ST. LUCIA ELECTION: It’s really important that despite this mad rush to independent candidates, we must take some time despite voting for and championing these candidates. We appreciate some history, context, and questions we should all ask ourselves.
So let’s start with some grounding terms, understandings, and definitions:
- An independent or nonpartisan politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent – and those are to be respected. But they are basically without party and without title.
- Independent Candidates should not be confused with an Independent Party. These are two different and distinct terms and should not be inter-exchanged.
- In Saint Lucia, I believe all candidates submit nominations on an individual basis. The rules for candidates nominated by political parties are no different from other candidates in the procedures they must follow. (I stand to be corrected – alert me if I got this wrong).
- Independent candidates should not be confused with Independent voters. Independent voters become independent because we are repelled by the current political system—by the self-dealing and arrogance of politicians and political parties.
- Across the globe, independent candidates are referred to by many other terms. In France for example, independent politicians are frequently categorised as sans étiquette (“without label”)
With this as a base, perhaps we the electorate should ask the following:
- Do either of the new independent candidates have an affiliation with any political party? If so, which ones? Are they still members of the party apparatus, they originally were in loved with? Or, do they label or use a description to align with a political party? If so, why?
- The biggest challenge for an independent candidate can be trying to convince voters that he or she would be able to represent them effectively. Parties dominate the legislative process – so how are King or Frederick going to represent their supporters if they will effectively be in Opposition and not in Government?
- If UWP or SLP or NGP were to form a minority government this 2021 election and need their independent seats to form a government – Can the independent candidates say who they would align with? Shouldn’t we know this before we go to the polls?
- Can the UWP or SLP or NGP, say if they were to win, would they include any of these winning independent candidates into their Cabinet? Shouldn’t we know this before we go to the polls?
The American election cycle was hijacked by Cambridge Analytica operatives – who took Trump – also an independent candidate- dressed him in a Republican gown.
How did America and the globe by extension fair with such a messy and undiscussed conversation about who are you, why are you here, and what do you stand for – when people vie for public office.
We should know where independent candidates align and which parties they are affiliated with before we go to the polls – as these should not be discussed in the shadows and halls of back rooms deals – as are rumored to be happening before the the 26th July – election date.
AdéX – Writer & Visual Artist
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