‘The people are speaking loudly and clearly that NDP ain’t forming Government’

As the New Democratic Party (NDP) moves forward, Sir James Mitchell, the founding father of the oldest political party in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, is advising the Party’s Political Leader, Arnhim Eustace, “to listen to the voice of the people.”{{more}}

“The people are speaking loudly and clearly that NDP ain’t forming Government. One, two, three times; listen to the voice of the people. A leader must hear, listen, and he must examine his own soul and come to conclusions,” said the 80-year-old Sir James, on Jerry George’s Up Next television programme broadcast on IK Tv last Sunday evening, as he addressed the question, ‘Has he sold out to Dr. Ralph Gonsalves?’

Sir James’ remarks come at a time when many are speculating that there is a rift between he and Eustace, the man he handed the leadership of the NDP to, in 2000.

As for the call by some persons for Eustace to resign, Sir James said that he does not think Eustace should rush it. At the same time, Sir James said the NDP should recognize that Eustace is now a senior citizen.

Of his own experience, Sir James said when he lost the General Elections of 1979, he resigned as leader of his party, but was asked to stay on by Party members.

He said that Eustace is already 66 and will be 67 this year. Sir James said he didn’t want to be a Prime Minister at age 70 and he recommends that Eustace should follow the same stance.

Mitchell also said that he has been accused of treating Eustace as a “little Black boy”; an accusation which Sir James describes as “sad”.

To this claim, he responded: “He was no Black boy when I made him Prime Minister. He was no little Black boy when I found him a constituency and transferred Dougan up there. He was no little Black Boy when I made sure he was a permanent secretary in his youth. He was no little Black boy when I put him in charge of the NIS or in charge of WIBDECO.”

Sir James further contended: “I made him Prime Minister. I gave him something that he will carry to his grave. When his funeral is on, it won’t be the Leader of the Opposition going down back street. It will be another former Prime Minister.”

Sir James said the NDP needs to understand that the Party has lost the General Elections, analyze why did the Party lose, and decide how to go forward.

He said he was with his Party during the first demonstration earlier this year, but he did not continue, because he believes in the ideology that elections should be won on election day.

“I believe in winning election on election day; not in the court. I don’t trust the court…,” said Sir James.

Sir James said he has faced four governments with a one seat majority and started doing so early as 1966.

He then proceeded to discuss how to break up a government with a one seat majority: “In 1966, I was in Labour Party, we broke up the one seat majority by bribing Sam Slater with $50,000. …In [19]74, the one seat majority that I had with [Ebenezer Theodore] Joshua and the PPP that broke up because PH Veira bought out Mammy and Pappy for $75,000. Dennie is alive and he can corroborate this and other Vincentians about that story,” said Sir James.

Sir James said his one seat majority Government of 1998 also crumbled, as money played a role in financing what has become known as the ‘Road Block Revolution’. However, he declined to give any further details on that particular issue.

He said if the NDP needs any direction from him, it would be to concentrate on the Voters’ List. Sir James said now that the country is conducting a census, this should be tied into the Voters’ List.

It is believed by some that Sir James’ partnership with the ULP administration on the Amajaro Cocoa deal may have fractured Sir James and Eustace’s relationship, since it was one of the NDP’s proposed projects.

But Sir James is of the view that him partnering with Government on national issues, is nothing new. He recalled that in 2001, he got into trouble with his Party when he rang Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves to congratulate him on winning the General Elections in a 12-3 victory over the New Democratic Party (NDP).

The former Prime Minister recalled that during the telephone conversation, Gonsalves, the new Prime Minister, asked him if there was anything that was outstanding that he should deal with. Sir James said he indicated that this country was on three blacklists: one on offshore matters, another on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and the third relating to the export of fish to the European Union. He said a meeting was scheduled and he met with Gonsalves to further discuss the issues.

Sir James said he also had contact with Gonsalves on the matter of this country’s boundaries delimitation.

Yesterday, Monday, May 30, Eustace announced on the NDP’s New Times radio programme that he had not viewed the ‘Up Next’ programme, but intends to make a statement on Sir James’ remarks when he has done so.