The opposition New Democratic Party says that it disagrees with the view that it has announced too soon its full slate of candidates for the next general elections, constitutionally due in 2015.
“I believe the longer you are on the ground, the more time you have to understand people and do your work,” general-secretary of the NDP, Allan Cruickshank told I-Witness News.
“The government, even though they have not declared [their candidates], they have 15 people working all the time. And even if you have to shadow them, you have to show some intent and some purpose very early.
“… I think the more you see your people as candidates, you can learn a lot,” Cruickshank further told I-Witness News.
He, however, said that while a person has been declared a candidate for the next general elections, that decision can be rescinded.
“… as a central member of the screening committee, I continue to screen you even though you are candidate.”
Asked if it would not be poor public relations if a candidate is removed, Cruickshank said, “I am not going to the point of removal.
“The point is, if you are not performing as expected, you have to be warned, it is brought to your attention, and you get a lot of time to see all these things, to see how people operate.
“I don’t know if it would be poor public relations if you have to be removed for good reasons. I don’t expect anybody to be removed and you must perform as if you are serious.”
He said that the “main philosophy is that candidates must be on the ground.
“If you are not on the ground as we expect — there are certain guidelines — then you will be warned and so on, and we monitor you, so to speak.
“I don’t believe and I don’t expect we will have to reach the stage to remove anybody. But, you will be given some time to prove yourself and to work accordingly and we expect you to do that, in conjunction with the constituency.”
Ahead of the 2010 general elections, the NDP recalled former nurse, Margaret London as its candidate for North Central Windward, because of a run-in she had with the law two decades ago.
The NDP’s full slate of candidates reads:
North Leeward: Roland Matthews, MP
Central Leeward: Ben Exeter
South Leeward: Nigel Stephenson, MP
West Kingstown: Daniel Cummings, MP
Central Kingstown: St. Clair Leacock, MP
East Kingstown: Arnhim Eustace, MP (Opposition Leader)
West St. George: Dr. Julian Ferdinand
East St. George: Dr. Linton Lewis (Senator)
Marriaqua: Curtis Bowman
South Windward: Noel Dickson
South Central Windward: Addison Thomas
North Central Windward: Kenroy Johnson
North Windward: Lauron Baptiste
Northern Grenadines: Dr. Godwin Friday, MP
Southern Grenadines: Dr. Terrance Ollivierre, MP
ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO DECLARE YOUR CANDIDATES. 2013 IS BASICALLY OVER…IF GONSALVES, CARRY THROUGH TO HIS FULL TERM AND THERE IS NO INDICATION HE WOULD DO OTHERWISE; THAT GIVES THE NDP’S NEW CANDIDATES A FULL YEAR TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER. GREAT MOVE BY THE NDP.
Now can the NDP really win the next election in 2015?…mm, I am not entirely convince at the moment but with this early declaration of candidates and the BULWOOD EUSTACE PUT ON MITCHELL COUPLE DAYS AGO;HAS CERTAINLY RESTORE MY FAITH IN EUSTACE AND THE PROSPECT OF A NDP VICTORY… ah believe the North Winward seat is up for grabs. Mr Baptiste has to go brave and really put his foot down(literally) in that area and make an impact with the electorate.
I also believe the Central Leeward seat is up for grabs… hopefully Mr Exeter is up for the challenge.
I like Mr Jules Ferdinand candidacy in West St George and will require a herculean effort to throw down Mckie, this is also a toss up but with Mckie as the incumbent and being a fairly popular guy with the electorate,has the edge at the moment.
The other seats, forget about it…Mr Bowman?…I will eat my shoes with some fava beans and a nice chianti, if that gentleman wins his seat…I am just saying.
Not a very promising list of candidates: mostly second-raters, under-achievers, has beens, time servers, and carpet baggers. Not a single person of real distinction on the list. Ralph must be a very, very happy man these days.
I know Ferdinand very well, as I know McKie very well. Ferdinand is as a far superior candidate in every way, as McKie is an inferior candidate in every way.
The inteligence, the quality, the standing in public life put Ferdinand way out front as the quality candidate.
Sorry, but McKies mother begged him not to get involved with these Marxists, and cried when he did.
They all know me as well as I know them.
McKies popularity has slipped to an all time low, hardly a person in Bum Bum will vote for him next time around.
I just hope that people will vote for a real quality candidate, they tend to prefer a— holes.