No problem forseen between party supporters – ULP General Secretary

General Secretary of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Julian Francis says that he does not foresee a problem between members of his party and supporters of the New Democratic Party (NDP), when both groups hold separate events in Kingstown today.{{more}}

Francis told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday that he anticipates “a smooth transition of the streets” after the NDP holds its function in the morning, while the ULP event is slated for late afternoon.

“I suspect that they will start in the morning as usual, and by 2:30 or three o’clock they are done. Our meeting starts at 5:30; it’s at Peace Memorial Hall, so people will be starting at different parts of the island, so I don’t anticipate a problem.

“I anticipate that they will come into town with their few numbers and they will gallivant around town a little bit. I suppose they will assemble. I don’t know their route; they have been very sketchy about it… and I suppose they will assemble somewhere after and have speeches….” Francis said.

While the members of the NDP will be culminating their “Ring De Bell” whistle stops with the march through Kingstown, Francis said that the ULP will be about party business, with its quarterly National Congress meeting, which he pointed out deals with “in-house matters of the party,” including the general secretary and political leader’s report, open forum, and other matters.

Francis said that one topic of note this quarter is the approval of candidates Jomo Thomas and Carlos James, who have been selected by the constituency councils in the South and North Leeward constituencies.

According to Francis, the men are expected to get the nod at the National Council meeting, which will make them the official caretakers of the constituencies, and opens the door for them to contest the upcoming general elections.

When asked about other constituencies that have not yet selected candidates to represent the ULP, Francis said that this matter will be addressed.

“The Central Executive on Wednesday will consider whether it’s timely for the party to move into other constituencies. We go through the candidate selection process in all the constituencies, whether we have sitting representatives or not, so all the candidates, elected or not, come up for scrutiny and consideration in the candidate selection process.

“Central and West Kingstown, we are still there. According to our constitutional laws, Elvis Charles and Michelle Fife remain caretakers until a new candidate is named.”(JJ)