I will not vote

Editor: The Vincentian working class faces the November 27th elections divided in its support of the political parties – co-worker against co-worker, family member opposing family member. The working class is gambling that benefits will accrue to it, whichever party wins.

Truth be told, both the ULP and NDP will offer some benefits. But, they are capitalist parties with a definite commitment to the capitalist class local and foreign, and as such those benefits are circumscribed.

In opposition, the Unity Labour Party, pre-2001, took a pro-working class stance, largely due to the impact of the Movement for National Unity (left of centre) in the 1994 merger with the St. Vincent Labour Party with its right-wing outlook.

While in government, the ULP moved right of centre on the ideological spectrum, right into the arms of multi-nationals, including hotels.

The New Democratic Party was launched on December 3rd, 1975, at the Market Square, Kingstown, the same day that the St. Vincent Union of Teachers ended its strike and our heroic teachers returned to the classroom. In the 12 months prior to the launch, when Milton Cato and the Labour Party were brutalizing Vincentians, James Mitchell, leader of the newly launched New Democratic Party, was missing in action. I had met him on Back Street months earlier and asked him why was he not defending Vincentians against Cato’s brutality.

His reply: “Ah writing.” Yet he opportunistically launched his party on the courage and sacrifice of our heroic teachers. The NDP from birth, was a capitalist party – with liberal leanings.

Objectively, it matters little to the working class which party wins. “Dis ya meat hard fo boil”, will continue to define its life. The ULP has dealt the working class serious body-blows: high levels of poverty, of unemployment and under-employment, the wide gap between wages and survival, the draconian vaccine mandate, the refusal to negotiate a new collective agreement with the Teachers’ Union (after I spearheaded the 2005 one), neglect by parliamentary representatives, etc. Older persons will, of course, remember NDP’s mismanagement of our nation including poor health services, extremely high levels of illiteracy, dilapidated roads, very unreliable electricity and water services, and difficulties in obtaining salaries, to mention some.

Sadly, our working people will continue to be used as voting pawns in these elections where their influence is limited. Campaigns cost tens of millions of dollars. Where is that money coming from? Not from working people who “ketching dey tail” trying to buy food and for whom sickness can be a death sentence. From the rich who have the money and influence, and they will call the shots after.

In the current circumstances, I will join thousands of Vincentians in not voting, disillusioned. I had always voted for the ULP, never the NDP given the ideological chasm that exists between us. Clearly then, what matters is not the election results but the post-November 27th national direction. What our people and country need is a change of system, regardless of who is in power. This will put ordinary people in charge of their own lives and destinies which must be based on their fundamental rights.

In this regard, our organization, SOLIDARITY RIGHTS, has produced a TOP TEN VINCY RIGHTS list which hopefully will illumine the manifestoes of political parties:

1. HEALTH
The right to free top-quality healthcare.
2. NEIGHBOURHOOD
The right to a safe neighbourhood.
3. SECURITY
The right to a secure society.
4. EDUCATION
The right to free top-quality education.
5. WORK
The right to decent work.
6. UNION
The right to join a trade union.
7. ASSOCIATION
The right to associate with any person or group.
8. IDEAS
The right to hold and communicate ideas and beliefs.
9. HOUSING
The right to land and housing.
10. PRIVACY
The right to privacy of thoughts and home.

Mike Browne