The Facts

On Sunday November 24, 2024, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) held its National Convention at the Bethel High School, Campden Park.  The huge expansive hall at Bethel was jam-packed to overflowing with over 1,300 delegates present, inside, at the time when its Political Leader, Comrade Ralph, rose to speak at 11:40 a.m.; outside the hall, there were some 400 delegates, decked out in battle-red, who were unable to get in, but they stayed there all day.

It was an amazing turn-out of ULP comrades.  The internal rules of the ULP call for 20 delegates per constituency, but the surge of political support for the party on the ground made those rules irrelevant.  Every constituency in St. Vincent sent delegates way in excess of the number of required delegates.  Even the two Grenadines constituencies exceeded the number of delegates, mandated by the rules.

There were particularly massive turnouts from the constituencies of North Leeward, South Central Windward, East St. George, North Windward, East Kingstown, Central Leeward, Marriaqua, North Central Windward and South Leeward.  West St. George and South Windward recorded delegates almost three times the requisite constitutional numbers.  The Humble African’s absence- he was away on state business – did not dampen the spirits or numbers from South Windward. Central Kingstown and West Kingstown had more than twice the requisite number of delegates.

Given the inclemency of the weather across SVG, which occasioned a later than advertised start of the Convention, the commitment, passion, and energy of the ULP comrades in their turnout were hugely impressive.

Of great significance were the large numbers of young delegates from every constituency.  They provided a lift, and amazing energy, to the proceedings which buoyed the spirits of the older comrades.  Overwhelmingly, women turned out to support their ULP which has delivered so much to women, their children, their families, and which promises to deliver more in the future. 

At the “Open Forum” in the closed session of the Convention, twenty-four delegates spoke.  They commended the ULP, Comrade Ralph and the Ministers on their excellent work for the people of SVG; they also raised queries about a number of issues, including post-Beryl housing, roads, and candidates for particular constituencieson Chevonne Stewart, a distinguished health professional from the Southern Grenadines, who hails from the Stewart family in Union Island and the De Roche family in Canouan; she mingled well with the delegates from the Southern Grenadines.  So, too, was the presence of Rodan John, a young man from South Windward and on the staff of the Community College, who is completing the field work for his PhD in information technology/computer science at a university in Taiwan; he holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in these subject areas; the delegates from South Windward interacted well with him. The popular Marvin Fraser of Paul’s Avenue, former president of the SVG Football Federation, who assisted in mobilising delegates from Central Kingstown, sent a warm message to the party’s leadership; he was unwell and could not attend.  Carlos Williams of the Northern Grenadines whose yeoman endeavours in Bequia, post-Beryl, came in for high commendation from the delegates of the Northern Grenadines.  And the young veteran, Rhodes Scholar, economist, mathematician, and lawyer, Luke Browne, beamed with delight among the delegates from East Kingstown.

Before the end of January 2025, it is expected that most, if not all of the candidates, would be formally endorsed in the relevant councils of the ULP.

The Political Leader, in his comments in the closed session, predicted that Grace Walters and Keisal Peters would ignite, big time, the ULP’s election campaign.  This “Amazing Grace” has been in service to the people of North Windward and SVG for over twenty years as a Staff Nurse, specialist in Midwifery, and Hospital Administrator.  She holds a Masters Degree in Nursing, a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration, and a PhD in Hospital Management.  The people of North Windward are saying “Gomery had led us safe thus far, and Grace will lead us home.”

Keisals Peters who hails from the bosom of the working people excelled at Girls’ High School, the University of the West Indies, and the Hugh Wooding Law School.  She practiced law successfully for ten years at the esteemed Law Chambers of Stanley “Stalkey” John before joining the ULP government in 2020.   She is a talented singer and convivial personality.  She distinguished herself as Foreign Minister for nearly four years, and is now doing impressive work as Minister of National Mobilisation, post-Beryl.  She has Daniel Cummings on the ropes in West Kingstown; he hysterically attacks this beautiful black woman, an exemplar of our Caribbean civilisation, in the most demeaning and crazy manner. Cummings will pay for all this next election.

The ULP’s electoral slate for 2025 is shaping up as among the best ever offered to the people of SVG