By Kenrick Quashie
It is almost six months since Grace Walters was selected by the ULP’s North Windward council to be their candidate in the upcoming general elections.
We would have thought that by now her political leader would have already appointed her to a cushy political position in government where she can freely campaign. Provisions are made for such appointments.
However, she continues to hold the critical civil service position of hospital administrator. Since her candidacy selection, she attends almost every government function in North Windward and is promoted and talked about at these functions in a manner which is completely unrelated to her professional capacity.
No civil servant should be a declared candidate for any political party. Legally, you can even argue that you’re not actively campaigning nor using your professional capacity to campaign. Legally your argument would be sound, but that does not mean it’s ethical!
Then there are those who will posit that the Central Committee of the ULP is yet to confirm Walters’ nomination as the candidate, as per the party’s constitution. It is very important to note here that at that said meeting of the North Windward council that elected Walters, the political leader and deputy political leader of the ULP were in attendance.
We have seen many cases of unethical practices by this ULP administration. Is it that Walters is saying to North Windward and the country that she is more about legality than ethics? Can a reasonable minded individual safely conclude that birds of a feather…
Too often our leaders engage in practices that are “legal” for political expediency at the expense of morality and ethics! As a matter of fact, much of the corrupt practices we see and talk about are legally done but lack scruples.
Come next election, Walters is going to be presented as a good Christian lady of the Church of Christ community. Her Christianity is going to be touted as one of her strongest traits and why she should be elected to Parliament.
It is this same Christianity that I am appealing to in calling on Grace Walters to resign immediately as hospital administrator! At minimum, as a fellow proclaimed Christian, let’s chart a new course in partisan politics in our beloved St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The NDP has an excellent candidate in Shevern John, another faithful and proclaimed Christian woman. As a constituent of North Windward, I call on both of you to offer the people of North Windward that you both seek to represent in the Parliament of SVG, albeit on different political sides, candidates who are committed to morality over political expediency. Candidates who will always choose to do the right things.
Resign now, Grace Walters! To do otherwise sends a wrong message the country. Be reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial or advantageous (AMP).
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