Dear Editor,
A wind of change seems to be blowing in the Caribbean as the electorates are getting rid of governments which in their view do not serve them in the best interest.
Last Monday Trinidadians booted out Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s coalition PP government and replaced it with the age old PNM, which is now led by Keith Rowley who replaced the veteran Patrick Manning. The defeat did not come as a surprise, because Kamla was losing grip, having failed to hold together the coalition parties ‒ mainly the COP (Congress of the People) ‒ and perhaps because of her high-handed attitude in firing ministers and other law-makers. Persad-Bissessar was the first female Prime Minister of the twin island republic. Her party lost 23-18.
The change of government came less than four months after Guyanese voters voted out the PPP/C from office after 23 years, replacing it with a coalition government the APNU+AFC, a combination of the PNC, WPA and very small parties, and the AFC. The new government is headed by David Granger, a former brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force.
Over in Antigua and Barbuda the voters kicked out Baldwin Spencer’s UPP, replacing it with the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) under the new leadership of Gaston Browne.
Last February Denzil Douglas who was in power for 20 years was also kicked out of office. He was replaced by Timothy Harris, leader of the coalition party called the People’s Labour Party (PLP).
This means that there are four new faces as heads of government in the form of Harris (St Kitts/Nevis) Browne (Antigua Barbuda), Granger (Guy-ana) and now Rowley (Trinidad and Tobago).
All eyes are now on St Vincent and the Grenadines which is the next Caricom country to hold a general election which is constitutionally due before the end of March next year, although I anticipate it will take place before Christmas. Ralph Gonsalves’ United Labour Party (ULP) has been in power for 15 years and is seeking a unprecedented fourth term.
While a large number of electors are clamouring for a change, some are not too happy about the leader of the opposition
NDP, Arnhim Eustace, because they doubt he is capable of leading the country.
He failed to hold on to power when he was handpicked by the then leader of the NDP to take over from him.
He only served five months as Prime Minister after a snap election was called.
Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the next elections will be keenly contested since the ULP only has a one seat majority (8-7) and in the previous administration Gonsalves enjoyed a 12-3 majority.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
