Opposition candidate for North Leeward Kishore Shallow is wooing undecided voters, telling them that the New Democratic Party “is going to lead this country to new times, to new prosperity and new opportunities.
“For far too long under this Unity Labour Party dispensation, we have watched our challenges increase by the day,” he said in Chateaubelair at the opening of this constituency office.
Shallow said the issues are coming in fast, adding, “You can’t even have a time to deal with one, another one coming left, right and centre they’re coming at you.
“The country is declining at a rapid pace. Our economy is struggling… Our communities are feeling as though they are unheard. No one to answer their cries, apart from when election, or the eve of elections, they come around.”
Shallow is making a bid to unseat the ruling Unity Labour Party’s Carlos James, who won the seat by one vote after a contentious recount in 2020.
James, who is the minister of tourism and culture, will seek a second five-year term in office in elections widely expected by November, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
Shallow said the ULP’s constituency office has been closed since after the 2020 vote.
“… for four years, the office closed, and all of a sudden, we see activities down there,” he said and told constituents not to bother going to the ULP’s constituency office.
“For 24 years, we have waited on this government to improve agriculture for this country. We have looked to them to boost our tourism product. Sports — sportsmen and women boys and girls have been crying out for years under this administration, and the cries and the calls are falling on deaf ears, my people.”
He said that as regards roads, the ULP has no shame, adding that with elections coming, “they’re running around and patching roads; patching roads”.
Shallow said that for over 10 years, former North Leeward MP, Roland “Patel” Matthews, of the NDP, went to Parliament and told the government that that road above the powerplant in Cumberland would fall apart.
“Over 10 years ago, they did absolutely nothing,” Shallow said. “Now, what happening there now, we don’t even have a proper road to North Leeward. We do not have a proper road after you leave Spring Village to connect to the people of Chateaubelair. You telling me we can’t do better than that?
“… We have watched our health care system struggle, and we have all of our own personal experiences where our friends and family went into whether the hospital up the road here or the one in town. In fact, a waste of time going up here,” he said, referring to the Chateaubelair Smart Hospital.
“So, by the time anything serious, just because straight to town,” he said referring to the main health care facility, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, in Kingstown.
“We have watched the healthcare system at a state that is deplorable and it has never been this bad forever after, what, 25 years in administration.
“So ,I say to you people, the ones who still sitting on events and looking for reasons you don’t have to look far. Just Be truthful. Just be honest with yourself.
“Just be objective, and you will answer that this ULP administration has failed you as a people. They have failed Vincentian and they have failed St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They have neglected people of North leeward; they have neglected people in North Windward…
“So, much potential and perspectives out on the North Windward,” he siad, noting that Senator Shevern John, the NDP’s candidate for North Windward, had spoken eloquently at the meeting about connecting North Windward and North Leeward.
“And under Dr Godwin Friday, we are going to connect the north of the island,” SHallwo said.
“And needless to say to all of you that if you are to grade this government, they would struggle to get three out of 10. I believe some might be generous, and second them three and a half, but it is difficult to give them more than three.
“Everything has failed,” Shallow said, adding that the NDP has “a very competent team”, adding that the speakers at the event had spoken about what the NDP has identified as the pillars of the economy.
“… political parties like to talk about the first 100 days in office. … We not even talking about first 100 days. from day one of a New Democratic Party, you’re going to see progress,” Shallow said.
He said he did not think that the ULP understood the concept of the new economy.
“But the young men and women of North Leeward and throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who have tremendous talent in sports, in arts, the new economy is going to look after you,” he said, adding that North Leeward has produced some of the nation’s best sports people and artiste.
“So, sports will be used to transform the people of North leeward and St. Vincent and the Grenadines because when you elevate people, if you want to be independent, you have to give them the opportunities for them to prosper, and sports is one of those areas…
“The New Democratic Party is going to give our young people opportunities to prosper, and you could bet your last dollar on that. We are going to improve infrastructure., … we are going to light facilities … right through the country… We have to give our young people light so that they could play their sports.”
Shallow said there was no reason why North Leeward could not have a state-of-the-art sports academy.
“And I guarantee you, Dr. Friday is going to ensure that it’s delivered for the people of North Leeward.”
On agriculture, Shallow said farmers are struggling.
“They are in pain. My brother Lennox Lampkin keeps telling me, he keep crying for years about how he has given this government so many ideas, brilliant ideas. But if it can’t help them directly in their pocket, they have no time for you and your ideas, that is the reality,” Shallow said, referring to a Rose Hall farmer.
“And so, we are going to provide for you opportunities in farming like never before…; our young people have to be given the opportunity because once they get the opportunity is progress and prosperity,” Shallow said.