The ruling Unity Labour Party’s caretaker for North Leeward has suggested that he will not contest another election if he is not voted into office this year.
James was defeated in 2015, at his first outing at the polls, when the opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) Roland “Patel” Matthews was returned for a second five-term by 12 votes.
James told the ULP constituency Conference in Chateaubelair on Sunday:
“This is, by far our most important election. If in 2020, this year, we don’t see Carlos James emerging as the representative for this constituency, it may very well be the last time that you will have Carlos James’ name on a ballot. That is why I say it is the most important elections for you.”
He told the gathering:
“We cannot not go out to vote and we continue with the status quo, the same old, no serious representation from the other side, but in 2025, a new Unity Labour Party candidate emerge but the question is, would he have the vision, would he have the ability to want to bring the resources up to North Leeward and in so doing, you may have a candidate who can win, but North Leeward loses.”
James, a lawyer and government senator, said he was making the comments “with a level of deep and profoundness in my heart”.
He said he knows his commitment is to the people of the constituency “and I know what I want for you the people of this constituency.
“And I want to see North Leeward advance,” he said.
“Not the Unity Labour party by itself, but North Leeward as a whole,” he said that people have to work together, no matter their political affiliation, hence the theme for the event – “Working Together for a Better North Leeward”.
“We are not leaving anyone behind. Whether you are a comrade or you are not a comrade, you have to rally and support a candidate who means business, a candidate and a party who is serious about your development and your advancement and serious about the children and the future of your children in this constituency,” James said.
He said this election is by far the most important in the district “because you have in me a candidate who is willing, ready, and committed to serve the people.
“But then you have, Comrades, North Leeward has seen a dark shadow over a decade of no real representation from an MP who sits on the opposition benches in Parliament.”
James said that over that decade there has been no effort from the current MP to advance the causes of constituents “whether voluntary or otherwise”.
He said that some persons would say that the MP is not in government.
“I will tell you of a programme called Access to College Education. Many of the young persons in North Leeward know about it. For six years, I have teamed up with Generation Next, provided funding and assistance and solicited funding to send over 100 students across St. Vincent but more particularly from North Leeward off to college. We have assisted them with bursaries.”
In the earlier stages, the Access to College Education programme received funding from the National Lotteries Authority, a state-owned entity.
James said that every summer his team provides back to school assistance to the most needy.
“You see the commitment and the work. You see the effort that I put in to ensure that your life is comfortable here in North Leeward,” he told the conference.
“It is now your turn to put your faith and you trust in me and the Unity Labour Party to continue the mandate of good governance, to continue delivering to the people of this community and this constituency.
“That is why I am here. I don’t know what the future holds but what I do know is that once I am the next elected Member of Parliament for this constituency, North Leeward will be seeing development, we will be seeing wealth creation, we will be seeing employment and we will be seeing opportunities for every single person in this constituency. That is my solemn pledge and my commitment to you, the people.”…
James said he and the ULP are about people.
“And if we can’t advance people, then we should not be involved in politics. That is what I am here to do. Not to advance any personal cause but to advance the cause of the people of North Leeward.”
He said that the ULP holds eight unshakable seats in the 15-member parliament.
The other seven are held by the NDP.
“And sometimes we have to wonder if dog and goat bite the people in North Leeward because we now have to recognise that if these eight seats are unshakeable and unmoveable, pick a winning candidate. Pick a winning candidate and a winning party that can deliver, pick a candidate that has the resources, that has a party with the resources to deliver to the people.”
James, however, noted that winning an election is not easy.
“… The road to 2020 is not going to be an easy one in North Leeward. We thought we had it in 2015, but I will tell you, we are leaving no stone unturned in 2020. We are cleaning every single community, we are going and we are looking for votes, we are registering persons and we are going to take North Leeward into the fold of the Unity Labour Party.
“I don’t want you to do it for me. I want you to go out and rally for this political party because it is a party that has a track record of delivering for the people,” he said.
General elections are constitutionally due by March 2021, but Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has said that Vincentians will go to the polls by the end of this year.
The idea of ulp not existing making me feel like my proverty dont exist..new year new goals. One nation .. not into politics but NDP lock the nation how yo wah be a communist king ?
He and the ULP are about people…. Really,,, the blind and the deaf knows that U and the ULP are about some people. Own the jobs, some people will have to suffer and die. Is this all about people? Stop fooling, lying to the poor and indegent ……
Carlos James has the government backing him and yet he is comparing himself to the sitting MP. Patel made a statement where he is alluding to the fact that the National Lottery is funding Carlos James candidacy and I support his stance. Where have you ever heard that a caretaker who is not a minister of government is announcing projects that are personal to him and is funded by the NATIONAL LOTTERY. How can Mr. Sealey, manager of the lottery allow this to happen under his watch? If he wish to fund a community project it should be him as manager or a member of government should do it. This is wrong and give Carlos and unfair advantage and is an attempt at bribing the people of North Leeward.
The sports project Carlos announced for Rose Hall is a good idea but it was never in the pipeline and because election is upon on us Ralph is using National Lottery money to prop up Carlos. So to ask of Patel to deliver stuff in opposition is a big asking. I know of many families he has helped and I admire him for not putting poor people on Facebook for votes. He is man of principles not a show off gun toting and rude fella.
We do not want reds under our beds, commies out, commies out.
All that this man has to offer us are the same old and stale policies of his leader Ralph Gonsalves. The same old and stale policies from the 1960’s that have failed all those who have tried it from Africa to South America. Incompetence added to a policy of Tax and Spend.
Policies that create messianic leaders and fosters a dependency mentality!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUBXW6SjuQA
Just look at Cuba today, it’s falling apart and Venezuelans with the people hunting of dogs, cats, and pigeons for the dinner plate. Vincentians should get smart and take the warnings from history.
OH PLEASE CARLOS CUT THE BS. YOU ARE ONLY THERE FOR YOURSELF AND THE POEPLE YOU CHOOSE TO HELP. BESIDES THERE ARE PEOPLE YOU PUT IN CHARGE OF CERTAIN THINGS IN NORTH LEEWARD WHICH IS A HUGE DISADVANTAGE TO THE PARTY. EXAMPLE THE ROSE BANK COMMUNITY CENTRE WHICH IS RUN AS A FAMILY [PROPERTY], NOT EVEN PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED CAN GET TO UTILIZE THE CENTER. THE PEOPLE OF NORTH LEEWARD ARE TIRED OF THE SAME OLD YEAR AFTER YEAR GIMMICK. LOOK AT THE TIME YOU GUYS DECIDED TO WORK ON THE BRIDGE IN CHATO KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT THE SCHOOL BUS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM FITZ HUHGES HAVE TO WALK TO MEET THE BUS AT THE BUS STOP AS IT CAN NOT MAKE IT ON THE BY-PASS. CARLOS GOTS TO GO. IT’S TIME FOR VINCENTIANS TO STOP VOTING WITH THEIR EMOTIONS, RATHER FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.
If ulp stay there they will look out for there ppl…if ndp go there they will try an get there ppl in (doesn’t matter who there just the same shoes on different foot
Carlos, Carlos can you articulate what you have done for North Leeward for the all the years you are in your position? Fixing roads and bridges and ports are essential activities because that that government responsibility. Do you really think that the people of North Leeward are better off than when you got in power? This has nothing to do with politic but just a simple common sense. Look around Carol , look at all the unemployed youths in the area. Let us look at this a little closer Carlos, do you remember when you traveled from your village to Rose Hall with your family to go into the mountain? Do you think people are in a better place now? Your community was once a striving village but now its like a grave yard sir. Building a wall that is required is not serving the people. How many young people can you really say that you have opening a door of opportunity to them? Carlos both you and Patel have failed the people of north leeward! None of you have mobilize the area to any positive change. Building sport facilities doesn’t take us our of our current jobless situation. Carlos you need to move on and Patel if you are giving the opportunity to again you have to grow up and lead. Its troubling that the only choice we have is two brother from their area who lack the ability to bring about some meaningful change to the area. Start mobilizing the youths in the area and open doors of opportunity , a few suggestion, adults evening classes, sporting activities, resume writing and job interview pre classes just to mention a few. We have to give our youths hope again because we are living in an environment that seems hopeless.
Carlo please resign! Patel grow up change your thought process if given the opportunity.