I felt compelled to write this article based on a recent conversation I had with a young Vincentian national, age 25, who paid a visit to the New Democratic Party Headquarters.
The individual didn’t recognize two photos that are on display on the walls depicting this country’s second Prime Minister Sir James Fitz- Allen Mitchell. The photos are two of Sir James in his youthful age, and unfortunately, there is no name nor history of Sir James under the said photos. This will be corrected soon.
I took the pleasure in giving the name and a brief history to the individual. I was further stunned when I was told that it was the first time the name Sir James Mitchell was being heard and of the knowledge that he was a former Prime Minister. It’s quite obvious that Sir James was elected in his last term as Prime in the year 1998, the said year the individual was born.
I am aware also that the individual was about three years old when this present Government, whilst in opposition, blocked the roads in this country and forced the New Democratic Party Government to call fresh elections in 2001, two years earlier than was constitutionally due. My other question to that individual was, “have you ever heard of the road block revolution in 2000?” The answer was “a little”. I started questioning myself.
Can someone really could have completed primary and secondary school without knowing who was this country’s second Prime Minister? What conversations normally take place in our homes today? Are we as a political party doing enough to appeal to and educate that age group?. I am even more convinced and will start to work even harder to educate our young people who unfortunately only know of the Ralph Gonsalves lead administration.
I would teach them that it was Sir James who provided the lands for the landless, that he built the community College in Glen, that he built the cruiseship Terminal, Little Tokyo commonly called China Town, the Ottley Hall Marina and Ship Yard, the Kingstown Vegetable Market, the Financial complex,the many roads that lead to various homes and agricultural lands and provided many scholarship and other opportunities for education advancement in our country among others.
Let’s all play our part in educating of our youths and especially those in that age bracket. In fact, these should be basic information taught at the kindergarden level. I am therefore urging you to take up this mantle and educate our young ones.
Brenton Smith
