Will the ULP Select Vakeesha John as an Opposition Senator?

As Saint Vincent and the Grenadines enters a new political chapter with the New Democratic Party (NDP) now in government, attention has quietly shifted to the rebuilding project facing the Unity Labour Party (ULP). After more than two decades in power, the ULP now occupies unfamiliar territory: the Opposition benches. And with that change comes a fundamental question for Labour’s next generation:

Who will help reshape the party’s identity from opposition, and who will carry its voice into the Senate?

Among the emerging names in political conversation, one stands out — not for longevity, but for narrative power: Vakeesha John, the former NDP youth leader whose public defection to the ULP last electoral cycle made waves across Vincentian social media and community forums.
Now, with Senate appointments looming, an intriguing question sits before the public:

Will the Opposition ULP select Vakeesha John as one of its new Senators?

A Story That Refuses to Disappear

To understand the weight of this question, one must revisit John’s political journey — a path marked by conviction, controversy, and an emotional break from the party she once called home.

John’s decision to leave the NDP was not merely administrative. It was personal, rooted in years of feeling that the political labels placed on her family had, in her own words, “followed me like a shadow.” Her remarks about being politically victimised by the ULP as a child spoke to a deeper national truth: in small societies, politics is not just policy — it is identity, history, and family.

Her crossover to the ULP was therefore dramatic, yes, but also profoundly human. She found in the ULP, she said, a philosophical home that aligned more closely with her sense of responsibility, policy clarity, and social development values. Whether the public agreed or disagreed, few questioned the boldness of her step.

A New Political Landscape — and New Calculations

But today’s political environment is no longer the one she crossed into.
The NDP holds the reins of government. The ULP is recalibrating, introspective, and — for the first time in a generation — needing to rebuild rather than defend.

This changes the stakes dramatically.

Opposition Senators are not ceremonial. They carry the weight of critique, accountability, public communication, and ideological renewal. They must speak with both discipline and imagination, offering vision where government falters and bearing responsibility for a party seeking rebirth.

In that context, selecting a figure like Vakeesha John would be a bold signal:

• A signal toward youth inclusion.
• A signal toward renewal rather than nostalgia.
• A signal that the ULP is willing to embrace voices formed outside its traditional mould.

And perhaps most importantly, it would be a signal that the ULP intends to cultivate new political storytellers who can speak to younger Vincentians in ways seasoned figures might not.

Why Her Name Keeps Coming Up

It is not simply her defection that keeps her name alive; defections alone do not build careers. Instead, her political presence carries two rare qualities in the Vincentian space:

1. She is a natural communicator.

John’s public remarks — whether controversial or reflective — tend to resonate. She speaks from lived experience rather than memorised talking points.

2. She embodies political transition.

Her story mirrors the country’s own moment: movement, re-evaluation, and the courage to choose differently.

For a party repositioning itself, symbolism matters. And few emerging voices symbolize “a new ULP” quite like she does.

The Case Against Her Appointment

Of course, the conversation is not one-sided. There are risks — political, strategic, and internal.

• Some in the party may feel her rise has been too quick.
• Others may question whether a former NDP youth leader should be placed at the forefront of ULP renewal.
• Still others may argue that the Senate should be reserved for long-time loyalists who endured the hardships of political transition.

And there is a broader caution: momentum does not always translate into maturity. Being a compelling speaker does not automatically prepare someone for parliamentary combat.

These are real considerations, and it would be naive to pretend otherwise.

Why the Question Still Matters

Yet, the conversation persists because it reflects a deeper curiosity about the ULP’s future. Will the party rebuild using familiar voices, or will it take the more daring route of elevating newer ones?

John stands at that crossroads.

Her personal transformation — from victimisation, to youth activism, to political reinvention — mirrors the kind of narrative that modern voters engage with. In the age of authenticity, lived experience is often more powerful than legacy.

If the ULP hopes to reintroduce itself to the electorate, it must decide whether its next Senate team should reflect continuity… or change.

So, Will the ULP Select Vakeesha John?

At this moment, no public indication has been given.
The party’s internal dynamics remain private, and its strategic direction post-election is still unfolding.

But the very fact that her name is being floated — organically, without official prompting — says something important:

Vakeesha John has become a political figure whose journey captures attention, provokes debate, and forces the public to ask what the future of Vincentian politics should look like.

Whether she enters the Senate or remains a rising voice on the party perimeter, one truth is clear:

The ULP’s next steps will reveal as much about the party’s identity as about the individuals it chooses to elevate.

And in that unfolding story, Vakeesha John is undeniably part of the national conversation.