NDP shakes up Calliaqua

The Calliaqua Playing Field came alive on Friday, December 3, with the NDP’s mass political rally dubbed “Rout in the South”.{{more}}

The meeting, which headlined artists such as Fire Empress and Winston ‘Papa Iston’ Lewis also had fiery presentations from NDP candidates, Daniel Cummings, St. Clair Leacock, Vynnette Frederick, Dr. Linton Lewis and the party’s political leader Arnhim Eustace. Candidates emphasized the need for restoration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which will only be possible if the NDP is elected to government.

Dr. Lewis, the candidate for East St. George, stressed the need for democracy in the country, adding that the NDP will ensure that democracy reigns in the country. He said it will be a government of the people, and for the people.

Eustace related his goals for the country, including the creation of jobs and democracy.

He emphasized that the NDP wants to see honesty, integrity and justice for Vincentians, adding that the NDP government will ensure that justice is done for everyone, regardless of their political affiliation.

Candidate for West St. George Vynnette Frederick promised that meaningful jobs will be created, so that at least one person per household will be employed. She added the NDP will improve the Information and Technology sector in the country. Frederick said the party also has plans to make St. Vincent and the Grenadines the first free wireless spot in the Caribbean.

She further stated that youths will have the opportunity to use the Internet to make a living and will be trained by leading technologists to improve their skills in Infotechnology.

Frederick stated that the ‘Doctor at your door’ programme will be implemented to provide quality health care for each home. She also spoke about accessing scholarships from recognized and accredited universities, as well as the payment of each student’s registration fees for CXC subjects.

The leadership of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) was heavily criticized, as Daniel Cummings, the candidate for West Kingstown, lamented that the ULP has done nothing for that constituency.

“I want you to ask yourself, apart from a million dollar useless wall in Lowmans, what has the ULP built for the people of West Kingstown under Ralph Gonsalves,” Cummings said.

He added that persons in that constituency have no electricity because the Government has refused to put electricity poles in that area. He further commented that persons whose homes were ravaged by Hurricane Tomas still have not received supplies to rebuild their houses but “dozens of their (ULP) supporters have galvanize and lumber stored in their yard,” he added.

NDP spokesman Bert Francois, stated that the ULP is reduced to Ralph Gonsalves and Julian Francis. He stated that there is no more ULP, and encouraged the supporters of the party to let go the idea of ‘Labour’.

Stating that he is willing to take a lie detector test, Francois stated that following the 2001 elections, while at Sid’s Bar in Kingstown, Gonsalves had said to him: “Do not worry, I am only using them to get what I want, and when I’m finish I’ll get rid of all of them.”

He told persons who claim that they are supporters of the party that “Ralph got rid of them.” He implored the supporters to vote for the NDP for the sake of their country.

Senator St. Clair Leacock promised that the ULP will be defeated come December 13. He said that the country has become a failed state under the ULP administration. He said that the country is like that because one cannot separate a political party from the government; the Commissioner of Police is not in charge of the Police Force and the country is going into the elections without the National Commercial Bank.

The NDP wrapped up their weekend of activities at Rabacca with a Youth Rally featuring candidates for the area Elvis Daniel and Kenroy Johnson as well as other candidates and the President of the NDP. Artists such as Touch Down Dancers, Fire Empress and Mr. Fusion were also at the event.