Kishore Shallow takes political guard

By *Jomo Sanga Thomas

(“Plain Talk” Sept. 20, 2024)

In a move destined to shake up the political landscape, Kishore Shallow, the president of Cricket West Indies, has thrown his lot behind the New Democratic Party and announced his intention to contest the North Leeward constituency. Shallow’s alignment with the opposition has created a buzz of excitement in NDP circles and beyond and dread and foreboding for Gonsalves and his clansmen.

Shallow’s decision has imbued renewed confidence in the majority of Vincentians, who have soured on the governing Unity Labour Party and are intent on breaking Gonsalves’ disastrously suffocating spell on our nation. To be sure, Shallow’s candidacy does not guarantee an NDP victory at the next election, but his decision, much like Conroy Huggins, who opted to contest the Central Leeward constituency, signals a decrease of the fear factor in the country and a willingness among young professionals to get in the political fray in an attempt to arrest the malaise and hopeless stagnation confronting the nation. 

Further proof of this trend is reflected in the decision of Kashaka Cupid, a senior accountant employed with the Income Tax Department publicly announcing his desire to represent the West St George constituency for the NDP. Louise Mitchell, an experienced lawyer and scion of NDP founder James Mitchell, who led the Financial Services Authority, is also being goaded to jump into the political fray…

Any keen observer knows that politics is akin to dating. The winner of the political prize is the one who is most attractive, exudes confidence, is articulate, possesses a common touch, is sincere, and is able to win empathy, sympathy, and support. Shallow possesses all of these traits and more. He is young, educated and experienced with a track record of success locally, regionally and internationally. As we saw in the recent poll, Shallow’s popularity among citizens was sizzling. He had already eclipsed Camillo and was within striking distance of Saboto, Dr. Friday, his party leader and PM Gonsalves.

When Vybz Kartel visited our shores, many persons allied to the governing party were prepared to disregard his gangster association and accusation and proclaimed him a big deal. Well, Shallow entry into local politics is a bigger deal and should have a greater impact on the country’s political alignment. 

During the Cricket World Cup, Gonsalves and his supporters were effusive in their praise for Shallow and his efforts to secure the games and his defence of the government’s extravagant spending. Now and for the immediate future, they would be compelled to be careful and cautious in how they respond to his political emergence.

SVG has a mountain of problems: A poverty and unemployment rate that accounts for 4 out of every 10 Vincentians, growing drug addiction, especially among the youth, official corruption, a stifling governing elite that sits on the country like a heavy load, unprecedented crime and violence, a stagnated economy, lack of political hygiene, disorder in all levels of government particularly the police and civil service, lack of accountability, good governance best practices and a narrowing of the democratic space. All of these combined result in hills and valleys of hopelessness and helplessness.

These are the issues a new administration will have to tackle. These issues explain why an opposition party preparing to govern must recruit, retain, and train a cadre of professionals who are willing and able to stand up and talk up to the leader with confidence and without fear. 

There are no major political differences between the parties. Both have a slavish allegiance to powerful Western governments and the dominant institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Both pursue economic policies that create and exacerbate structural problems, retard real growth and true development. Gonsalves possesses a greater rhetorical flourish, but the last two-plus decades have shown that talk doesn’t solve people’s problems. The only real and noticeable growth is in the stomach and waistline of Gonsalves and his governing elite.

There is no doubt that the opposition NDP will more follow American dictates on foreign policy issues. However, charity begins at home, and Vincentians need to find ways to tackle all of the problems identified above. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is the continued dominance of Gonsalves of Vincentian politics.  

A younger set of leaders may, by sheer dint of experience, learn that a truly non-aligned policy where the interest of our country becomes paramount is the best posture to adopt in this rapidly changing world. With the Western economic dominance rapidly fading and the emergence of the BRICS nations, especially India, China and Russia leading the charge for a multipolar world, the hope is that the next generation of leaders will find their way.

The foregoing does not represent mindless enthusiasm about Kishore’s potential and the opposition forces allied with Dr. Friday’s NDP. It is simply a call for citizens to break sharply from the past and find a new and better way for our people. 

Never again must be our watchword. We must follow the wise lead set by our St. Lucian cousins who demand accountability from the political parties. When they fail, we must kick them out. St. Vincent and the Grenadines requires that level of maturity. It is the only way to get politicians to take our vote seriously. Kishore’s entry into politics helps us along this path.

*Jomo Sanga Thomas is a lawyer, journalist, social commentator and a former senator and Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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