Now that the people have spoken, the celebration winding down, the swearing in ceremony out of the way and the parliamentary opposition licking their wounds, there is yet another area that requires our attention.
Who is responsible for the clean-up of party paraphernalia?
The entire country was decorated, but now littered, with flags, banners, billboards, signs, flyers and posters in red, yellow and blue. There is hardly a stretch of road that is not laden with this political rainbow, which in the “silly season” seemed perfectly placed. In the days after the nation goes to the polls every five years, however, what formed part of the political marketing strategy becomes a major eyesore.
During the months leading up to the announcement of the date for general elections, St. Lucia Electricity Services (LUCELEC) warned of the dangers of erecting banners and signs on electricity polls, a danger to both those installing party property and the LUCELEC service men who have to climb those polls on a regular basis. That warning may have fallen on deaf ears.
Then, there is the issue of painting the roads with the flambeau and the etoile.
It is believed that the 2025 election season may have broken the record (whatever the record was) for money spent on campaigning in one sitting. It stands to reason that more was spent this time around on the paraphernalia that we are “blessed” with now following the December 1st election.
We have seen flags of previous elections remain on electricity polls or wherever else they are erected, for extended periods, at times almost until the campaign season of the next elections. Many have expressed dissatisfaction with this obvious malpractice, but nothing has yet been put in place to remedy this continuing eyesore.
This must be taken seriously, particularly since there will always be the need to put partisan politics aside at the soonest so as to foster some semblance of a united nation reeling off of a divisive campaign season.
The various parties and respective candidates should be given one week in which all campaign material should be removed from the public eye. Parties/candidates should have to deposit a large enough refundable amount with an independent body as security. If the clean-up is affected the amount is refunded, if not the deposited amount is used to affect the clean-up by the independent body.
This is obviously not the most well thought out plan, however it may very well be the best plan to date, since no other proposal seems to exist.
As it relates to painting signs, messages or party logos on the roads, the proposal is to outlaw it all together.
It was reported earlier this week on social media that the winning Gros Islet candidate has already started taking down his campaign material. If that is indeed factual, what then is the excuse of the other 34 plus candidates?