Enough is Enough: Time to raise the level of political debate in the country!

By Anselm Caines

For quite some time now, it has been clear to all and sundry that an election is imminent in St. Kitts and Nevis. That time will soon arrive and our people must now begin to prepare themselves to go to the polls to elect to office the group of individuals who they think are best equipped to govern this country. As I expect my “Most Honourable” Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas to say in due course, “School call een and now every man must find he class!”

As we prepare to find our class, we all know that there are those who are going to vote based on which party their family is traditionally known to support. Then, there are those who will vote according to some personal promise made by one politician or the other and of course, there are individuals like myself who will vote, not according to allegiance to any political party but according to the candidates whose ideas and ideals represent what is in the best interest of this country. 

However, I must proclaim, that there are many young people in our Federation who have been left somewhat aloof and apprehensive when it comes to voting in this general election. Many have contended that they don’t know who to vote for, simply because they haven’t been given anything to vote for. Too often, instead of hearing plans and policies to move the country forward, political debate is reduced to bickering and bad-mouthing that sets the country backward. 

Now, while anyone who knows me is fully aware of how much I love a vigorous and heated political campaign, this does not always have to give way to political slugfests. Time and again, we have seen our political leaders in the Federation engage in attacks on each other that are nothing short of vitriolic, venomous and vituperative. The people of this country should insist that all politicians, regardless of their person or party, raise their standard. Rational arguments and a clear articulation of policies must be substituted for personal insults and indignant shouting matches. Statesmanship must be substituted for political gamesmanship. Moreover, our politicians must try earnestly to desist from making comments that are soaked and speckled with rancour and strive to inject some civility in their political discourse. For although I understand that our politicians must at times come down to the level of the common man, they also have a duty, not just as political leaders, but also as national leaders, to uplift the people of this country. However, if the wanton assaults on each other’s character continues, then certainly it does not set a good precedent for those young people who one day aspire to hold political office in this our great land of beauty. 

It is for this reason, why I make a clarion call for there to be national political debates this election season. If it is that Denzil Douglas and his Labour Party wish to gain another term in office, then they should put to the people their National Plan for taking the country forward, in a forum where Lindsay Grant, his colleagues and most importantly, the people, are able to question the effectiveness of their policies and get straight answers. In the same vein, if Lindsay Grant and the People’s Action Movement hope to take the reins of government in St. Kitts and Nevis, then they must not only preach change but present to the people their plan for change. Our people and the Labour Party would be able to challenge Mr. Grant in this regard and determine whether or not his plan will really benefit St. Kitts and Nevis and bring about the “change” of which he so often speaks.

Such debates would be an excellent advance in our democracy and would prove to be a real test of the mettle of those who aspire to hold political office in this country. They have been done in America, Barbados and Jamaica; three countries which have vastly different political cultures. Why not in St. Kitts and Nevis? The electorate of this country is not inferior to or less sophisticated than that of Jamaica, Barbados, America or any other country elsewhere in the world. 

Of course, there are those who will disagree with this initiative. I can vividly recall raising the issue in a public forum, where although I was lauded by the vast majority present, I was near vilified by some for my stance on the issue. One individual said to me, “Boy, you ain know what you talking about! If you nuh go on so on the platform, nobody gon listen to you!” Fortunately, I happen to know of a man by the name of Barack Obama, who was able to inspire not incite, to stimulate not castigate and to revive not deprive, the American people of sensible and sound political debate. As many of our local political leaders seem to hold President Obama in high esteem, I would hope that they take a page out of his book and just as he sought “to change the tone of the debate in Washington”, they too will work vigorously “to change the tone of the debate in Basseterre and Charlestown”.

It is critical to note however, that changing the tone should not just be the undertaking of the politicians but the electorate should exercise their independence and demand democracy from the bottom up. Too often, we think that our political leaders must be tasked with the sole responsibility of initiating these changes but at the same time, we have a responsibility to raise our standards as well and demand that the real issues be highlighted. Perhaps what can be considered is the creation of an Independent Debate Committee consisting of a member of the Bar Association, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Evangelical Association and H.O.P.E Nevis Inc. Such a committee would be charged with the responsibility of organizing the debates and would allow for participation from a wide cross-section of society. To buttress this initiative, serious consideration ought to be given in the future to making it law that national political debates form an official and integral part of the electoral process.

The time for fun and folly is over. Like Prime Minister of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves rightfully said, “Politics is not a branch of the entertainment industry”. Politics is a mode of conducting the people’s business and the people’s business is serious business! Moreover, these are “Serious elections in serious times”. For that reason, our people must be fully armed with the appropriate knowledge to elect the right group of people to office.

I therefore appeal to all the political leaders in the Federation, to fully endorse the idea of national political debates so that we can raise the level of discourse, dialogue and discussion in the country. Only when the voting public can confidently say that they have something to vote for, can we really speak of meaningful “CHANGE” and profess that “St. Kitts and Nevis…IT’S WORKING!”