PM Gonsalves ready to sound election bell

General elections in St.Vincent and the Grenadines may be called sooner than expected, says Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP).{{more}}

At a rally held at Mount Bentick, Georgetown, last Sunday evening to kick start the ULP’s elections campaign, Gonsalves told the “ULP warriors” he had decided on a date, but for now he will remain tight-lipped on the matter.

“I know when is the date. I know when is the date and it is sooner than they may think so put on your running shoes,” said Gonsalves to his party faithful.

He said had the electorate voted for the Referendum they would have had a fixed date for elections.

“I was prepared to give up the power you know. I was prepared to do so, but the people say ‘No Comrade don’t give up the power. Hold the power’.The date will come when I, Ralph Everad Gonsalves, having given it prayerful consideration and speak to almighty God, my saviour and creator, and then I will tell the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines what is the date,” said Gonsalves to the gathering.

Gonsalves disclosed that on Thursday, August 19, he had travelled to Mount St.Benedict, a monastery in Trinidad and Tobago, to meditate on a date for the elections.

“They say that Ralph going Mount St.Benedict and work obeah, well I was at Mount St.Benedict praying with the monks on Thursday. They go find out if I work obeah again,” said Gonsalves.

He immediately switched to what he considered to be the five main issues the ULP will put forward in the campaign.

These issues said Gonsalves are the excellent record of performance by the ULP; the party’s vision, policies and practical programmes; the dream team of quality candidates; the leadership of the ULP and the absence of any record of quality by the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Gonsalves argued that the NDP are in no real position to take over power. He claimed that they lack quality candidates and their campaign lacks substance, which leads him to conclude that “their (the NDP) campaign is commess on Ralph.”

The ULP’s political leader expressed that he has been persecuted but that cannot stop him in doing the work that God has placed him on earth to do.

Gonsalves told the crowd that the NDP was involved in something dangerous. Elaborating on the subject, he said the NDP had linked itself with people who have done work in the past with the CIA and the FBI, “and they are going abroad and telling people to give them money to save St.Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Gonsalves said this move by the NDP is unpatriotic. He warned his supporters that the NDP has an election budget of US$4.5 million and will be running a propaganda campaign claiming that freedom is gone in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

On another note, he said after his party wins the next general elections “one of the first laws I am going to bring in is that if you stay way from Parliament ah gwine deduct it from yuh salary because this foolishness must stop.”

Elections are constitutionally due before the end of March 2011.