Newly-elected president of the Young Democrats, Vakeesha John says her focus is on the group, the youth arm of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), but she is not dismissing a possible candidacy in Central Leeward.
John, an educator who was fired from her government job over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate last year, was elected unopposed at the NDP’s Youth Convention, in Kingstown, on Sunday.
“For now, my focus is the Young Democrats. I’m here to function and to give it my all. I’m not dismissing any future opportunities,” John said Tuesday on NICE Radio’s “Current Affairs”.
“But I want Central Leeward to know that if at any point I ever decide to take that step, … I don’t just live in the constituency like some representatives; the constituency lives in me,” said John, a 28-year-old Layou resident.
“So regardless to where I go, I am from Central Leeward. I represent Central Leeward. I live there. It lives in me and I will have your best interests at heart if I ever decide to do that,” she said, noting that the topic of a possible candidate had come up repeatedly during the radio show.
“I can’t make any promises because, for now, I’m focusing on the youth of the country.”
She said that if she becomes the candidate, she would give it her best, adding that she would also support anyone who is interested in being the candidate or who the district calls on to represent them at the poll.
Central Leeward has been represented by the Unity Labour Party since 1984, and Orando Brewster, a physician, is into the second year of his first five-year term as MP for the area.
The other members of John’s executive are Vice President — Esteban Hernadez Richards III, Secretary General — Kimisha Ollivierre, Public Relations Officer — Damion DaSousa and Treasurer — Alicia Lavia
Commenting on the new executive, NDP and Opposition Leader, Godwin Friday, said:
“I have every confidence in these young people who were elected to serve this great party and they have my full support, we will work together for a better SVG.”
John, whoholds a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice with minors in psychology and international relations, said that Buju Banton’s “Destiny” is one of her favourite songs.
“And that’s exactly why I’m a part of the Young Democrats: because I want to rule my destiny. And I know the power that I have to determine my destiny. And I think that’s exactly what we as Young Democrats are able to do.”
John said she knows that politics is a shared responsibility, adding, “The people have to do their part and the leaders have to do their part.
“What we’re asking is exactly what the Young Democrats have already given to us: the agreement to be a part of a movement that wants to fight to preserve our democracy, that wants to see the youth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines grow and just to see the economy transformed.
“So they’ve agreed to do their part. And we, as the leaders, we have to ensure that the policies that we argue about, that there are good discussions, they are in favour of the youth, that they ensure that the youth have some form of financial stability coming from these policies, and that we ensure that our youth are not destroyed.”
She said that the crime situation shows the involvement of youth.
“So we have to try to pull them back, as leaders. And the way we do that in politics is through our policies and the events and activities that we use to engage these young people.”
John said she supports the view of NDP Senator Severn John, in her featured address at Sunday’s convention, that the dormancy of the National Youth Council (NYC) for some 15 years is “crying shame”.
The Young Democrats leader said prominent Vincentians, including Education Minister Curtis King and NDP Senator Israel Bruce are former members of the NYC.
“… but it is so sad that under his administration the youth council really died,” John sad, referring to King, who was elected to Parliament in 2020.
“… as somebody who is under 30, I haven’t experienced that (NYC) because the Unity Labour Party managed to kill that like it manages to kill a lot of positive things. So we will work towards reviving the youth council. We will put some energy and some effort towards that,” King said.
“So I join with Senator John in saying that it is a crying shame that we no longer have the National Youth Council.”
The Young Democrats leader also said that while people have expressed delight at her presentation, she wants supporters of the NDP to know “that I’ve joined the leadership of the New Democratic Party but we are not here to compete against each other as young women”.
John continued:
“I know sometimes some of the harshest critics are women, but the New Democratic Party, as the Women’s Arm says, ‘Just wow!’
“We just like to admire each other and complement instead of competing. So even though I am here, I’m not here to diminish the efforts of anyone who was here before but to continue from where they started and to work along with everybody so that we can form the next government. Because at the end of the day, there are people depending on us to kind of bring them out of that depression that the ULP has put them under.”
Which John family she hails from? She has the opportunity to talk to the people of the constituency and form something like a TOWN BOARD to address the issues that affect the people in the constituency. There is a need for a fish market and even a vegetable market to get the farmers to sell their products, instead of heading to Kingstown where market folks are being kicked out. She can organize the farmers in the constituency to help each other plant their crops. She also need to get them to setup cameras to protect their land and products. I’d love to give her some more ideas to create jobs for the youths in the constituency. I will be in SVG sometime next year and would be glad to offer some ideas to get her going.