- their leadership fell short. Moments that tested public trust and compassion. And few issues in recent times have exposed this more sharply than the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.