NDP not involved in any assassination plot – Eustace

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has distanced the New Democratic Party (NDP) from alleged plots to assassinate Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

Eustace kicked off his response to the 2011 National Budget by responding to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves claim on Thursday, January 24, that two major cocaine trafficking and money laundering entities who are alleged to have supported the NDP in the recent general elections are now involved in a conspiracy to kill him.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the New Democratic Party is not involved in any action related to the assassination or the death of the Prime Minister of this country. Any such implication that we are involved in any attempt aimed at the Prime Minister’s life, real or imagined, we clearly wish to disassociate ourselves from any such remarks, “ said Eustace on Tuesday, January 25.

Eustace said he wished to set the record straight because the Prime Minister had issued statements that the NDP seems to be implicated in a relationship with those who are involved in drugs and money laundering in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Opposition Leader expressed that that is not the nature of the NDP, adding that the political party has demonstrated to Vincentians that its members have been law abiding.

He said he also wanted to make it absolutely clear that the NDP’s members, particularly those members in the House, are not involved with drug dealers and money launderers.

“I take the strongest objection to that implication made about our members,” said Eustace.

Eustace said he was disturbed on hearing the Prime Minister’s presentation.

He charged that, as usual, the Prime Minister was very contemptuous when he tried to get clarification on the matter.

Eustace reiterated: “The New Democratic Party is not involved in such matter.”

Last week, Gonsalves disclosed that there is “strong and ample evidence of real quality” that the entities, who provided “substantial funding… in support of the opposition NDP and certain of its candidates,” have decided, in a coordinated way, to continue their efforts “to destabilize the country, and seek to remove the ULP administration from office, including a conspiracy to kill the duly-elected Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Gonsalves said one of the men who had been contracted to kill him, a Trinidadian, entered this country, but despite searches by the police, is still at large. (HN)