PM tells of plot to destabilize SVG

Political leader and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has accused members of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) of having a plot to destabilize and undermine the Government.{{more}}

Addressing Unity Labour Party (ULP) supporters at the party’s National Convention on Sunday, Gonsalves said a contingent of the NDP had journeyed to Barbados on Saturday, February 12, to hold a meeting with three representatives from Strategic Communications Laboratories (SCL), a British political strategic firm that has done work for the NDP.

“The centrepiece of their discussion was how could they undermine, destabilize and overthrow the legitimate Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves said.

He told ULP supporters the information that he had received was accurate. The political leader further stated that the NDP team also went to seek additional funding from SCL.

“So, on the one hand we have two mighty streams in the post colonial era, in the interest of our people we have just won the general elections, but the opposition in a startling display of a lack of patriotism travelled to Barbados,” Gonsalves said.

“There was a debate about whether to go, they were apprehensive as to whether or not to go there,” said the Prime Minister.

“Well they misunderstood the people’s verdict and they are claiming that they have to bring down the Government because of a lack of democracy, but we just had the greatest exercise in democracy – a general election and we won it,” he contended.

Gonsalves accused the Opposition of turning the truth on top of its head. He said the ULP’s December 13, 2010 victory at the poles was grounded in “legality and in popular political legitimacy.”

Gonsalves reiterated that the situation during the period 1998 to 2000 was far different to what it is today. He said the NDP denied salary increases for public servants, but wanted to go to Parliament to take for themselves additional monies for gratuities and pensions and also make provisions for retirement benefits for their spouses.

“And let us not forget the man who introduced it and was defending it was Arnhim Eustace,” he added.