“If you are a man beat me up. Don’t beat up me woman!”

That’s how Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves admonished Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace on Monday, November 23, 2009.{{more}}

This came in response to questions raised by Eustace pertaining to alleged banking transactions by Eloise Gonsalves, wife of the Prime Minister, earlier this month.

“What kind of Caribbean man you are? You can’t beat the comrade so you want beat he wife? Ah spread you out in 2001, ah spread you out in 2005, and if you survive this referendum I will spread you in 2010 again,” said Gonsalves.

“Don’t beat up on Eloise,” said Gonsalves, noting that his wife is a professional with two degrees, a first degree in French and English Literature and a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

He indicated that her income comes from her professional work.

“She would have access to US dollars in her professional work. She is not hand to mouth. She doesn’t come from a family of vagrants. Mr. Eustace feel that the only people in this country… that only those who come from the Eustace type aristocracy, who never went to school barefoot, those are the only one who must have money,” said Gonsalves.

Turning the questioning on Eustace, Gonsalves asked: “Did you pick up money in St. Kitts, Eustace? And if you did, was it in US dollars or EC dollars? And if is US dollars, what you did with the money?”

Gonsalves complained that the Opposition even complained about US $500 he sent to his daughter who is studying in Barbados.

“What is the matter with these people?” asked Gonsalves, noting that lots of sideshows were being staged when the focus should have been on the referendum.