Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace has challenged the church to have a voice in the political affairs of the country.{{more}}

Eustace, addressing a mass political rally at Sion Hill, on Thursday, November 25, sent a message to church leaders here stating: “You cannot remain silent at this time.”

The call came just five days before the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism (NMCM), an offshoot of the Christian Council, was scheduled to hold its first meeting, 13 days before General Elections.

Earlier in his speech, Eustace said the NDP believes that the institutions here, including the church “which has remained silent about many of the major issues that have been affecting our country,” have a significant role to play in dealing with issues that are not neccessarily spiritual.

The President of the NDP said church leaders should condemn things that are wrong, regardless of which Government is in power.

“The church cannot stay silent, they cannot stay silent when wrong is perpetrated. The church must stand up for the basics in terms of the principles that are needed for our development,” said Eustace.

Eustace expressed confidence that the NDP would win the next General Elections.

He spent some time speaking about the future of the children and grandchildren of Vincentians.

Eustace said the NDP has heard the cries of the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines. He added that his party cares about what they hear and have developed proposals to take the country into the future. However, before it does so, it must form the Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, immediately after the December 13 General Elections.

Eustace stated that Martin Luther King is one of his heroes and, like King, he also dreams and has one for St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We in the New Democratic Party have a dream for the future of our country, for the future of our people of our country, because we have heard your cries,” said Eustace.

“We dream that one day in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there will be a government that is honest. We dream that one day in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, we will have a government of integrity,” said Eustace.

Apart from that, Eustace said he dreams of the day when St.Vincent and the Grenadines will have a democracy that is very vibrant, where every man, woman, and child, is free to express a view of their own without fear of reprisal and victimisation. The Opposition Leader contended that their rights under the Constitution will be respected by the Government.

He told his party faithful that he believes that they are aware that St.Vincent and the Grenadines has a dictatorship. He said he also believes that they are aware that the poor are getting poorer and that the country is not doing well.

“You are aware that despite what is called the Education Revolution, our children are being left behind.You are aware that St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a country in decline, and if it continues to be managed by the Unity Labour Party, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, I warn you, will become a failed state,” said Eustace.

Eustace endorsed NDP Chairman Linton Lewis’ philosophy of establishing a meritocracy in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, as the benchmark for progression.

“And Linton Lewis has been expressing it all the time. We dream that our country and our people and our civil service and our policemen and our nurses and our women and our men will all have the opportunity and an equal right to get a job that is dependent on your performance and your qualifications and not on the basis of your party affiliation,” said Eustace.

He said it’s a dream that will go very far in changing the state of affairs in the country.

Eustace said an NDP administration will stick to moral standing and adherence to Christian principles. He charged that the present Government has allowed this country to tread on a road of moral decadence and decay.

On the issue of finances, he said it “has gone to hell in a basket.” He added that the country is broke as a result of th Government’s mismanagement. He promised that there will be no Value Added Tax (VAT) on basic food items.

He ended his speech by reminding the large crowd of “the kinder and gentler society” philosophy that he wishes to pursue. (HN)