Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) could field up to three female candidates in the next general election.
“The next election campaign, we already have two women identified. You see them here,” he said in Sandy Bay on Sunday, referring to Keisal Peters and Grace Walters.
Peters, a senator and minister of national mobilisation, has been identified as the ULP’s candidate for West Kingstown. On Sunday, the party held a constituency conference in North Windward where Walters, the hospital administrator, was nominated as the candidate for that district.
“And there’s another one who’s being looked upon favourably by the people in another constituency,” Gonsalves said.
He was apparently referring to Chevonne Stewart, the chief radiographer at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, who the ULP is said to be considering as its candidate for the Southern Grenadines.
“I’ll leave that for a little later because I can’t get ahead of myself until we have gone through all the processes,” said Gonsalves, who is the political leader of the ULP.
“But I say this to you, that these women of Labour would be the outstanding stars in the 2025 election campaign. You have evidence of it here tonight.”
The ULP, which has been in office since March 2001, is seeking a sixth consecutive five-year term in office.
“The Unity Labour Party, government, on every single account, we have delivered, and we have unfinished tasks and we need another term to address the unfinished task,” Gonsalves said.
“And I personally, every day ask Almighty God not to let me leave behind any unfinished task.”
Gonsalves endorsed Walters’ candidacy, noting her educational achievement.
Walters holds a doctorate in health care administration and management and master’s degrees in nursing and health care administration, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“Understand this, this woman who has come from the bowels of the people in Sandy Bay,” he said.
“You have somebody who is ready. I do not know any woman in the history of politics, in St. Vincent than the Grenadines, who has come to politics as prepared for office like Grace Walters. And I know all of them.”
He said Walters “is not interested in status, she got it already.
“She don’t have to impress any set of middle-class people in town. She don’t have to represent anybody, whether from Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday,” the prime minister said.
“She doesn’t have to impress any of those. She’s from the roots. She knows where she comes from. She not better than anybody, but nobody is better than Grace Walter.”
The prime minister said that the outgoing MP for North Windward, Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel, another Sandy Bay resident, had recommended Walters as his replacement.
Daniel also endorsed Walters at Sunday’s event.
“I talked to Grace. I say, ‘You’re ready?’ She says, she ready now, and she will build upon the magnificent work of Montgomery Daniel, who has been one of the most successful ministers of government before and after independence.”
Gonsalves said Daniel distributed more housing lots and built more houses than any minister in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The prime minister, like Walters, responded to criticism that she now lives in Kingstown.
“Her navel string buried here. She cut the whole set ah navel string as a midwife. Her job carried her to Kingstown. She worships every weekend in this area. Her heart is here. Her soul is here. That’s the only thing they could say about she that she nah live yah?”
The prime minister said he has lived outside of North Central Windward for all of the 32 years that he has been representing the district in the Parliament.
“But when everybody wanted to move out of here, I went ah bush and build me house ah Gorse to show everybody where the heart and where the soul is.”
Gonsalves also noted that Central Kingstown MP, St. Clair Leacock, East Kingstown MP Fitz Bramble and West Kingstown MP do not live in their constituencies.
“[Terrance] Ollivierre got a house in Union. Anybody ah see um?” he said, referring to the Southern Grenadines MP.
“What kind of damn foolishness they talking? … Way Shallow live? Leeward?’ he further said of Kishore Shallow, the opposition New Democratic Party’s candidate for North Leeward.
“Listen, leh me lift this politics, that kind of a foolish talk. The next thing you’re going to tell me is that, because you mightn’t be able to deal with Grace, you going by obeah man to get bathed?” Gonsalves said.
Three female MPs only one has a solid chance of winning. Why not give them safe ULP seats. You know who is going to win West Kingstown and the Southern Grenadines. They are considered to be safe NDP seats. Comrade you should have had these women vying for seats like WSG , ESG or Marriaqua. Then this will make intuitive sense. These women selected with face a hurdle to be elected in any one of these constituency.
Here comes Mr Machiavellian, he knows the results already Just cheap talk Comrade. Why not give your constituency to one of these women? If hou do I will know you are serious.
Not to trash people but how is it possible that a fossil of a man can be in power for twenty five years without interruption, while the country is more and more dependent on foreign aid and the debt keeps rising and our people remain under educated and highly unemployed?
What sense that make? Hope Vincy women never forget how Michelle Andrews suffered in silence because of of injustice. Shame on you!
When you don’t get what you want you complain eh
Sometimes the Comrade uses some descriptive statements that sound good but means little to a reasonable prudent person. He claims that Grace Walter’s has no interest in status and that she comes from the bowels of the people from the constituency of North Windward. Shevorn John does not come from the bowels of the people? What kind of analo is this? It is the first time I wictness the Comrade getting so scared.
Dr Shallow entrance into politics gives the Comrade a real headache a cauchemar. To the extent he has nightmares and sleepless nights.The time has come that the possibility exists to predict the Comrade’s rein may come to an end. Even Rome has had its day.
Tarry a while mate,. the Comrade always hae a Trump card. The Trump card is good enough to ensure there is six in a row. The NDP should not count the chickens before they are hatched. The office of the PM is busy putting plans in place to ensure that the only likely senario is six in a row. Indeed there will be Six in a row. Only time will tell.
It baffles me how women can associate themselves with some people who has been accused and charged for srxual offences, and are evil wicked and cruel In my opinion , they have no moral and Intergrity what so ever, dem are nothing obsolutely nothing , shame ‘on all ar you.
Lol, more clowns going to the circus.?