Two independent candidates are among the 32 people who have been nominated to contest the 15 parliamentary seats in the Nov. 27 general election.
Supervisor of Elections Dora James said on NBC Radio that Kenna Questelles was nominated to contest the West St. George constituency, while Doris Charles of the National Liberation Movement (NLM) will contest South Leeward.
Questelles’ symbol is the torch, and Charles’ is the bicycle.
Their candidacy brings to seven the number of women contesting the polls, almost one-fifth of the total number of candidates.
Charles is a former diplomat under the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and wife of former Central Leeward MP under the ULP, Maxwell Charles.
Questelles was a former executive member of the Women’s Arm of the main opposition New Democratic Party, before breaking ranks with the party and announcing her intention to contest as an independent candidate.
Pundits expect the elections to be a straight fight between the ULP, which is seeking an historic sixth consecutive, five-year term in office, and the NDP, which is seeking to return to office after being booted out in March 2001.
In a statement sent to iWitness via WhatsApp, Charles said her nomination holds much significance for the NLM, which was established in 2022.
“Since then, we have been advocating for national political changes through our programme of activities entitled Belldnation,” she said, adding that it was broadcast through Bayhill News Network.
She said that the NLM’s symbol, the bicycle, represents a number of values, including forward movement, progressive thinking, healthy living and well-being.
Our principles are those to which every Vincentian should aspire. They are: accountability, pragmatism, loyalty, integrity, transparency, equity and meritocracy,” Charles told iWitness News.
Meanwhile, Questelles said in a post on her Facebook page, that if elected MP for West St. George, she would launch a digital youth service agency to train and employ 150 youth to provide digital marketing services, website design and IT support services to businesses.
She promised to train and assist 400 youth to attain CARICOM and global skills qualifications and provide 360 employment opportunities, including in culinary arts, health, logistics, cosmetology, carpentry, plumbing and construction.
The candidate said she would establish an annual West St. George innovation award to fund and launch high-potential youth-led start-ups and provide career advice and after-school programmes to students at CPEA and CSEC levels.
Questelles said she would establish a citizens’ resource desk at our community centres to assist constituents with scholarships, job opportunities, business grant opportunities, and applications.
Nominations challenged
On Nomination Day on Monday, the ULP challenged the nomination of Opposition Leader Godwin Friday as the NDP’s candidate for the Northern Grenadines and Fitz Bramble as its East Kingstown candidate.
The nominations were challenged because both politicians acquired Canadian citizenship as adults and are therefore, by their own act, under allegiance to a foreign power, contrary to the Constitution.
Friday has been representing the Northern Grenadines since 2001, and Bramble is seeking re-election as MP for East Kingstown.
The returning officer in each constituency allowed the nominations, but Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves later promised legal challenges to their candidacy.
These women are trying to split the votes to help the ULP. Doris is forgetting what Louis did to her husband, a family member. Louis’s action was the reason I cut off our relationship.