The New Democratic Party’s (NDP) slate of candidates for the next General Elections has been dismissed as a group of recycled political failures with a sprinkling of underwhelming new faces.{{more}}

This was the view expressed by the political leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves said that he is confident that the NDP’s slate of candidates won’t “endear themselves to the electorate.”

Gonsalves charged that the NDP’s early announcement of their candidates is an attempt by Eustace to protect himself and to ease the pressure that is on his own leadership.

He accused Eustace of trying to tape over his own weakness, while saying that the ULP is progressing well in its candidate confirmation process; a process that is deliberate and centered around the people.

Eustace however told SEARCHLIGHT that the early naming of the candidates is part of the NDP strategy for the next election.

He said that once this is out of the way, the party can now concentrate on training its people for the work on Election Day.

Eustace told SEARCHLIGHT that the NDP was accused by some of waiting too long to name its full slate for the 2005 elections, so the leadership has kept its word in presenting the candidates “as early as possible.”

The following persons will join the incumbent three NDP parliamentary representatives in contesting the next elections:

Patel Matthews (North Leeward), Norrel Hull (Central Leeward), Nigel Stephenson (South Leeward), Daniel Cummings (West Kingstown), St Clair Leacock (Central Kingstown), Vynnette Frederick (West St George), Dr Linton Lewis (East St George), Curtis Bowman (Marriaqua), Burton Williams (South Windward), Addison Thomas (South Central Windward), Cameron “Dinky” Balcombe (North Central Windward)and Elvis Daniel (North Windward).

Eustace is the incumbent representative in the East Kingstown constituency, while Dr Godwin Friday and Terrence Ollivierre represent the Northern and Southern Grenadines respectively.(KJ)