Dr Linton Lewis answers Camillo Gonsalves’ question

Vincentians have no need to knock on Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace’s “door,” since the politician has an ‘open door’ policy.

Opposition Senator Dr Linton Lewis made this point to supporters last Saturday, as he responded to his rival for the East St George constituency, Camillo Gonsalves, during the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) rally at the Sion Hill intersection.{{more}}

On March 28, Camillo, who would be contesting the seat on the Unity Labour Party (ULP) ticket, asked supporters gathered at the Calliaqua playing field, whose door would they prefer to knock on in a time of need or crisis; that of Eustace or prime minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Addressing the large crowd of supporters at the meeting, Lewis countered Camillo’s question by saying that there is no need to knock on Eustace’s door, since all would be helped under an NDP government.

“The question was asked in Calliaqua if you want help, whose door would you knock and he said he’ll knock on Ralph Gonsalves’ door; but in the New Democratic Party, Arnhim Eustace door isn’t closed. There is no need to knock it because it’s already open for you and every single Vincentian in this country. We have an open door policy.

“Because when we had the school supplies programme spearheaded by the Honourable Arnhim Eustace, there was no door for anybody to knock on, it didn’t matter whether you were NDP or ULP, the door was open for you to come in and get assistance, and we were assisting people.

“The door is open to every single Vincentian on behalf of the NDP and I urge you to think carefully about what you do when you go to the polls,” Lewis said.

Lewis referred to Camillo, who is the prime minister’s son, as “a little upstart,” whom he said would fare worse than ULP incumbent Clayton Burgin, who gave way for Gonsalves to contest for the constituency.

Lewis told the gathering that Camillo and the ULP were only about power, and if given a chance he and the NDP, under the leadership of Eustace, would bring relief to the “death and destruction” being experienced in the country.

“… [he] came and said that he is not running against anybody, he’s right, he’s not running against anybody, he is running behind me, and that is where he’ll stay at the end of the election campaign and through to the polls.

“How many doors have been closed upon him; how many times he’s been chased out of people’s homes, how many times people say they don’t want to see him? I don’t understand that.

“You come like Nicodemus, you land in East St George like a parachute and expect people to vote for you, you expect people to support you. It will never happen because I say something to you: I man born there and I will not leave there.

“My father did not bring me to East St George, I was born there, I grew up there, I lived there, I taught there and I care about the people there.”

Lewis predicted a win for the NDP. This is fourth time Lewis is contesting a seat on an NDP ticket. In 2005 and 2010, he contested the East St George seat. Prior to that, in 2001, he contested the West St George seat. He has been unsuccessful in all three outings at the polls.