This is not the NDP of Sir James — Stewart 

The ruling Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) candidate for the Southern Grenadines, Chevonne Stewart, has asked the constituency to switch its support from the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), saying that the NDP is not the same as it was under the days of its late founder, Sir James Mitchell.

The NDP has represented the Southern Grenadines since the Grenadines was split into two constituencies – Northern Grenadines and Southern Grenadines in 1989.

Terrance Ollivierre will make a bid for a sixth consecutive term as Southern Grenadines MP in the general elections widely expected by November, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline. 

However, Stewart, the chief radiographer in the Ministry of Health, who has been transferred to the Southern Grenadines to manage the government’s housing programme there following Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, has asked constituents to support her. 

“Southern Grenadines, as they say, too long inna that… the NDP now is not the NDP of Sir James Mitchell days,” she said at the opening of her campaign office in Union Island on Saturday.

Sir James founded the NDP in 1975 and led it to electoral victory in 1984 and served as prime Minister until October 2000.

In October 2000, five months before the party would be booted out of office, he handed over the premiership and party leadership to Arnhim Eustace, who led the party until November 2017.

“This is a different NDP,” Stewart said. “Wake up, Southern Grenadines! Do not get left behind…” the first-time candidate said.

“Don’t let them come down here and tell you that the mainland is voting NDP so you need to get on board. That is a lie! That is a lie! This is our time, Southern Grenadines. We see it. We see the development in Clifton; we see it.”

Stewart said constituents were asking the question, “Why should we change?”

“… because we’re not getting the representation that we want from the elected — not Mr Snagg. Mr Snagg did his part and he wasn’t the elected person,” she said, referring to Director of Grendines Affairs, Edwin Snagg.

Some political observers have noted that Snagg did not take to the stage to endorse Stewart at Saturday’s event.

They speculated that he might have been unhappy with comments that Stewart made during an interview with ULP operative Sehonn Marshall, suggesting that constituents were displeased with Snagg’s performance, hence they called for her to be the candidate. 

This is in contrast to Stewart’s previous comments that she expressed her interest in becoming the candidate after learning that Snagg was no longer interested in competing. 

In her speech on Saturday, she said, “the elected person … continues to tell us over and over, ‘What can I do? My hands are tied.’ He not going and beg.”

Stewart has faced questions about her commitment to the Southern Grenadines, having not lived there for years.

She acknowledged in her speech on Saturday that Ollivierre has questioned her absence in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which damaged or destroyed 95% of buildings in the Southern Grenadines, according to government estimates. 

“He said, ‘I was in Union Island. I was there for Beryl. Where was she?’ I assure him that I … sent more support to Union Island from my personal chequebook than the NDP has given the children of the Southern Grenadines,” Stewart said.

She said unelected people are writing project proposals and bringing in resources and different things to the islands.

“So if they can write a project to get assistance, why not? So then are we wrong to say he’s lazy?”

The ULP has been accused of neglecting the Grenadines since coming to office in March 2001, but paying special attention to the Southern Grenadines after Beryl.

Stewart said that after Hurricane Beryl, the government provided financial assistance to residents, rebuilt houses and provided meals to people every day.

“Do you understand one sheet of plywood, 200 and something dollars?” she said, adding that she does not discriminate when people go to the housing department to seek assistance. 

 “And I never asked, ‘Who do you support? Are you Labour? Are you NDP?’ No, because the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is building back, and we are building back better than ever.”

‘No, government is perfect’

She excused what she suggested was perceived as failures of the ULP in the Southern Grenadines  

“We are not perfect. No government is perfect, and it takes time and resources to get things done, but we are listening and we are working, and we are working for you,” Stewart said.

“I came to Union Island, you spoke about the garbage dump. I went, I had meetings; we addressed it. I spoke to you guys about radiography services on Union Island so that you don’t have to go to St. Vincent for simple X-rays. 

“… There is a contractor who is working on the hospital currently to give you that radiography room that we promised. You spoke about the animals running free, you spoke about the crime rate on Union Island. I brought the police down here for a town hall meeting to address your concerns,” Stewart said.

She said there was more, adding that last month, the government “activated” two nursing auxiliary positions at the hospital that didn’t exist before. 

“We added two new teachers to your cadre of teachers on the island that started this September. And next week, someone from the YES (Youth Empowerment Service) programme is coming down here to register persons between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in employment through the YES programme,” Stewart said.

She told constituents that the “small things matter”, noting that some people would dismiss what she was saying as they want to know when they would get land on which to build a house, or when the government would repair their storm-ravaged house. 

“Well, we have heard from the minister of housing that the chief surveyor sent down a team to Union Island, and they were successful in getting 21 pieces of land,” Stewart said.

She said the Cabinet would decide how that land will be handled, “whether it’s going to be sold or distributed.

“And we ask that you be patient with us, because we are working towards it.”

She siad the work to repair and rebuild houses continues. 

“… we have built over 27 houses, all not complete, but we have 27 projects going on right now,” she said, noting that there is a limited number of building contractors. 

“So we ask that you bear with us. If your house was destroyed in Beryl, we are going to work with you, we are going to help you to rebuild your home.”

She said the first five of the prefabricated houses for Union Island have arrived.

“So we ask that you bear with us. We are working for you, and we will continue to work for you,” she said, adding, “And it’s not just Union Island; it’s Canouan, it’s Mayreau.”

Stewart said she spent the previous weekend in Mayreau, and the people asked for a vegetable market.

“And I am listening, and I am working with the people to get the message, to have discussion with the prime minister to see how we can best meet your needs,” Stewart said.