BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORGET the elections in the US for the just a second and focus on our very own elections at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, which has been a race like never before in the college’s history.
This year as the student body gears up to elect their new Student Body President and Vice President, two males and two females are gunning for the positions.
In one corner is the dynamic team SAP which means Student Action Party, and is made up of Delonte Lewis running for President and Jackiema Flemming as his Vice President.
And in the other corner is AHOY-Always Helping Our Youth with Vassany Gumbs and Kenesia Jack running for President and Vice President respectively.
Both parties believe they are what the college needs to represent them.
The mediator who oversees the elections and guides the students is faculty member and lecturer at the college for many years, Hugh Heyliger. He said that this year’s elections are certainly exciting.
He said this is the first time there has been such campaigning that includes party shirts, manifestos and rallies.
He reported that the elections will take place on Oct. 24 and during the first week in November the winning party will appoint a Senate.
The parties have one common goal of bettering the college with a few differing aims and foci.
SAP is not just about making a change but a sustainable change. They are hoping that for next year they would be able to have SAP representatives running for the positions and wish the party name and goals to continue.
“It is not about making a lot of changes but making sustainable change. When we leave, we hope people can follow up and continue, so that our changes can be sustainable and run for many years to come,” said Lewis.
He said that one of the major issues at the college is the actual divisions between the divisions.
He and his party are hoping to assist the divisions with whatever tools they need for them to pursue their education.
“We’re considering taking SAP funds and buying stuff for students now to use and for those to come,” said a member of SAP.
“SAP is not a party for the management or faculty; we’re here for the students, so anything that can help the students to learn better, we are for that,” they said.
Gumbs, who came up with the meaning for AHOY, said that if elected he would like to implement more student/faculty related activities.
He said there would be days when there are exchanges between students and teachers while nursing students can perform practicals on other students such as Diabetes checks.
He would also like to see the school excelling in more sports related activities and for students to be as competitive as they were in high schools in events such as Inter-school activities.
No matter who wins, the environment at the college has been exciting and buzzing about the election which, in a way, is creating a sort of camaraderie among the students as they discuss who are the best persons for the job.
SAP’s Flemming agrees.
“The atmosphere has changed. Instead of students coming and leaving as they normally would, there is a vibrant and thrilling atmosphere. People are more involved and not just about their academics but about the overall affairs of the school.
“They are involved with each other; they are talking more, discussing who they should vote for almost like a high school environment …meaning cheerfully. There was no intimacy and we’re looking for a change that would promote intimacy among students and lecturers. The experience is also about making new friends, and enjoying life and not take it too seriously,” she said.
Flemming said that her party was looking at having a Lecturer’s Appreciation Day as many Lecturers have been teaching at the college for years, and she thought it would be good to show them how they are appreciated.
Out of the four students only one appeared interested in engaging in politics after college.
Gumbs said that he recognized the school needed a leader and that was him… but politics was something he had little interest in; however, Lewis said that after college he hopes to further studies in law and political science.
“Leaders are not made, they are born and at my school I was elected four consecutive years on the student board. I consider myself to be a youth activist and I believe in youth empowerment. I want to attend Law school and do a Degree in Political Science, and hopefully come back and run for my country. There’s always improvement needed,” he said.
AHOY’s Jack said they have already started catering to the needs of the students by providing them with items they are in need of.
“We have already given them mirrors for their bathrooms, air fresheners and other stuff. We did a survey to find out what students needed and these were some of the stuff they said,” she said.
She said they have held a party and bake sale among activities to raise funds.
She believes she has the characteristics of patience and determination to get the job done if she is elected Vice President.
Gumbs said that AHOY has two symbols an anchor, which stands for stability and hope and a steering wheel of a ship which stands for guidance and control.
The students were nominated by their peers on October 12.
