Vincentians were told by the prime minister of the country, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, to reject the citizenship by investment program (CBI) and continue to make do. And, in effect, not explore the enormous possibilities which exist to make life much better for many more Vincentians than the select few (some who live in opulence) who can afford to make it and not just “make do.”
The Cambridge dictionary describes make do as “to manage to live without things that you would like to have or with things of a worse quality than you would like.”
According to that definition, when you “make do” you are put in a position where you have to live without things which you would like to have. When you make do you are put in a position to be satisfied with things of worse quality than you would like. When you asked to make do you are asked to accept mediocrity and things which are substandard.
Earlier this week, on Monday the 12th of May 2025, the prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, held what seemed to be a hurriedly put together press conference. It is believed that the press conference was hurriedly arranged by him after it seemed that he and his government are losing the argument with respect to citizenship by investment. CBI is an investment program which is successfully implemented in other OECS countries and which the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) promises to introduce in the country once they are elected to government at the next general election later this year.
One may remember that sometime last week the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, forcefully and vehemently retorted Dr Gonsalves’ denigration of the citizenship by investment program implemented in some of the OECS countries. Gaston Brown went as far as saying that Dr Gonsalves is out of place for his unsavory characterisation of their citizenship by investment program.
Browne, referring to Dr Gonsalves, also went as far as saying, quote, “I am aware that in SVG people, foreigners, who make significant economic contributions you give them citizenship.” Following Gaston Browne’s retort, the NDP primarily through Dr Kishore Shallow (the candidate for the North Leeward constituency) earlier on the 12th of May 2025 (prior to the hurriedly held press conference) gave a presentation (on Boom FM) of the CBI. Dr Shallow spoke of the enormous benefits the CBI will bring to St Vincent and the Grenadines and to Vincentians. It was following Dr Shallow’s presentation that the announcement of the hurriedly held press conference was made.
During that press conference by Dr Gonsalves, he gave an unconvincing reply for his refusal to implement the program in St Vincent and the Grenadines. If nothing else, one of the things coming out of that press conference is that Dr Gonsalves is operating a one man show under the guise of running a country. As an example being, he spoke of “my democracy” instead of the Vincentian democracy.
Also, in his insipid presentation at the press conference Dr Gonsalves reeled off a string of things to try to argue against CBI. One of the things he said is “in St Vincent and the Grenadines we make do with what we have you noh.”
Make do! That statement begs as series of questions: is he, in effect, saying that the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines must continue to accept less and not strive for more? Is he saying that people of St Vincent and the Grenadines must live without things which you would like to have? Is he saying that the people must continue to accept his and his government’s mediocrity and not have ambition to want better?
Vincentians, based on what has been unfolding in St Vincent and the Grenadines, it seems as if you have been asked to make do with so much inadequacy around you, and you have to ask yourselves whether you can afford to continue to make do.
Can you afford to continue to make do with the record number of crimes in the country where a person was shot on his own private property by those who are near and dear to the government, and there is no justice for that person? Can you continue to make do where mass shootings are becoming the norm (three people gunned down in Belmont last night), and where people are gun downed in broad daylight, and yet the minister of national security, the prime minister, has failed, so far, to hold a press conference to address the specific issue of crime?
Can you afford to continue to make do with the inadequate healthcare, where there is little or no medication at the main hospital and health clinics up and down the country? Can you continue to make do do with the state of disrepair of the hospital and health clinics, the police stations, the schools (some where there is no toilet paper and running water), the roads and other infrastructure in the country?
Can you continue to make do when unemployment (particularly youth unemployment is exceptionally high)? Can you continue to make do do in the face of extreme poverty up and down the country? Can you continue to make do do with corruption taking place left right and centre in the country?
Can you continue to make do do when there is no transparency and accountability? Especially when you are aware of crooks who receive citizenship and passport. Can you continue to turn a blind eye and make do when you see other countries within the OECS (who have the citizenship by investment program) offer double salary to their public servants at Christmas time? Can you continue to make do do when you see those same countries paying higher wages to their workers and where you see our own Vincentians (your son and daughter, your mum and dad, your brother and sister, your neighbour) moving to those same countries for a better life?
Should you really continue to make do and wait for a handout of a hand or a bunch of plantain from your government in an election year?
The question here really is, is the prime of St Vincent and the Grenadines really expecting the vast majority of Vincentians to continue to make do? Make do When all the evidence points to the fact that the prime minister and members of his family and some of his agents, enablers, and aiders and abettors live in the most comfortable of ways? Should you really just continue to make do?
Vincentians, dignity and common decency demand that you take stock and make the decision not continue to just make do!