Lewis’ appointment long overdue, says Gonsalves

Dr Linton Lewis should have been appointed a senator for the New Democratic Party (NDP) much sooner.{{more}}

That is the opinion of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, which he shared as he congratulated Lewis on his appointment at a meeting of the House of Assembly on May 31.

According to Gonsalves, there had been six opportunities before for Lewis to be appointed, however, preference was given to other persons, including Joseph ‘Burns’ Bonadie, Gerard ‘Rasum’ Shallow, St Clair Leacock and Daniel Cummings.

“And of course the two ladies…and really for a man who has played cricket as an opening batsman, one would have expected him to be put higher in the order,” the prime minister said.

Nevertheless, Gonsalves said that Lewis had been given the opportunity to be a member of the House and that he was happy that he was there.

“Because, let’s face it, Anesia Baptiste interfered with the Pope and the Catholic Church,” Gonsalves said.

He followed up by saying that he was offering the newly appointed senator two pieces of advice, which he said he had given to Senator Vynnette Frederick and former senator Anesia Baptiste, but they may not have listened.

The first, according to the prime minister, was that although one may be a good lawyer, one must not confuse the House with the court of law.

“This is a very peculiar institution, the Parliament, and it shows up persons in some remarkable ways,” he explained.

The second bit of advice offered by the prime minister was that he expected diligence in preparation and balance in submission, because the people of this country had moved on from a particular type of politics he contended.

“I just want to say that your appointment as senator was long overdue and I am genuinely happy that you are now here and have given the allegiance to the Queen, but its inadvertently to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves said. (DD)