From radio show host, with unmatched proficiency in man-and-woman business, to former diplomat now undiplomatic, this UWP is offering the voting public a stellar line-up. Not to forget the same-new-olds of Guy and the other rag-tags.
Beyond the line-up being star-studded, a party’s candidates should inspire the public to betray their allegiances to the sitting government and buy into the agenda of the other side. Even more, your candidates, ministers-to-be, should be ready for the job.
As we say locally, first to begin, in Gros Islet, banker-turned-businesswoman Marcella Johnson, aims to unseat the “giant in the north”, Kenson Casimir. At her most recent, but not best, public appearance, she detailed her constituency-grabbing plans for Gros Islet: a return to plans first conceived by former MP, Lenard Montoute. It includes some babble about a waterfront “development” and plans to “upgrade the level” of services provided by call centres, so that “employees can earn a higher income”.
It remains unclear whether Marcella, businesswoman indeed, envisions that government will cut a deal with call centres to improve their service delivery; or whether she may leverage her connections to impress upon call centre managers the need to raise earnings. Never mind that the profit in outsourcing call centres to countries such as ours is lower wages.
To her credit, though, during her best outing yet, she suggested “reducing the price of bus fares” by providing bus operators with “rebates” – a suggestion categorically denied by the sector and described as “idiotic” and “naïve” by the Transport Minister.
Last election, Kenson was ahead of incumbent Lenard by 2053 votes, which was the largest margin that election, and in any election contested in Gros Islet. It can be said that Kenson’s youthful, spritely demeanour and general popularity aided him; that, as he is in office, his focus on sports, youth and infrastructural development make him an uneasy foe to beat. Surely, the campaign against him requires more than, “dust[ing] off the plans of the UWP” (Marcella Johnson’s own words).
We move to Castries North and to remove a Stephenson, the party has outsourced a Stephen (Fevrier). His experience in diplomacy and serving as personal assistant (or attaché, or advisor, an ‘A’ word nonetheless) to the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Nigerian Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has led him to obviously criticise the state visit of the Nigerian president. The visit was explained by the government as fostering deeper connections with the African continent. Stephen, however, has different concerns: “[The UWP] reaffirm[s] that such relationships must be anchored in shared values, including respect for transparency, good governance and accountability.” Does Stephen mean that the government of Nigeria does not respect transparency, good governance of accountability, or is this a simple political jab at the government of Saint Lucia? Even then, Stephen believes the country has forsaken its traditional partners of the “USA, UK and Canada”.
There is little time to delve into the depths of foreign policy in the Caribbean, or the need to form bonds with less “traditional” partners. Really, the greatest concern for a political candidate is their plans for their constituency. As for Stephen, another ‘A’ indeed: “I stand with Allen Chastanet.” Double A’s for Stephen.
In Castries Central, the incumbent, Richard Frederick, is one of few politicians who managed to step out then back into elective politics and win his seat at every showing. To bring him down to size, the UWP has presented a man whose name has been mispronounced by top UWP honchos on more than one occasion and is most affably remembered as, allegedly, producing false qualifications. Rosh Clarke has stayed far away from national issues, unlike his colleagues, and has focused on crime in Castries Central. He often battles his opponent on personal matters and receives attacks in kind. Right now, the government is at a crossroads: whether to keep this political aspirant on a 2021 list of names down to receive a parcel of land at concessionary rates.
In Castries South, is “regional economist” Tommy Descartes, who has been sent to defeat SLP 1st Deputy, Dr Ernest Hilaire. Of course, Tommy has been given an unenviable job: to criticise an economy that monitors say is growing, wherein unemployment is down, debt is being serviced and there is an abundance of social spending. Falling into a trap conspicuously set for the Opposition, he has latched onto fuel prices (a criticism made by the UWP since 2021, and four years later, has not gained the traction they thought it would). In response to his critique, the Laborie MP bashed the “selective reading” of the analysis and said it was laden with “political intent”.
His plans for Castries South? Hikes and walks aside, he has also fallen into a second trap left for him: the Bananes Bay Development. Not to forget that Allen Chastanet as Prime Minister called the area an “eye sore”, Tommy, at one point, describes the entire development process as “an abuse of power” and “psychological manipulation”. Only to relax his tone when questioned to reveal that he has “no issues” with the development per se, just a few gripes in specific instances.
In Micoud North, to regain the seat the party cherishes so dearly, Elisha Norbert has been sent to run against his cousin. Norbert is perhaps the most politically savvy. Mr. “I will not resign” from his post as teacher during this campaign has raised constitutional debates far and wide about the legality of staff regulations prohibiting political participation. In all this noise, though, the public has almost forgotten to ask: What are your plans for Micoud North? Who knows?
To quote Shakespeare, “the fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves”. One must look to the head of the beast to kill it, the leader of the United Workers’ Party. The strategy, if there is one, seems to be removing focus on local constituency issues and prioritising national concerns best fit for party heads and experts in these matters. The eyes of the new candidates should be focused on their opponents and presenting to their voters a plan worthy of switching sides. Simply, the people want to know what makes you different from the other guy, what you can and will do for them, not what you think you know about government, not placards and orange armbands.
While the SLP is commanded by a leader who’s spent enough time in politics to see faiths fail and creeds crumble, offering sound advice to his team, the UWP is led by a one-hit wonder of a politician.
Chastanet, while aiming at the government’s heel at every step, is leaving his pink head exposed to a most fatal parry and thrust. As for his candidates, the best money can buy, they are just a bouyon of intentions and opinions, dull blades, glistening only with imagined potential.
Commentary by Jacquot