Opposition candidate for North Leeward, Kishore Shallow has described as “grudgeful and cantankerous” the response of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to his assessment that economically, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is at least 30 years behind St. Lucia
Shallow, 40, said that the response of the 78-year-old prime minister shows “there is no sincerity when he talks about championing youth”.
Last month, Shallow was asked by Hot 97 how far, economically, he thought SVG was behind its regional neighbours.
Asked specifically to compare SVG and St. Lucia, Shallow, who holds a doctorate in finance, opined that economically, SVG was at least 30 years behind St. Lucia.
But Gonsalves, responding to Shallow’s assessment, said that Shallow, who is president of Cricket West Indies, had taken the regional team 30 years back during his 18 months so far at the helm.
Gonsalves said he regretted supporting Shallow as president of Cricket West Indies and publicly apologised to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, for lobbying them to support Shallow.
Shallow responded to Gonsalves on Sunday in his first major campaign speech since being selected in September as the NDP’s candidate for North Leeward.
Speaking at the NDP’s convention in Petit Bordel, Shallow said North Leeward people do not trouble other people first.
He said that when he answered Hot 97, he was speaking honestly.
“Did I tell any lie? Did I tell any lie,” he said and the crowd responded, “No!”
Shallow said that immediately after the radio show, a friend called him saying, “’Man, Dr. Shallow, I thought you were a financial guru. I thought you were a man who understands maths. But your calculation wrong. You dey 43 years behind.’
“I accept that. I say, ‘Okay, I was wrong’,” Shallow said, before quickly stating that he takes no joy in accepting that “we are behind our neighbouring islands.
“I take no joy in it. This is not something I celebrate. This is not something any of us on this stage celebrates. But the reality is the reality. … And I tell you that in order to advance and progress, you have to accept the deficiencies.”
He said that rather than accept constructive criticism and commit to improve things, “We partner went on a vent.
“The old fella went on a vent. The man geh vex. And alyo know why he geh vex? Young people here, go know this. The young people go know why he geh vex, because the man know these are his last days,” Shallow said.
Shallow continued:
“We talk about pressure does bust pipe, and the man feel the pressure… And you know what strike me, and I’m sure that the young people of this country, they are not foolish, and they are watching and they’re absorbing and they are thinking that if a young man from St. Vincent and Grenadines who worked hard, progressed, representing St. Vincent on the international stage, and this man who twice my age is going to pull me down, weh he go do with them?
“… They know very well that based on the fact that this man will try and come out with his aggressive venting ignorance, … when he talk about championing youth, there is no sincerity.
“I tell you, I have never witnessed a more grudgeful and cantankerous response. And hear what the man attacked me on. Cricket! The man attack me on cricket.”
Shallow said he was not going to defend because “my cricket credentials speak for itself. I not going there.
“In fact, let me tell you this. You think I should take advice and take seriously a man who can’t run even a single …?” said Shallow, a former player for SVG and the Windward Islands.
“The man can’t even run a single but he wah advise me bout cricket. But tell him, ring the bell. Ring the bell. Ring the bell,” Shallow further said, calling on Gonsalves to call the general elections.
“As we say, talking about six, no more batting for him. No more batting for him. We going bowl out that off stump dey. We bowling him down this round; he gone,” Shallow said.
Gonsalves and the ULP will seek a sixth consecutive term in office in general elections widely expected by November 2025, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
In North Leeward, Shallow, a first-time candidate, is expected to face off with the ULP’s Carlos James, who won the seat by a single vote after a contentious recount in November 2020.
Seems like JUAN CARLOS days are numbered 😳
Tell them mr. Shallow. I have been criticizing the ULP/Gonsalves Government for years now and all I see is people calling me crazy and my elevator doesn’t reach the Penthouse etc.
Well, I am so happy to hear what you had to say bout the policies of ULP government. I hope people will open their eyes and look realistically at what is happening to our country.
Hook And Sinker mentality: Favor, and Favoritism acts subligated diseases, we are better than that, we are Hairouna, and the Garifuna, who never took insults from so-called occupiers, and slave masters.
Extract from Iwn: Gonsalves said he regretted supporting Shallow as president of Cricket West Indies and publicly apologised to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, for lobbying them to support Shallow.
This man who is our prime Minister, and who was (is) chosen by the people for all the people as Leader, and Representative for all SVG, regardless of political affiliation does exhibits that rule. All Vincentians, must demand an apology from the Prime Minister who is paid by the people of SVG regardless of their political allegiance to work on their behalf, whether lobbied for Vincentians, or services to Vincentians, that is the responsibility he took on, he’s not doing anyone a favor to us, that is the impression The Prime Minister like to create.
This type of behavior he used through the years to subligate, and control people, by try to shame them if their views are not align with his political narrative. It’s time for us to shake off these insults, and demand respect from our leaders, we put them there to serve us, and not for us to serve them. We are paying our dues very month to them for their services.
Biblical view “Weeping may come at midnight, but joy comes in the morning.” “How long will you falter”. We’re a fishing nation, and we know how to take out any hook from a fish. It is time to start the process. You have the power to demand the change of attitudes in our the system with your vote.
Bible warns: Proverbs 23:1-3, people are to be careful when dining with a ruler: Be mindful of what you eat: When you sit down to eat with a ruler, you should pay attention to what is being served.
Don’t be greedy: You should not desire the ruler’s delicacies, as they may be deceptive. Be aware of the ruler’s intentions: The ruler may not be inviting you to dinner to befriend you, but rather to manipulate you. “All that glitters is not gold.”! Please put your trust in God.
A Prime Minister in the making , so that hurting them badly . wa de grudgeful , cantankerous, evil, wicked , psychopath , third grade school yard bully, dictator tek dat in ah E face.
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St Vincent and the grenadines is going back ward to long we badly needs a change come on people wise up and let us move on don’t be fooled people let us make that change now not later