Matthew Thomas says he likes Anesia’s spirit
Just as he reached the end of his self imposed deadline, at which point he had indicated that he would âtake a recessâ, hope seems to be emerging for political activist Matthew Thomas.{{more}}
Thomas told SEARCHLIGHT this week that he would consider working with sacked New Democratic Party (NDP) senator Anesia Baptiste, who recently echoed his sentiments, that there is the need for an alternative political party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
âAny group, including Anesia, who are seriously thinking about forming an alternative, and in their program they satisfy my kind of desires, then whatever energies I have, I could join with them and we go on the road and we propagate that kind of thing.â
Thomas, a former supporter of the ULP, moved over to the NDP, and used his radio programme âStay Awakeâ to bolster support for the NDP.
Disillusioned by the leadership of the NDP, Thomas, in January this year, broke ranks, calling for an alternative party to be formed, behind which he would throw his support.
When Thomas gave up on the NDP, he introduced the Political Reform, Equality, Socialization and Services (PRESS) movement, and made the call for âmen and women of calibre, who were willing to offer themselves for candidacy, and to form the next government of St. Vincent and the Grenadinesâ.
Should his call go unheeded by April, Thomas had said that he would âclose up the programmeâ.
Baptiste, who also was a supporter of the ULP, joined the NDP when she became disgruntled shortly after the November 2009 referendum on the Constitution, when the Public Service Commission brought 16 charges against her.
She was removed from her post of senator last month, after a disagreement with the NDP leadership.
In a press release last week, Baptiste stated: âIt is clear that an alternative political party is needed; one that has genuine respect for the religious liberty and freedom of expression of all of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, whether they be majority or minority groups. And one that also stands for true economic development and social progress that brings SVG into a golden age.â
A pharmacist by profession, Thomas said that although he does not know Baptiste personally, he believes that her energies were not challenged sufficiently in the NDP.
He said that he did not see her removal from the party coming; but it did not surprise him.â
âWhen I made the statement, she was not in my mind to be part of it, because she was with a party. I agree that she is young and inexperienced in many ways⦠but I like her spirit; she is quite energetic and forthright… and as it were, she felt she didnât have within the NDP the space for her energy and so she broke loose. I think that is it.â
âIf she is saying there is a need for an alternative party, means that she has faith in neither, and thatâs the same thing Iâm saying.
âThere is a lack of leadership in this country; there is a need for an alternative party; not a third.â
âWe made a commitment on the 9th of January, that we werenât satisfied with the direction the NDP is going, and at that rate at which they are going, we donât think they will be able to remove the ULP.â
âOur energies must go towards a group of people that are responsive to our ideas and show us that they are capable of forming government and they are working towards that.â
âSo if Anesia is the head of such group, or Junior Jarvis is, or any young man or woman, Matthew Thomas wouldnât be. I would lend my support thereâ¦.
âBut as of now, I canât say you will see me down the road joining Anesiaâs group. I donât know if she will ever form a group, if she has a group, and whatever the aims and objectives of the group may be. It may not be enough for me to join them. So itâs still openâ¦.â