Philosophies of Vincentian politicians

EDITOR: It would really be foolhardy of Vincentians to harbour the thought that anyone who is aspiring for the leadership of politics in this country would not have in their inner most part a philosophy.

Needless to say that it is hardly likely that that vision would be opened for public scrutiny in advance of being elected.{{more}}

It is perhaps more than anything else the reason why that five-year period is considered ample for the electorate to put under the microscope the activities of both the government as well as others who are clamouring to replace it.

We do not necessarily have to become loners or self-centred, we simply need to back away from the madding crowds to think for ourselves regardless of how long it takes to review the thinking of our politicians.

A good place to start might be the founder of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party (SVGLP) and the founder of the New Democratic Party (NDP). After the 1984 general elections were called, the founder of the SVGLP Prime Minister Cato said “let the voice of the people be heard.”

After the 1989, elections the founder and leader of the NDP Prime Minister Mitchell said ‘ a rigged election is better than no election.’ After the merger of the SVGLP with the MNU it is now the Unity Labour Party (ULP) and its leader is Prime Minister Gonsalves. The NDP retains the status quo with Mr. Eustace its leader.

In short we now have a new generation of political leaders and indeed philosophies.

Now: New elections are due in 2006 but speculations are rife that they would be called earlier. Absent in the public domain are discussions on the philosophies of Dr. Gonsalves’ ULP with his unswerving position that his party’s 2001 manifesto is their political bible.

On the other hand, the opposition NDP leader Mr. Eustace has said ‘that not because you put it in your manifesto it means that you must do it’, ‘go back to the people and tell them’ this was in reference to the cross country road which his party opposes.

We are now left with a single question: Whither a Manifesto?

Incidentally, philosophy: (1) a natural function of the human mind; (2) a system of motivating beliefs, concepts and principles; (3) calmness of temper and judgement; (4) the sum of an individual’s ideas and conviction.

Stanley M. Quammie