An appeal to the NDP and ULP Leadership

05.FEB.10

Editor: Throngs of supporters of the two warring political parties here, the New Democratic Party and the incumbent Unity Labour Party, converged on capital city, Kingstown on Monday, January 25, primarily to stage a protest and to show solidarity respectively.{{more}}

The NDP’s protest was against what it perceived to be the Government’s mismanagement of the economy, among other alleged Governmental blunders.

In contrast, the ULP’s supporters graced their presence at the entrance to the House of Assembly, where the parliamentarians were ensconced to discuss the Nation’s Budget.

Obviously, they were offering moral and political support to the embattled ULP Government. They sang songs of freedom, hope and spiritual upliftment.

Unlike the ULP, the NDP supporters, a sizeable amount, spewed abusive language to passers-by whom they suspected, wrongfully at times, as being ULP supporters.

This writer had the misfortune of coming into contact with a group of NDP females while running an errand to Phil’s business place in the Central Market to purchase some soft drinks to take back to some friends who were supporters of the ULP.

These termagants began to use abusive language at me. I assured them that I was not intimately involved with any of the political entities on that occasion, but this was to no avail.

They got support from their political leaders, who were clearly caving in on me, baying for my blood undaunted. I responded in language that was perhaps a little above their level.

That unwarranted behavior by the opposition NDP supporters was a manifestation indeed of a culture that is untutored and, of, course barbaric.

In a democracy, political parties and civic organizations have a right to dissent on matters that affect their social and economic progress, hence the reason for staging protest marches and picketing. But in a democracy, you do not have the right to behave like an idiot. It must be re-emphasized here that we are in the 21st century; it is time that we wake up and face reality!

I am appealing to the leadership of the two political parties, especially the leadership of the NDP, to exhort their die hard supporters to desist from harassing peace-abiding citizens. This antagonistic behaviour doesn’t augur well for a small island State like ours, striving for social progress.

The leadership of the ULP needs to rekindle the flame of ‘together now’, and let us prove to the world that inspite of our respective political ideology and partisan affiliation, we can live in a spirit of unity. Once this ethos is manifested, we will gain the attention of the world. Both parties need to employ tactful methods to woo lost supporters back to them.

Patmos Richards