Eustace knocks NDP supporters for no-show

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace is disappointed with the lack of participation by members and supporters of the New Democratic Party (NDP) at the party’s protest action in front of the office of the supervisor of elections.

“How many people have gone there and spent one hour with them of all our NDP supporters. They are there every day, including Boxing Day, Christmas day, New Year’s Day…{{more}}how many of our people in NDP have gone and spent one hour with those women. But we talking about we have to change things… you don’t participate!” Eustace said, during a town hall meeting in Layou last Saturday.

He further went on to state that he has made several calls to supporters to come out; however, the response he got was disappointing.

“I have called twice now for people to join along with them and both times I was very disappointed. First thing they can say is ‘what in it for me? If I come down to join them you going give me some food, you going pay me passage?” he said.

Eustace, who spoke passionately on the issue, noted that this lack of participation is not only disappointing to him, but is also discouraging to the leadership of the party.

“You have to be talking every day and you not getting any result, only the same few people every day are there to look at the matter and I am telling you all I am tired of all of that; we got to do much better….”

The Opposition Leader noted that the support is vital, especially with them having the election petitions before the court.

“That will strengthen our party… it will help us better to deal with the election petitions when you could point to fact that people are supporting you. You can’t point to that fact,” Eustace pointed out.

Moreover the Opposition Leader pointed out that every day the same 15 persons come out on the picket line.

“How you expect us to win and I am talking about ordinary citizens of this country, from 15 constituencies, with a population of 110 000 people; we got 30 something thousand votes, but you have 15 women standing up in Kingstown protesting.”

Additionally, he said that the persons who have been participating are given very little attention by the people of the NDP.

“We talking we need to bring out 10 000 people; all of that is old talk. People must come out also. I am tired of all that old talk; people say you not doing this, you not doing that, but there is no support in a lot of the cases, no support!” Eustace noted.

“You can’t spend an hour in a week? Spend some time with them to make the numbers look better; why we can’t do that?” (CM)