Radio announcer cum political activist Laverne “Gypsy” Phillips is not a product of the ruling Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) education revolution, and it was her boss, Douglas DeFreitas of NICE Radio, who negotiated a scholarship for her to study in Taiwan.
So said Phillips on Saturday as he fired back at the persons who accused her of being ungrateful for campaigning on behalf of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).
“I am not a product of what they are boasting about. I am a product of a former government, an NDP government, who ensured that I was able to read and write efficiently before I enter secondary school,” Phillips said at an NDP rally in Layou on Saturday.
Phillips mounted the NDP’s platform on June 6 and endorsed Curtis Bowman as the next area representative for Marriaqua.
She said the ULP’s Girlyn Miguel, who has been MP for the area since 1998, has failed to represent the interest of the constituency.
She was also critical of the ULP’s education revolution, which guarantees each primary school child a place in secondary school, saying that children are being placed in secondary school without a sound primary school education.
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But supporters of the ULP, including a caller to the party’s station who identified herself as Phillips’ mother, have accused her of being ungrateful, noting that she received a university scholarship under the ULP administration.
In 2006, Phillips received a five-year scholarship from the government of Taiwan under a programme through which the Asian nation funded the post-secondary education of citizens of its diplomatic allies.
The scholarship provided for one year’s study of Mandarin Chinese and a four-year undergraduate degree.
Phillips completed her studies in 2011, earning a Bachelor of Arts in international business.
She responded to her critics at an NDP rally in Layou on Saturday and told party supporters how she came to receive the scholarship to study in Taiwan. (See video)
https://youtu.be/6_2CeGbQA3E
Phillips said that after her political debut in her home constituency, “the ULP guns came out blazing.
“But I’m not worried about them; they need to do so much more to ruffle my feathers,” she said.
“As a young woman now entering the field of politics, I will, however, let them know that I am a batswoman. So whether they bowl a spin, a fast ball or a googly, I will hit it out of the park, send them to fetch it and tell them to bowl again. So whether it’s 20 overs, 50 overs or test match, I’m ready for any version of the game,” she said and went on to elaborate her concerns about the state of affairs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (see video)
https://youtu.be/IryHrAFsZGk
She noted the NDP’s promise of ensuring that at least one person in every household is employed.
“I am aware that the government would not be able to create jobs for all of us, but at least they should be empowering us and providing the opportunities that will let us fend for ourselves.
“My youths, do not stifle your conscience. Are you seeing this happening under a ULP government? Youths, it’s time for us to take this country back so let us elect a government who in interested in looking out for our best interest. And that, my youths, is a New Democratic Party government,” Phillips said.
I’m so happy that Vincentian’s are more educated today under the ULP than when the NDP had the country in a mess, SO NOBADY CAN GIVE US A 6 FOR A 9 …This Lavern lady need to understand that it’s the ULP government who made it possible for to get a scholarship for her to study in Taiwan (Ungrateful!!!
You see that house slave mentality that’s why some Vincentians will never be better. No body is suppose to grateful to a government. You think anyone is grateful to Obama or Prime Minister Harper in Canada? When are you all going to get that nonsense to your head. So when the government change are we suppose to be grateful to the NDP next?
And the ULP government didn’t even get her the scholarship, did you listen to anything she said? Why can’t you all pull your heads out of Dr Ralphs’s cacahole and come up for air every once in a while.
I believe this education revolution crap has done a disservice to vincentians.Why when allyo slave master Ralph Gonsalves dey calling people from one ungrateful to the next you all don,t ask him if he took the money out of his pocket to give the person a scolarship.Government s are elected by the people and paid by the people to serve the people.When will you intelligent fools get that in aryo tough heads?And even though she dispelled the rumors and said how she got the scholarship you all have been so programmed by Ralph that aryo still talking crap.Wise up vincentians.You all make me want to vomit.Use the brain that the almighty gave you all and think for you all self for once.
Could someone please ask Ralph Gonsalves how he financed his education? Has he ever or is he now being held hostage by the persons/organizations that financed his education?
Under whose government did he receive his scholarships?
What ah Bandit! What Ah Kountrie!