Kenna Questelles has resigned as vice-president of the Women’s Arm of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and announced that she will run as an independent candidate in West St. George.
Questelles, a 30-year-old management consultant is making the bid even as she acknowledged to iWitness News, on Tuesday, that independent candidates have not done well in elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“… the system that we have now is not working, and I believe it’s a new era for politics in St. Vincent and Grenadines,” she told iWitness News.
“I believe that the nation wants, and for the progress of the nation, we need to go beyond the divisiveness of red and yellow and to push beyond those boundaries,” she said, referring to the colours of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the NDP.
“And so, I’m aware of the fact that, yes, historically, independent candidates have not been successful or as successful in their bid. But I want at least to inspire young people, especially, to get up and to not expect the norm, to know that we can change the narrative of St. Vincent going forward.”
She said there has been poor representation of West St. George over the years.
“… and I think as we go on, it’s gotten progressively worse. At least, that’s what the constituents say,” Questelles told iWitness News.
She said poor representation is manifested in the state of the roads, sporting and other public facilities that have been in a “run down and in a dilapidated condition.
“When I look at West St. George, I see a budding hub of economic activity, and I’m quite concerned that a lot of the constituents aren’t really getting the opportunity to take advantage of some of the opportunities that could be realised,” Questelles said, adding that her background in entrepreneurship is the lens through which she sees the constituency developing.
She noted that a few years ago there was the issue of vendors being removed from outside Massy Store in Arnos Vale.
“And nothing has been done as far as the government goes in providing these vendors with a space for them to actually trade,” Questelles said.
She also spoke about the increase in crime nationally, adding that West St. George has not been spared.
“As recent as last week, we had Jarvis Horne who lost his life in Kingstown. He’s a constituent of West St. George and somebody that I grew up with, somebody who I saw as a relative of mine, and to see young people like that, our young men and our young women losing their lives. Those are the things that I see that I can bring to West St. George.”
SVG has recorded 53 homicides this year, two less than the 55 in 2023, which replaced the 42 record set in 2022.
As regards the practical ways in which she plans to address these issues, Questelles told iWitness News that the government has “basically been silent”.
She said the opposition has outlined some plans, “albeit plans that after the fact of the crime being committed.
“And I think we, as a nation, we need to focus more on preventative measures, I could see where an education reform which takes into account social behaviour. So, seeing where our young people are displaying anti-social behaviours, and putting that into our education system where it can be identified and addressed.”
She said things such as teaching social skills and social values are missing in the education system.
“And that’s something that I would love to see as a candidate of West St. George being pushed, not only in West St. George but throughout our national education system.”
Questelles was elected vice-president of the NDP’s Women’s Arm in October 2022 and resigned on Sept. 11.
“I wasn’t in agreement with where the party was going in terms of some of its policies and its execution in anticipation for the next election. Let’s put it that way,” Questelles said.
Asked to elaborate, she said:
“In terms of its stance to leave a lot of youth voices out. I didn’t think that the party, in particular, took on or the party currently takes on the voices of the youths. I think it does attract youths in terms of it gives an alternative to the current administration but I have not been convinced that the party is ready to take on new voices, or even ready to take on governance as it stands.”
The NDP is slated to have on Thursday a primary to select its candidate for West St. George in the next general election, which is widely expected next year, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
The two contenders are Kaschaka Cupid, a tax auditor at the Inland Revenue Department and Louise Mitchell, a lawyer who was the executive director of the International Financial Services Authority from 2001 to 2007.
Questelles denied that she wanted to become the NDP’s candidate without going through the rigours of a primary.
“I did not apply to vie for the candidacy for West St. George,” she told iWitness News.
The incumbent, the ULP’s Curtis King, a retired educator, of the ULP is expected to bid for a second five-year term as MP for West St. George.
Questelles told iWitness News that she has represented SVG at several summits/programmes, namely, Caribbean Entrepreneurship Challenge (2019) – 2nd Place; Creative Business Cup (2019) – Denmark – National Winner; Entrepreneurship World Cup (2019) – Saudi Arabia – Global 100 Finalist; US Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (2021); and, One Young World (2022) Ambassador.
She said her work as a management consultant involves working with small businesses in St. Vincent, offering accounting services and general management consultations.
In May 2023, Vakeesha John resigned as president of the NDP’s Youth Arm, six months after being elected to the post unopposed.
She launched a broadside against the party one week after her resignation, presenting the party’s chief spokesperson, Lavern King, and central executive member, Clemroy “Bert” Francois as the main reasons for quitting.
When contacted by iWitness News, both King and Francois declined to comment on John’s comment, opting instead to wish her well.