They say there is order in chaos, and I’d like to thank Stanley Felix for igniting the grill with a few flames with his announcement that he is running as an independent candidate for Castries Central versus Rosh Clarke (UWP) and Richard Frederick (IND). His move has caused much consternation among the hacks in red and yellow. With many now caring about how recycled a candidate he is, with both parties having run also-rans before. The hope that he plays spoiler, of course, is tempered by the desire for the denizens of Central to have an effective representative. And if he can manage both roles, then let it be so.
Too often, local politics has become staid and boring with a sense of inevitability, especially since the 13-2-2 demolition derby of the UWP that took place in July of 2021. Politicians have long felt a sense of ownership over a seat, particularly when they have held seats that have traditionally been associated with a particular party colour, such as red or yellow. The lack of accountability by voters to give a stinging rebuke to candidates who have taken their hearts and votes for granted has led to such disrespectful behaviour.
Felix has the potential to enchant disaffected UWPs who are not enamored with the current Allen Chastanet leadership, and charm old-school Labourites who may still be wary of the current representative. Additionally, he appears to have an affinity for the people he seeks to represent, rather than seeing them as pawns on a virtual table.
Now this isn’t necessarily a column on the electability of Rosh, the current representative Richard Federick or on Stanley himself. Rather, it is the celebration of the injection of chance and political calculation that the three-way now provides. Moreover, if it is just as a spoiler, then there is value for such candidacies to unfold.
I’d call upon sixteen other individuals with strong electoral appeal to run as independents or as loosely affiliated to a party, whether it be UWP or SLP or a third party with some machinery. Would I love a spoiler candidate in Soufriere, who focuses on the impact of tourism and the failure to diversify the economy on both the local and national level? Sure, it would force the double speak out of the party’s mouth, who in opposition call for diversity, and then in administration speak about the lack of new rooms being built. Their entrance would also give disillusioned voters the choice to cast their ballot without feeling like they are participating in the choice between two evils, as is often the voter’s frame of mind.
It allows for protest votes to indicate either their displeasure with the governing party but also shows their failure to be fully convinced by any of the opposition’s proposals or the lack thereof. And surely would this not encourage more voter engagement and participation? Now we are calling for actual seasoned persons with community standing, not the fly-by-night candidates who sometimes come around for parties, who know they will be lambasted in the ballot box in various constituencies and thus serve as cannon fodder.
If Stanley only does one of these things, it is admirable; if he does two, perhaps we should knight him and if he does the unthinkable and wins? Maybe we can rename Central Castries to Stanleyville?
Whatever the outcome, sometimes a spoiler may be the greatest role one can play on the political stage.