“All human power is a compound of time and patience”. — Honore De Balzac
Smartly and wickedly, the Ralph Gonsalves-led ULP government never seem to be in a hurry about fixing the roads, rebuilding homes after natural disasters, maintaining public infrastructure, and finding sustainable solutions to the countless social, economic and environmental problems facing thousands of Vincentians.
It is as if the PM, being the master of psychology that he is, understands quite clearly that hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself and over time. As well, it is as if the PM vehemently believes in the words of Honore De Balzac, posited about human power and time (read the opening quote again). I believe that it is for this reason that, when it comes to solving problems in SVG, the government always seems patient, as if they know that everything will come to them eventually.
Strikingly, we continue to see that such eventual timings are often dressed in the occurrences of natural disasters and elections. Take a time to stop and reflect and you will see that natural disasters seemingly are the main income generators of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and election periods are when we see a lot more help and spending.
Strategically, the ULP government has become a detective and a master of the right time and moments. They continue to cynically manipulate Vincentians and prey on their unfortunate circumstances. Audaciously, they sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that continue to keep them in power.
Evidently, millions continue to be raised from natural disasters (2021 volcanic eruptions, Hurricane Beryl, COVID-19, 2013 floods) and so many more. These millions are often collected via direct government-to-government aid, assistance from international organisations, support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, inevitably, taxing the already overtaxed citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Shamelessly, these funds, at times, go unaccounted for, and even missing, instead of being used for the purposes that they were intended for.
However, interestingly, during an election year, and more so the last six months leading up to the elections, magically, the government seems to get a lot more done than in the previous 4.5 years. Elections seem to always evoke the best of the government. Oftentimes, one may wonder, “All of a sudden, potholes are being patched, lumber, cement and galvanise are never too expensive or too much to be bought and served as treats to ‘the most vulnerable’ and those who carry party cards. All this is being done with one intention in mind: to buy votes for the elections.”
Do you think such operations are by chance, or are they tried and tested tactics that continue to prove to be perpetually effective? If I may answer this question, I will say, again, that timing is everything and the ULP has realised that Vincentians are quite satisfied suffering for four and a half years prior to an election, then enjoy six months of being well-fed, housed and clothed. Sadly and gravely, TIME is the name of this hurricane that thousands of Vincentians are lost in.
Why work hard for four and a half years, when you can work timely and smartly for the last six months of a 5-year election cycle and still be reelected into office?
Should Vincentians who are critical thinkers continue to be upset and blame the government for employing such a tactic?
Or
Should Vincentians who continue to fall victim to such an approach by this wicked ULP administration be held accountable for their own unfortunate circumstances?
Advisably, it is time enough more Vincentian citizens challenge the government to be more accountable and transparent with the country’s affairs. They ought to be reminded that they were put into office to serve the people of the country, and not the other way around. They are obligated to explain to citizens their decisions and actions. In the absence of mechanisms like these, then the government will always take advantage of the currency of time.
In summary, thousands of Vincentians, continue to comfortably afford the government the seat that allows them to sit back for four and a half years in office. Then to the detriment of the voters, who employ them, show up and pretend to be working for the last six months of the election cycle when they believe that the time is ripe, and to strike fiercely because it has reached fruition. In addition, tek way dey give yuh if yuh deserve it, but wen u get in d pollin booth, mark yo X against dem, not for dem. Because, essentially, what they are doing is bribing you, the electorate, and bribery is an election crime.
Troy Prince
Concerned Vincentian
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Great analysis BUT it’s not going to work this elections. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
We are a very emotional people..these times call for sober thinkers/thought. I’ll be the first to admit that the ULP has done and accomplished a lot. I also have to admit that an NDP administration would not have had the wherewithal to build an international airport. Are the people fed up of this ULP administration? Yes. Is the NDP ready to build on what the ULP has built? Is the NDP ready to take Vincy further? The NDP seem to think they’re able to build on the foundation the ULP laid. We as a people have to be sober. Does the argument that 25 yrs is enough a valid one?
This prognosis by Jomo os most intriguing. I do think it is on the ball. I do hope that the response of the NDP folks, member , supporters, sympathizers, or however defined will not be as Jomo indicates is possible in his opening segment, but on contrary is taken as a wake up call to action to enable the desired outcomes. NDPers must keep their eye on the ball, to use a cricket reference since cricket was so much in vogue recently. They must focus laserlike without distraction on Job 1: Getting rid of the ULP from the offices and corridors of Government.
This is a Tom Thumb government. He put a n his thumb and pull out a plum (load of sh,** )and say what a good boy I am.
Mr. Prince is onto a very valid proposition here with respect to the ULP’s apparent deliberate manipulation of time. I do think however that the Gonsalvesian supposed political mastery ought not to be overstated, as so often he has demonstrated that he has ” feet of clay” , or that the “emperor has no clothes”! One thing that Gonsalves has survived on, to his apparent credit, is his ability to create this myth of political mastery. Persons observing hin over the past decades however should have noted a few things. Firstly, and to his credit, he is master of words. So he can manipulate language to produce smoke and mirrors. Going beyond or behind the fanciful language however, one finds an — emptiness! What also will have become evident is that he is not an original thinker coming up with creative ideas about progress and change. And very often, therein lies a major reason for his failure to implement. What seems seems to be a skillful use of time really is an inability to manage to deliver in good time and costs. The two major infrastructure projects of his regime stand testament to this. The Argyle Airport, which was not his idea and for which the preliminary site identification was done by the time he took office, and now the the Kingstown Port Development Project. The airport took some ten years to build, at a cost yet to be ascertained, and we don’t yet know the outcome of Port Kingstown. So, Mr. Prince, while I understand where you are coming from, there may in fact be no real magic beyond management incompetence. Further, this dragging feet on the delivery of promised outcomes in reasonable time frames is a feature of many governments today in the OECS, and ostensibly for the same reasons. Taking advantage of the political cycle. So as it is not at all singular to Gonsalves and the ULP, therefore let us not over credit them with what they do not deserve, and call them out for what is their due. Incompetence!
Very good read. Things that have been observed time and time again each election but… Vincentians love it so. The inner circle will continue to thrive. The small man will continue to pay x amount of monies when he brings in his likkle car while they get concessions with one phone call, among other evils.
A quick response to VINES above on the matter of the construction of the Argyle Airport from one who was was intimately involved and is not speculating or guessing. The site identification and concept layout was done by the time the NDP left government in 2001. This was done in 1996-1997. Why was actual commencement not undertaken? Two main reasons. Firstly the need for at least a five year period of wind regime data collection, since no locational wind data was available. Secondly, putting together a project for financing. The NDPs shortcoming on this latter was that it was focusing on traditional mobilization of finance. Given Gonsalves disregard of this approach, the actual cost of the airport cannot be ascertained. Benefit? Yes, the airport is there with all of its warts and lumps and bruises. Consequence? A heavy debt burden on the country going forward. Also bear in mind that the airport took over well 10 years from commencement to completion. During a similar 10 year cycle, the NDP, between 1991 and 2001, completed the Bequia Airport from scratch, rebuilt the Union Island Airport to make it much safer, and had substantially completed the Canouan Airport. So a basis of comparison in this regard, VINES may wish to revisit his conclusions.
Mr Cato,the NDP had no intention and didn’t have the wherewithal to take on a project of the magnitude of Argyle airport. Mr Eustace said during the construction of the Argyle airport that if the NDP won the elections, the Argyle airport would be made into a gulf course. The idea of an airport at Argyle was an election gimmick by the NDP. Bequia and Union Island airports construction shouldn’t be compared to Argyle. They’re vastly different. The impact of having an international airport makes a huge difference to our tourism product, our international connectivity, our economy. I want the NDP to tell me how they’re gonna utilize the Argyle airport more effectively to further empower Vincentians. Crime and unemployment are burning issues in Vincy.I want to see tangible solutions from the NDP.I want the NDP to tell me how they’ll lift St Vincent and the Grenadines higher and take Vincy into the 21st century. I want change in Vincy..the onus is on the NDP to show they’re about real change that will uplift Vincentians.