No bribery under my leadership, says Eustace

While Sir James Mitchell, founder of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has said that bribery was used in the past, in this country, as a means of bringing down a one-seat majority government, his successor Arnhim Eustace has said that is not his style and he will not engage in bribery.{{more}}

“I don’t want to pay anyone to come and join the New Democratic Party. Not at all. We have to use our wits and our skills, our acumen; we have to use that to try and convince the public of St.Vincent and the Grenadines that we can do the job, and there maybe for instance, convince somebody on the other side that we can do the job, who would act on the basis of their own conscience. But don’t pay anybody to join the New Democratic Party,” said Eustace to interviewer Jerry George, in a broadcast on NICE Radio last Sunday evening.

Eustace made his position clear in the wake of Sir James’ statements, aired recently, on the effective use of bribery in Vincentian politics.

“We are becoming a more and more corrupt society and that kind of activity is an indication of that corruption,” said Eustace.

“[The] New Democratic Party under my leadership is not going to buy anybody,” said Eustace.

Sir James said he had faced four governments with a one-seat majority from as early as 1966. Sir James said his one-seat majority Government of 1998 also crumbled, as money played a role in financing what has become known as the ‘Road Block Revolution’. However, he declined to give any further details on that particular issue.(HN)