Vibes Cyah Vote: Put Your X on Facts, Not Hype, in SVG 2025

The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer.

By Adrian Odle

Election season in St Vincent and the Grenadines always has a certain vibe. In our constituencies we hear the trucks campaigning, Party T-shirts and now more than ever social media clips and ads flying around faster than fact checks, and plenty of big promises. The vibes might be nice.. They cyah fund scholarships. They cyah negotiate loans, pay teachers, upgrade hospitals, expand tourism, or manage a hurricane recovery. The only things that can do that are policy choices and competent leadership. As the 2025 general elections approach, make sure your “X” is based on facts and not empty promises with no plans.

Our young Vincentians know what red flags are so let’s look at some political red flags. Big overhyped and dramatic commitments that sound too good to be true are often just that, too good to be true. Especially when not supported by any detailed explanation of how they will be achieved, that is a red flag. It is important to listen for those who can explain their ideas with timelines and funding sources.

You should also look for the math in the promises. Some promises ignore basic maths, whether it’s simple maths or other maths. When a party offers “everything for everyone right now” without mentioning cost, taxes or debt that is not leadership, it is fantasy.

Vote with your brain, not feelings. I am encouraging our young people to read or at the very least skim the manifestos. Look at the sections that concern your future, the sections on jobs, education, health, housing etc. Check for specifics and ignore vague language like “we will improve healthcare” , “We will provide more jobs” without saying how. An example of “how” would be “X hotel will provide 1000 jobs”, this shows that there is a plan for the existence of X hotel and as such will provide the 100 jobs mentioned.

Another useful habit is comparing words with past performance. Voters can ask what was promised before, what was delivered, what stalled, and why. No government is perfect and no opposition is flawless, but patterns in delivery and seriousness do matter. It is equally important not to rely on a single source of information. Depending only on one radio station, one WhatsApp chat, or one social media page can create a narrow, distorted picture. Checking different outlets and reading different angles helps balance things out, especially when fact-checks or official data are available.

Finally, citizens should feel comfortable asking questions at meetings, online forums, or call-in programmes. Questions like “How will this be paid for?”, “What is the timeline?”, and “What is the backup plan if Plan A fails?” are not attacks; they are signs of a serious electorate that expects respect.

Young people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, an “X” may look small on paper, but it carries serious weight. Your “X” will help to decide your future. It will impact the country’s international relationships with other states and influences how the country will handle crises and opportunities for years to come. Choosing not to vote has consequences. This does not mean you’re neutral, it means that other people will decide your future for you.

Enjoy the culture of our elections but do not forget what the meat of the pealou is when the music stops and the T-shirts fade. When the music stops and you go home ask yourself this: Do the plans (and promises) protect the country’s long-term stability, not just deliver short-term excitement? Will this direction still look sensible five or ten years from now? These are the questions that turn vibes into vision.

This is an invitation to think before marking an X, to use evidence, to pair loyalty with accountability and to balance vibes with vision. Whether we like it or not, elections will come and elections will go, not just in St Vincent and the Grenadines but all across the world.

Governments change and manifestos expire but getting into the habit of evidence-based voting can strengthen or weaken a country for generations. Vibes cyah vote. People do. Make an informed, evidence-based choice.

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