Dr Linton Lewis answers Camillo Gonsalves’ question
Vincentians have no need to knock on Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustaceâs âdoor,â since the politician has an âopen doorâ 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 Partyâs (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 Camilloâs question by saying that there is no need to knock on Eustaceâs door, since all would be helped under an NDP government.
âThe question was asked in Calliaqua if you want help, whose door would you knock and he said heâll knock on Ralph Gonsalvesâ door; but in the New Democratic Party, Arnhim Eustace door isnât closed. There is no need to knock it because itâs already open for you and every single Vincentian in this country. We have an open door policy.
âBecause when we had the school supplies programme spearheaded by the Honourable Arnhim Eustace, there was no door for anybody to knock on, it didnât matter whether you were NDP or ULP, the door was open for you to come in and get assistance, and we were assisting people.
âThe 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,â Lewis said.
Lewis referred to Camillo, who is the prime ministerâs son, as âa little upstart,â 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 âdeath and destructionâ being experienced in the country.
â… [he] came and said that he is not running against anybody, heâs right, heâs not running against anybody, he is running behind me, and that is where heâll stay at the end of the election campaign and through to the polls.
âHow many doors have been closed upon him; how many times heâs been chased out of peopleâs homes, how many times people say they donât want to see him? I donât understand that.
âYou 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.
âMy 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.â
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.
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