By Kenrick Quashie
The prophet Isaiah in the Bible said, “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…” Something had to die before he could see clearly.
Like Isaiah, my prayer is that upon the removal of the ULP from office, the scales will fall from the eyes of a wide cross-section of Vincentians. That independents, academics, and the church that have been silent on so many issues will reclaim their voice.
Vincentians will not accept from the NDP the things they accepted from the ULP. It may seem unfair to the NDP but it’s a good thing for the country. We must hold our leaders from here on to a much higher standard.
Under the ULP, institutions that are supposed to be vanguards of our society were tarnished or ruined. Far too many leaders align their text, their tone, and their conscience to the perceived will of the political directorate. That must also be incredibly frustrating and equally tiresome.
- Justice seems slow — painfully slow. We saw it in the years it took for the election petitions to be heard, and now we see it again with the vaccine mandate.
- The Public Service Commission and the Police Force have lost any semblance of independence.
- Community organisations are either non-existent or reduced to hollow shells.
- And the Church — our moral compass has grown so silent, losing its “salt” and “light”.
We see the wanton use of state resources for political expediency over national development. We see the indebtedness of our country and then hear a boastful declaration that it is “a hook in the gills” of Vincentians as though entrapment were an achievement.
There are some notable actions that transpired in recent years that confirmed we have lost our way as a nation. Among them are:
The Cornelius John issue: I still can’t believe that matter unfolded the way it did and this government remained standing.
The Vaccine Mandate: The government remained standing after it went to Parliament, amidst massive protest, in the middle of the night, to pass a piece of legislation that had the power to fire EVERY civil servant in the country. The government was prepared to fire every single civil servant who dared to exercise their God-given right to choose. While some resisted, many were forced to comply, yielding to massa’s modern-day whip across their backs. Who can blame them? It should never have come to that.
To compound matters, the “independent” civil service, acting on political instructions, fired those very civil servants and then claimed that “they abandoned their posts”. The thing doesn’t even make logical sense. You fire me, but you wrote saying I walked away.
I have seen people defend the unthinkable. Vincentians have accepted abuse after abuse from this ULP government. I am convinced it is a spiritual stronghold on our people and it needs be broken.
We see the enrichment of those close to the centre of power — they and their families being fattened while we suffer, while our family, friends and neighbours struggle. Yet, we remain silent. Again, that is not logical.
We can list numerous examples. Our people have settled for handouts, thinking it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
Farmers who once earned and had independence now join lines to collect handouts, then they lift their hands up to the sky and say, “Thank God for Papa,” forgetting that once upon a time, they lined up at the bank with much pride.
We have an opportunity this election to take back our destiny. To take back our country. To take back our dignity. To liberate those who are outrightly persecuted as well as those who are pressured into persecuting!
I honestly look forward to a new era where fear doesn’t stalk our land. A new ear where we don’t have to go to “Papa” for everything. An era where our now dependent organisations become independent again. I look forward with great anticipation to where the church returns to its rightful role as the vanguard of the poor, oppressed, abused, and imprisoned. Oh, how I look forward to where all Vincentians can share in the spoils of this land.
When King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord. When this political order ruled by this wicked ULP administration ends, I believe we too will see clearly again.
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Change and Continuity are two distinctly diverse concepts. Were the NDP to expect citizens to accept from them what was accepted from the ULP flies in face on the notion of change, which the NDP has established as the basis of its campaign. It this was otherwise, then the efforts ti win the election would have been an exercise in futility. I would want to think that this is not the case, and the key reason why people like myself are openly pushing for an NDP Victory is precisely because we want to bring about that Change which we think will be for the better. This is a timely reminder from the writer that we must never lose sight of this objective, and that we must be cognizant of the egregious failures of the ULP across the range of issues identified herein.
I’m looking forward to see what personal agendas you’ll have if NDP wins!
I lie?
Thanks very much Kendrick Quashie for excellent written article. An incisive article on SVG has been governed under the Gonsalves government.
The PM took away the role/functions of organisations. All sorts of groups. Brought them under one umbrella. Ralph Gonsalves. Not even Cabinet members were allowed to speak on the work of their departments.
SVG did not function as a Democratic country. It functioned more closely to a Dictatorship
Yet there was freedom in the Press. But sadly those with the knowledge about what is happening in the country never spoke out Probably they were afraid of
Gonsalves. Afraid of victimisation.
So he kept going on to run, ruining the country.
He overrated his abilitities to managed SVG, even sensibly. Especially in the field of Economics. He neglected the Agricultural sector. A leading sector in the economy. He and his government failed to grow the economy as under the Mitchell government. And failed to generate incomes that spread across the economy. Yet he kept on increasing taxes on workers with relatively small incomes . During an increasing cost of living period.
It seems me their were no economic minds in government or around the government to offer advice on economic matters.