‘Ralph Versus The Rest’: Is that the best? Or a useless mess?

An ambitious headline taken from a Facebook comment by an obvious supporter of former PM Dr, Ralph Gonsalves which we will come to later. But first, let me extend belated greetings for the New Year to my readers and all Vincentians here and abroad. It has been, for me, quite a while since I have engaged in my weekly exchange. “Quite a while”? you may query, but I have been engaged in this regular exchange for over a half of a century now, as Editor, chief contributor, columnist or regular commentator, so missing a few weeks seems like a long time to me.

But back to my headline and for this I again refer to that famous/infamous statement of our former prime minister about what he termed the “consequences” of elections.

Indeed, the first consequences stemmed from the choice of the election date. Unfortunately, we still have the old colonial provision which leaves the choice of the election date entirely up to the whim and fancy of one man/woman, the prime minister of the day. He/she can even choose a very personal occasion, but that’s the privilege, not even that of Cabinet. Until we revisit that provision and make a democratic amendment, we will continue to be saddled by this outdated and undemocratic provision.

There are consequences of course. In this case, after one government had engaged in budgetary preparations for 2026, the new government voted in, which obviously has its own priorities, found itself saddled by regulations relating to Parliamentary approval, which would have limited its scope for fundamental change. Is this not obviously one of those issues which need addressing but which are continuously ignored in our obsession with two-party politics?

Not the only one, I must say. But we keep making excuses for tackling the bigger issues. The contradictions are glaring and leaves us to wonder whether we continue to operate under a system very amenable to personal choice. Thus, at the snap of a finger, we could change the name of Victoria Park, but for years we have been dawdling over a more all- encompassing provision which would not only provide for minor matters like these but give us the room for formally ending our association with the British crown and all such relics of colonialism.

Unfortunately for us, one party seems to pick and choose what elements of anti-colonialism it wishes to tackle while for the other, issues like those do not seem to be given priority. And us? We go along with the flow in the absence of any clear popular movement with concrete positions on the major issues which confront us and which do not seem to be of major importance to our people and country. Perhaps in this case, elections do not have major implications.

This seeming classification into what are “urgent issues” demanding priority attention, and which are not, without even making the linkage between them, is a major hindrance to our understanding of the world in which we live and our place within it. It allows the prevalence of “populism “, what I would call “now for now politics”.

The consequences? A Prime Minister who is yet to outline, or explain if he could, his basic philosophical position, preferring to engage in short-term measures which gain immediate popular support- ‘VAT Free Day’, ‘Double Bubble/Trouble Bonus’ payments and the like.

The whys and hows are not for us. If there is opposition, point to 25 years of “Ralph rule”. Again, “consequences”. For a quarter of a century, and two decades preceding it, we were happy to encamp under one or two big tents governed by a “Big Pappy” godfather who would take care of us- until the realities of the world burst those bubbles. In the end not even the obvious brilliance of ex-PM Gonsalves and his son, nor, before them, the political acumen of Mitchell could save us. Where do we go now?

The social movement which protected us from the excesses of the Mitchell regime, were one by one undermined from inside as we forgot the need for solidarity and found comfort under the protection of one who unashamedly revelled under the title of “World Boss” touted loudly by sycophants. As the crowds applauded enthusiastically, didn’t anyone notice that the proverbial emperor was gradually losing his clothes?

Even after a fifth five-year term, a controversial convention which failed to choose a successor and an impending 80th birthday placing the leader in the company of a lot of unsavoury African octogenarian Presidents, the illusion continued.

Now that the bubble has burst, we still refuse to face the music. “But Ralph is the only one who won his seat”, we lamely put forward as an excuse; “wait till he catch them in the Budget”. So, you see why there had to be a Facebook post like the one I referred to earlier? There is much more. The upcoming Budget from an inexperienced government under pressure internally and facing a gloomy regional and international situation presents a formidable challenge in a region, the political leadership of which seems to be cowering.

The situation is far from rosy as I will continue in my follow-up, but whatever the challenges, we made a choice on November 27, and it is our duty to provide positive support. We cannot let the old politics or the empty ones before us deter us. We must face the challenges collectively.

More next week.

• Renwick Rose is a Social and Political commentator.