Dear Editor,
While supporters of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) are celebrating Wednesday’s victory in St Vincent and the Grenadines, New Democratic Party (NDP) diehards are advocating that their leader Arnhim Eustace resign because he failed on four occasions to win an election. They claim that he is a weak leader and not a people’s person which contributed to the party’s defeat in all the elections.
Ralph Gonsalves’ ULP edged out his opponent 8-7 in keenly contested elections which once again prompted Eustace to cry foul, claiming that many irregularities took place in his constituency of East Kingstown which he won by fewer than 50 votes.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister who created history in the multi island state for his fourth consecutive victory, is calling for national unity to address developmental challenges and move forward.
I have no doubt that the completion of the multi-million dollar international airport at Argyle was the main reason for Gonsalves’ victory. His educational programme has also contributed to his party’s success.
Polling was relatively high and more than 80% of the 89.527 voters exercised their franchise. The elections were monitored by teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom). Besides the ULP and NDP two other small parties, the Green Party and the Democratic Republican Party went into the race and both failed to gain a seat.
I have been following elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the past 25 years and I am not impressed with the leader of the NDP. In the 2010 elections he contended that the elections were fraudulent although the OAS team headed by distinguished Ambassador Frank Almaguar issued a statement saying the elections complied with international standards with minimal incidents.
Now that the elections are over, I sincerely hope that Vincentians will work harmoniously to develop the country.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet