By Kenrick Quashie
Two and a half decades of one-party rule have taken a psychological toll on this nation. Just as slavery once programmed our ancestors to accept subordination, political longevity has conditioned many Vincentians to believe that power belongs to one man and one party.
Bob Marley reminded us: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.” That message is as relevant to our politics today as it was to our history.
We have become accustomed to handouts at election time because that is the only time some constituents see their representatives. We have been conditioned to view development as a gift from politicians rather than a right earned through our taxes. Every five years, the cycle repeats: fattened budgets, last-minute roadworks, and sudden bursts of generosity meant to buy goodwill.
Just weeks before the election, the PM Gonsalves announces an extra $3 million for “accelerated housing”. Yet the housing programme has long been criticised for favouritism and abuse. These pre-election initiatives are political bargains masked as development plans.
This pattern reveals a government that believes Vincentians only remember their last meal. It is insulting, and it must stop.
The truth is that our people are not lazy or gullible; they are strategic. They “milk” the system because the system offers nothing else. But we can change that dynamic only by rejecting it altogether.
We must demand a new social contract that is built on respect, accountability, and mutual trust between citizens and government. That means rejecting bribes and handouts and embracing policies that create jobs, and hope.
The NDP has matured. It has built a competent team and laid out a plan for renewal. They deserve a chance to prove themselves. And if they fail, we will hold them accountable at the next election because that is what a mature democracy does.
We must never again allow any one person or to dominate our political landscape for a generation. Power must circulate, not stagnate.
The time for fear is over. The time for renewal has come. Let us reclaim our authority as voters and restore the dignity of our democracy.
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