Jamaican MP Rhoda Moy Crawford Rallies NDP Women, Calls for Unity and Victory in Upcoming Elections

Jamaican Member of Parliament, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, delivered a rousing address at the New Democratic Party (NDP) Women’s Arm Elect Her Conference, emphasizing resilience, sacrifice, and the importance of electing women into leadership.
Addressing a packed audience at the NDP Headquarters on International Women’s Day, Crawford celebrated the strength of Vincentian women and lauded the leadership of Dr. Godwin Friday, NDP President, whom she described as a man of integrity with a deep love for his country. She shared that her own party leader, Jamaican Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, had tasked her with extending best wishes to Dr. Friday, underscoring the bond between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the NDP.
“When my party leader won the mandate to govern Jamaica, he ensured that we had the highest number of women serving in Cabinet. Under his leadership, we now have Jamaica’s first female Minister of Defence and women holding key roles across government. I have no doubt that when Dr. Friday becomes Prime Minister, he too will empower the women of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Crawford declared to applause.
The Jamaican MP, who made history by defeating a political heavyweight in the 2020 elections, drew parallels between her own journey and the uphill battle that female candidates in the region continue to face. She described how she rose from poverty to Parliament, emphasizing that women must push through barriers, develop a spirit of excellence, and never allow society to dictate their limits.
“I grew up in a one-room house with several people. My parents taught me that we were poor, but we were not poverty. They instilled in me that with hard work, sacrifice, and faith, success was possible. That is the same lesson I bring here today—if a giant stands before you, there is a David within you. The NDP has been in opposition for a long time, but just like David, you will overcome,” she said passionately.
She called on NDP supporters to rally behind female candidates Sen. Shevern John and Laverne Gibson-Velox, whom she described as exceptional women with a deep love for their communities. Crawford urged Vincentians to focus on winning seats, not just fielding candidates for numbers’ sake, drawing from the JLP’s experience of electing capable women who work tirelessly to advance their nation.
Beyond gender representation, Crawford highlighted the disparities in how opposition MPs are treated in SVG, pointing out that in Jamaica, both government and opposition MPs receive state-funded resources to serve their constituencies from the Constituency Development Fund. She commended the NDP candidates for their sacrifices, stating that their work on the ground is funded not by government allocations, but through personal and donor contributions.
“When you see Dr. Friday and his team out there working, remember, they are not using government resources. They are doing it because of their deep love and commitment to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That is why they deserve your full support,” she urged.
Crawford also cautioned NDP supporters to protect the party from internal divisions and external propaganda, urging them to resolve issues privately, avoid airing grievances on social media, and reject misinformation spread through WhatsApp and other platforms.
“When you go on social media, speak well of your party, speak well of your leaders. The NDP has done enough good for you to have plenty of positive things to say. If you receive a negative message, delete it. Don’t spread it, because that is exactly what your opponents want,” she warned.
Closing with a call to action, she emphasized that winning an election is not just about hard work but also strategic execution. She urged the NDP to focus on house-to-house canvassing, voter enumeration, and mobilization, reminding them that “votes in the box win elections.”
In a final charge to the NDP and its supporters, Crawford made her expectations clear:
“This is my second time here. I will not accept another invitation unless I am coming back to an NDP government!” To which the party’s leader Dr. Godwin Friday said, “invitation extended” signalling his intention for his party to win the general elections.
Her powerful words left attendees energized, reinforcing the urgency of the upcoming elections and the need for decisive action to ensure victory for the NDP.