BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – POLITICAL meetings are considered a glorious opportunity for individuals to familiarise themselves with different political parties, their plans and programmes for the country, should they win an election.
Over the past two months, the ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) had held a series of meetings in all eight constituencies in St. Kitts while the main opposition party, the People’s Action Movement (PAM), has so far held five.
The third party, the recently-formed National Integrity Party (NIP), is yet to hold a public meeting and it is expected that the embattled Government Backbenchers, the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris and the Hon. Sam Condor who have indicated their intentions of forming a political party, would be hosting similar meetings in the not-too-distant future.
But what attracts people to political meetings?
SKNVibes recently took to the streets of Basseterre to question people about what draws them to political meetings or what they believe draws others to these meetings. They were also asked if they believe that the issues which the Federation currently faces are being addressed at these political meetings.
While some people claimed that they attend these meetings to be sensitised about a particular party’s stance on current issues, others have expressed that they attend specifically – and in some cases solely – for entertainment.
“I attend political meetings mainly to know what various parties have instore for the betterment of everyone in my country. These meetings put me in a better frame of mind in understanding what the various political parties intend to do for the betterment of all. But of recent, I have found that the Labour Party has taken political meetings to a whole new dimension; in that calumnies and innuendos are the order of the day. These two injurious factors that promote hatred for and tarnish the character of the intended targets have been incorporated into an entertainment package perpetrated by the Federation’s most prolific entertainer…Dr. Denzil L. Douglas,” a middle-aged male expressed to SKNVibes.
A young mother of one explained that the political meetings are used to air dirty laundry when they could be better served educating the masses.
“I think it’s more for them to see who is in support of which party and more of a show rather than educating the people on the pressing issues. I realise in listening to persons in passing or taking public transportation, they don’t even understand the Citizenship by Investment programme, the land deals or even VAT up to this day. But instead of educating us, the politicians put on a show and slam each other on personal matters that have nothing to do with the country or me. I don’t care about people's dirty laundry; I care about the future of my child, my country, my money…
“I just feel like everybody has lost sight of what’s really important, so a lot of persons still can’t decide whether they should vote or not because nothing is being said as to what they can do for us as a country…”
Another young lady who revealed that she was in her late 20s expressed her belief that what draws persons to public meetings is “the atmosphere, music, comical speeches of the presenters and even the characters in the meetings. It is like a party! The issues are being addressed but not as in-depth as they should be. And more attention is being placed on the entertainment aspect”.
When questioned by this publication, a young man indicated his perspective that “melee attracts people to the political meetings”. He said there are issues being addressed on both the PAM and Labour political platforms but further explained that only by a few of the presenters.
An interesting perspective proposed by one of the interviewees is that the issues are being addressed on the political platforms, but they take a backstage to the character assassination and mudslinging which are produced by some speakers.
“I do not think the issues are being discussed, because I have been to several meetings for both Labour and PAM. Regarding Labour, I am pleased with only one meeting and that is because one or two issues were addressed. The other moments in the meetings were used to criticise Sam and Tim which seems to be their main focus, which is to slandering their name rather than indicating what they are going to do for the people to make their lives better. PAM – on the other hand – seems to be doing a little bit better, in that they are touching on a few issues. But like Labour, it doesn’t seem to be the main focus of the meeting. So there seems to be a tit-for-tat thing going on.”
Among the reasons that individuals state as pull factors for political meetings are “party support”, “invitation by friends”, “music”, “entertainment”, “discussion of issues” and “melee”. But the overwhelming consensus is that more effort needs to be placed, on all political platforms, on giving the issues centre stage.
As one woman expressed, “I go to the public meetings to hear what the Prime Minister has to say. I am looking to hear about his plans for the country, because these were not really discussed at the political meetings.”
In corroboration, a carpenter declared, “I would like to hear more issues being discussed. If I leave my house to go to a political meeting, I want to hear what the issues are.”
