ST. Vincent Opposition Leader Urges Strong, Inclusive Governance
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – As Caribbean leaders toil to revive the region’s economy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leader of the Opposition and President of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is urging his fellow citizens, along with the rest of the Caribbean, to demand higher standards of democracy and sound governance.
Dr. Godwin Friday“In these turbulent times, it is imperative that every citizen – especially those of us in positions of responsibility – embrace the guiding principles on which our future growth and development depend, rather than just playing the ‘blame game’ and pointing fingers,” said Dr. Godwin Friday.
Dr. Friday added that a core axiom of good governance is respect for the views of every citizen and, following from that, taking decisions which “safeguard the lives and livelihoods of our people.”
Dr. Friday also takes a hard stance against drawing public health concerns into the political arena, arguing that to do so degrades a society’s democratic fabric and promotes divisiveness and discrimination. He has made passionate pleas for the region’s leaders to put aside political agendas and motives while they focus collectively on the significant public health and economic challenges the region is facing. Politicizing the COVID-19 pandemic, he asserted, diminishes governments’ ability to function effectively and can increase distrust and resistance among the populace.
“Regardless of our political affiliations or opinions, the successful management of this pandemic is essential for a viable future for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the entire Caribbean,” he commented.
Dr. Friday, whose party won the popular vote in last year’s general election, urged the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to be more open to constructive dialogue, a hallmark of a true democracy, so that Vincentians can work jointly on vital issues. “What we need is an effective strategy for dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, not more politicization of an ongoing public health crisis,” he maintained.
The opposition leader was among the first in his country to get the COVID-19 vaccine and stressed that his party firmly supports vaccinations, but he cannot support inflexible mandates that fail to recognize the need for personal responsibility, the importance of medical exemptions, effective community outreach and education.
Emphasizing the importance of sound governance, Dr. Friday noted that a responsible government must include an understanding of the “power and language of its society.”
“We must listen more carefully to that language before exercising our power,” he asserted, adding that if people’s voices are not heard and respected, “they head for the streets in protest.”
“We must take the high road, and we must not allow narrow-minded disputes and political opportunism to distort our vision. We can, and we must, find ways of governing that allow differences to be expressed peacefully,” he said, summarizing his vision for his country and the Caribbean.
