Column: Change In Caribbean Leadership
[Opinion column written by Chris Famous]
“To the left, to the left, To the left, to the left”- Beyonce
Over the last year and a bit, the Caribbean has seen a change in leadership in four islands.
- Hon. Philip J. Pierre became Prime Minister of St. Lucia in July of 2021.
- Dr. Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley became Premier of the Virgin Islands in April of 2022
- Hon. Dickon Mitchell became Prime Minister of Grenada in June of 2022l
- Dr. the Hon. Terrance M. Drew became Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis in August of 2022
Apart from being new, the common trend amongst them is that their respective political parties are traditional labour parties with grassroots worker and centre-left philosophies
- Hon. Philip J. Pierre, leader of the St Lucia Labour party [SLP]
- Dr. Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley, leader of the Virgin Islands Party [VIP]
- Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Leader of the National Democratic Party [ NDP]
- Dr. the Hon. Terrance M. Drew, leader of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party [SKNLP]
The fact that their parties comfortably won their elections speaks to a wider picture in the region.
Regional Trends
The vast majority of recent regional elections have seen the traditional labour parties returned to power or, in the case of the above, the labour-leaning parties have been voted in
Here is a timeline of voters’ choices for reference.
- March 2018 – Antigua: Antigua Barbuda Labour Party
- February 2019 – Virgin Islands: Virgin Islands Party
- December 2019 – Dominica: Dominica Labour Party
- October 2020 – Bermuda – Progressive Labour Party
- November 2020 – St. Vincent and Grenadines: United Labour Party
- November 2020 – Belize: People’s United Party
- July 2021 – St. Lucia: St. Lucia Labour Party
- September 2021-Bahamas: Progressive Liberal Party
- January 2022 – Barbados: Barbados Labour Pary
- June 2022 – Grenada: National Democratic Party
- June 2022 – Colombia: Humane Colombia
- August 2022 – St. Kitts and Nevis: St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party
Essentially, the regional trend is that voters reject parties that are apt to implement policies that benefit the privileged while sacrificing the everyday person.
As importantly, the region’s voters are moving away from supporting persons based solely on who can stand at podiums and attempt to deliver fiery ‘sermons from the mount. Those days of Caribbean people just blindly getting emotionally worked up are ending.
With the advent of social media, people can easily fact-check claims made by candidates and their respective parties. So, this means political leaders must have a level of intellect that they can articulate a vision that people feel is achievable.
Bottom line, people support those who support them.
As the song goes, “Me and my Neighbor voting Labour!!”
Is he serious?
“…people just blindly getting emotionally worked up are ending.”
Did he write that with a straight face?
“….political leaders must have a level of intellect that they can articulate a vision that people feel is achievable…”
hahahhahaaa…
I know. Laughable isn’t it.
Lol does this guy ever not talk about the Caribbean? When’s he going to focus on Bermuda?
Based on the above, clearly there will be a change of Government in Bermuda as we have a “labour” party that is definitely to the right of centre and panders to rich foreigners, mostly white.
Maybe Famous will be elected premier of Bermuda?
“Essentially, the regional trend is that voters reject parties that are apt to implement policies that benefit the privileged while sacrificing the everyday person.”
Hilarious.
Mr Famous, the TA form is benefiting the privileged (and we all know exactly who). All while the “everyday person” has to endure the the unnecessary expense and time involved in the whole TA form charade. It’s costing us tourists, international business, income and jobs. It’s nothing short of a major scandal.
When you’re next having one of your PLP champagne parties with models and influencers, bring it up with Burt. Ask him why the TA form still exists. He should be able to explain why, in terms that even you can understand.
Famous needs a proof reader to catch his mising moments.
EXACTLY!
A ‘labor’ party that discriminates against a minority, and hates foreigners. LOL