News
January 25, 2008

PM: ULP is the change

The fall of another political ally in the region is no cause of worry about a political wind of change blowing over this country, for Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

The Prime Minister, speaking at a press conference on Monday, following his return from the OECS Authority meeting in Dominica, said that the phrase, “Wind of change” is a political concept of unevenness and fluidity in its application.

“There is a great deal of political opportunism and self interest and incorrect analysis being bandied about, that because you have a change of government in a neighbouring country that other neighboring countries are going to suffer change of governments.

“It did not apply in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, Owen Arthur was going for a fourth term, in Jamaica they were going for a fifth term, in the case of the BVI, he only had served one term.”

“Me, I’m in one and a half terms.”

“This kind of shallow thinking masks profound consideration. The fact of the matter is this: The Unity Labour Party is the change, and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves represents this change.”

He indicated that he would not adopt the defensive posture of former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, but would be assertive in his statements that his government is one of change, and that those who oppose his government and wish to resist the change are backward.

“The Opposition resists the change at every point; you see our initiatives for the poor, for the working people, in housing, in the economy, in infrastructure, in education.”

The Prime Minister also spoke on the education and wellness revolutions, the quest to build a modern, competitive post colonial economy and the effects these initiatives are having on the region as well as internationally. (JJ)