As Vincentians prepare to elect a new government, the opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) candidate for North Windward, Shevern John is urging Vincentian voters to remember what life was like under the Unity Labour Party (ULP) over the last five years.
She told the crowd at the NDP’s “Warm Up Rally” in London on Saturday that they should remember the position of her opponent, Hospital Administrator Grace Walters, when the government imposed the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Hundreds of public sector workers lost their jobs in 2021 for failing to take a COVID-19 jab, as the government mandated.
John said most of the people were women.
“And these women are now struggling to make ends meet. What a shame. And to add insult to injury, the government used our hard-earned taxpayers’ money to appeal the case rather than put it at rest.”
She was referring to the lawsuit sponsored by the public sector unions against the government over the vaccine mandate.
The High Court ruled in favour of the unions, but the government won on appeal. The Court of Appeal is yet to rule on whether the case should be sent to the London-based Privy Council, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ highest court, for final determination.
“Within the audience, I am sure that you can identify someone who has died from that vaccine, or who is now suffering from that vaccine,” John said.
“The question is, where was the voice of the government representative who wants to come and represent you now? Where was the voice for the woman, for the teachers, for all those who lost their jobs under the vaccine mandate?
“Where was that voice? They were nowhere to be found, and they will be nowhere to be found after the next general election.”
John said voters should not forget that over the last five years, the ULP administration “never looked after you.
“They want you to forget that lack of interest, their lack of action over the time. They have promised much, but they deliver little to you,” John said.
“We are all tired of the way in which this country is governed. So, my people, don’t let them come telling you they are sorry. They are not sorry for anything. They’re not sorry for the damage that they have already done.”
She said the government is run by “a set of manipulated people who only wish to keep us on their plantation.
“We have to think for ourselves, and we as a party, the NDP, will never lie idly by and allow this tyranny to continue.”
The NDP is making its sixth attempt to be re-elected to office after being voted out of government in 2001, after 17 years at the helm.
“For 25 years, we have been plagued by a government which shows very little respect for the poor and marginalised, very little respect for trade unions, very little respect for community groups, local businesses and the economic circumstances which the average Vincentian finds themselves in,” John said.
She said the ULP administration has shown very little respect for women, adding that women have been the backbone of many families in this constituency.
John spoke of the heroic work of the late Sarah Baptiste, who traversed the constituency delivering babies.
“And the disrespect that they have for that woman, up to today, they can’t find her grave to put a proper tombstone on that grave,” John said.
“Mother Sarah Baptiste, you will rest in peace when the NDP gets into government and we honour you with the dignity and the respect that you deserve.”
John accused Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of making derogatory comments about Vincentian women, especially indigenous women.
“But, I am a proud Garifuna strong woman and nutt’n nah hold me back,” she said and encouraged all women to stand up for dignity.
“Don’t let him feel that they are better than you. So, the derogatory comments that he made, we will show him at the polls that we are better than that,” she said, without identifying the specific comment.
John said the leadership of the Opposition Leader and NDP President, Godwin Friday
“is rooted in humility and action.
“Meanwhile, the current prime minister is focused on legacy, not lives. He is tired, and so is his government. Tired of listening. They are tired of delivering. They are tired of caring. We deserve a government that is better. That administration is only clinging to the past. We have a team that is the future.”