Thousands flock to ULP victory rally

Last Saturday, the site of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) was transformed into a sea of red, as thousands of Unity Labour Party (ULP) supporters flocked there to celebrate winning the recently held general elections.

All 15 ULP candidates addressed the huge gathering, thanking them wholeheartedly for their support over the campaign period, and for their votes at the polls.{{more}}

Candidates who won their parliamentary seats included Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves (North Central Windward), Deputy Prime Minister Louis Straker (Central Leeward), Camillo Gonsalves (East St George), Saboto Caesar (South Central Windward), Cecil McKie (West St George), St Clair Prince (Marriaqua), Frederick Stephenson (South Windward) and Montgomery Daniel (North Windward).

Echoing the sentiments of his fellow candidates, Saboto Caesar enthused: “I want to say thank you to all of the Unity Labour Party supporters… If it was not for you, we would not be celebrating like we are here tonight!”

Camillo Gonsalves also expressed this, adding that the ULP beat the New Democratic Party (NDP) in this election by more than double what it did in the 2010 general election.

“The Unity Labour Party is the party of governance in this country, and we are going forward to take this country forward…

“While they look to the past, we look to the future!”

Those not successful in winning their seats included Luke Browne (East Kingstown), Debbie Charles (West Kingstown), Berisford Phillips (Central Kingstown), Jomo Thomas (South Leeward), Carlos James (North Leeward), Herman Belmar (Northern Grenadines) and Edwin Snagg (Southern Grenadines).

Although having not succeeded in winning their seats, the seven ULP candidates expressed elation at having been voted back into government, and promised results more in favour of the ULP in the 2020 general elections.

In particular, Jomo Thomas conveyed his regret at not having won his South Leeward seat, but assured the audience that his loss was not down to lack of effort or hard work.

“I want to sincerely apologize for not doing what eight other ULP candidates did, and that is to bring South Leeward into the column of Labour,” he lamented.

“I did my very best… I do believe that many things I said touched a chord with the people and helped them to understand us a little more.”

Debbie Charles and Luke Browne had fighting words for their NDP rivals Daniel Cummings and Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace respectively – promising to oust them in the next general elections.

Charles asserted: “I recognized that ULP is still the party of choice to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines! Your presence tells me that you don’t have time with the NDP, who think that they have won an election. We know we fought hard; we know that we have won fairly and squarely.”

She also pointed out that winning the general election was only the start of the “hard work” that is to be done to further develop SVG.

“All of you in West Kingstown know that Daniel Cummings doesn’t belong there, and he has no part in West Kingstown!”

Charles added: “I guarantee you that in 2020, West Kingstown will be brought home by Labour, because of the work that we will continue to do between now and 2020.”

Browne, the ULP candidate for East Kingstown, mocked Eustace, urging him to “take his loss like a big man,” and also pointed out that Eustace should be thankful that he was able to hold onto his parliamentary seat “by the skin of his teeth”.

“I don’t expect him to last very long!” insisted Browne.

“I believe we going to have a by-election… we going to take care of that!”

In addition to speeches from the ULP candidates, there were performances from local artistes Luta, the Soca Dans, Madskull, Raulo, Shanelle Nanton, and, from Dominica, calypsonian Scrunter. (JSV)