By: Staff Writer
November 25, 2205
The people of St Vincent and the Grenadines will go to the polls on November 27 to choose who will lead them for another five years, but this year it is a little different because what is at stake is the dreaded Citizenship by Investment (CBI) lobby that is allegedly spending heavily against the incumbent party.
There are 32 candidates that will contest the SVG general elections this coming Thursday, including one independent, in what is largely seen as a straight contest between the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).
The ULP, led by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is seeking an unprecedented sixth consecutive term, while the NDP, headed by Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday, hopes to reclaim government.
The sole independent candidate, Kenna Questelles, will run in the West St. George constituency. A former executive member of the NDP Women’s Arm, Questelles has pledged to establish a digital youth service agency if elected, aiming to train and employ 150 youth in digital marketing, website design, and IT support services for local businesses. Her candidacy also brings the total number of women contesting this election to nine.
Gonsalves is facing hidden forces from CBI lobbyist who want the last remaining Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to adopt a programme.
Some have argued that a well-structured CBI programme could generate substantial revenue—potentially EC$150-200 million annually—providing dedicated funding for these essential development priorities without increasing the tax burden for the people of SVG.
Gonsalves has balked at the idea on numerous occasions and stating that the programme is with its faults that his administration is not keen on dealing with.
Gonsalves, in May of this year, has defended his government’s opposition to the CBI in the aftermath of a scathing response earlier this month by his Antigua and Barbuda counterpart, Gaston Browne to suggestions by Gonsalves that the CBI programmes are inherently corrupt.
Browne accused Gonsalves of adopting the position of developed countries that have opposed to any innovation that developing countries devise to carve out a space for themselves.
“It don’t have, really, anything to say about what Gaston said. I don’t think he advances the discussion at all. And to the extent that there has to be an answer, my answer isn’t what I stated initially,” Gonsalves told a news conference.
“For anybody who can say — whether that person come from any regional country or the NDP (opposition National Democratic Party)here — that I’m being irresponsible. Imagine this. I’m irresponsible, they argue for not selling passport and citizenship.”
Gonsalves has described CBI as selling passports. After coming to office in March 2001, he repealed the CBI law that had been enacted by the NDP administration.