By Dr. Richard A. Byron-Cox
SVG’s next general elections could result in a sixth straight term for the ULP, a novelty in “democratic” anglophone Caribbean. Any fair review of the incumbent’s performance over what will be 2 ½ decades in government, must conclude that Gonsalves’ team has done an excellent, as opposed to perfect job. Theirs has been exceptional in many ways. Itemising here is redundant, as one would have to be deaf, dumb, blind, totally senseless, and absolutely dishonest, not to applaud them. The nefarious and poisonous nature of opposition politics, and of those harbouring ill will to, and hate and envy for Gonsalves, has produced in them non-corrective jaundice. Their politics is dirty, where practice-perfect is defacing, demonising and destroying those perceived as obstacles, in their path to robbing the public purse.
Consequently, the NDP employs doltish, futile attempts to discredit, devalue, and dismiss evident good, resulting from Gonsalves’ stellar leadership. ‘Twas beyond profound idiocy to oppose the construction of AIA and the education revolution; criminal to endanger people’s lives, playing politics with the covid pandemic; and, it’s ignoble to promote civil war because you failed at the polls. These and other crass actions, have anchored the NDP on opposition benches for what will be a quarter century. None in this circus has enough grey matter to appreciate the need to change course. For an entire generation, they continue trying to make good look bad. If Friday had some living brain cells, he would know that the good could always be made better, (e.g. ULP met an A level college and transformed it into a community college), and better can be made best. In primary school English, this process is termed the positive (good), the comparative (better), and the superlative (best).
Considering the aforesaid, it stands to reason that the NDP should admit that the Rabacca bridge, Georgetown hospital inter alios are good, but promise more and better, while aiming for the best. Sadly, such elementary reasoning is beyond their mental spectrum. They ridicule splendid achievements forgetting that generally, people believe George Benson’s dictum, “Never give up on a good thing.” This therefore is this clown alley’s first colossal error, i.e., trying to tarnish the good; and meaning, they will reverse it! Simple truth is, many a parent and grandparent who never saw the doors of a secondary school, now glory in the fact that their offsprings are medical doctors, engineers, own their homes…. the list goes on; in short, scaling heights they never dreamt any member of their families could attain. The NDP must accept that sensible people hate to have their intelligence insulted, and an honest man despises being lied to.
Secondly, the NDP fails to truly focus on the serious weaknesses of the ULP. Here, I will only mention four, paying detailed attention to the last. First, the national debt has exploded to 2.5 billion! Certainly, the Minister of Finance sees this differently. Regardless, the questions in this regard include: will SVG be broke in 10 to 15 years? What if we have two major hurricanes that wipe out the entire GDP? Will future generations be able to pay this debt? Second is the question of unemployment/underemployment, and attendant challenges? With thousands of school-leavers and tertiary-level graduates to join the work force, what is the ULP’s solution? Third, what of the welfare state, can it be maintained?
Now, I come to the mother of all problems: lawlessness and criminality, a terribly serious concern, particularly gun crimes and murders! This week alone there were 3 murders. Gunmen have been having a field day for such a long time that John public must feel like fish in a barrel. Mass murder has joined the frenzy; the principal hospital is now part of the shooting range, as ammunitions pour in. In the face of all this, the police walk through villages seeking photo opportunities for social media, while the Minister of national security sings a refrain that comforts only him and these vicious, heartless murderers! It’s a criminals’ free for all, be they hooligan van drivers, housebreakers, praedial larceners, or gun-toting robbers. Were they of reason and not blinded by political hate, the NDP would have capitalised on this ULP ineptness bigtime. Friday’s only demand was the dismissal of the former COP. He is no more. Friday, is dumb!! There are other ULP missteps that can be effectively exploited, but I’m prepared to bet, that if the NDP circus were to have laser-sharp focus just on the problems mentioned herein, theirs will be a horse of a better, probably winning colour in election race 2025. Regrettably, this is beyond that clown alley!