A double-edged yellow bell

Tue Jul 22, 2014

Editor: Having listened to the funeral service of the late radio announcer E G Lynch, I must express my grave disappointment in my Vincentian people. The behavior displayed in the house of God, and toward a Statesman no less, was utterly appalling.{{more}}

In the days prior to this widely attended funeral service, I observed a systematic “winding up” of the NDP supporters. On various anti-ULP radio stations and shows, a plan was hatched to disrespect our nation’s leader. NDP call-in programmes facilitated the promulgation of the NDP’s scheme due to the lack of reprimand of such action on the hosts’ parts.

The calls of NDP supporters were heard across the world in the widespread Vincentian diaspora; the silence of Arnhim Eustace and the other NDP leaders were heard in the same tone.

Have our nation’s morals fallen to such utter disrepair that a family’s moment of grief is exploited to promote a political agenda? That a house of God is desecrated with the ringing of a yellow bell for the purpose of petty grievances? When a political leader can sit back and allow his supporters to hatch and execute a plan of categorical irreverence and disrespect? When did our Hairouna become so riddled with hatred that uniting to stand in solidarity to acknowledge the life of a national icon is an unimaginable phenomenon?

“..This is not about you, this is not about me, this is not about Ralph, this is not about Eustace; this is about my dad. So just for one moment, just for two hours, if you can just put it aside and just give him the respect that he deserves. When you are finished, you will have an opportunity to make noise in the right way; just not now, please… If you respect my dad, you will give him that much, just for the day. Thank you.” – Keino Spring

How do the leaders of the Opposition listen to the pleas of a grieving family for peace and respect, and their sole response is to sit idly by? Is this the example being perpetuated by the NDP to the upcoming generation? Would the NDP leaders condone such behavior at their home churches during a regular service? Is this what the NDP stands for?

This gross silence on the Opposition’s part was a sign of disrespect not only to the Prime Minister, but a slap in the face of the recently departed Mr E G Lynch and his family. A Facebook commenter aptly put it this way, “…It is sad that Mr Lynch fought hard to defend the NDP, but when it was time for Mr Eustace to return the favour by standing up and demanding respect and quiet from his NDP supporters, he remained silent!”

It is ironic that the very man E G Lynch made a career of opposing was the same who took the podium to request dignity, peace and solidarity to honor the life of Mr Lynch. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves is quoted, “I came here at the invitation of the family to speak. I want to make sure that the dignity of this event is maintained in accordance with our Christian traditions and beliefs.

“I have known E G Lynch for a very long time and I have come to honour him with my presence. I shall publish my tribute at an appropriate time and I want to thank the family and the vast majority of people who are gathered here, who wish to have a funeral service proceed in peace and dignity and having done so in accordance with the wishes of the family, and I express my condolence to them, I thank them for the solidarity and may almighty God continue to bless them, and, in respect of E G Lynch, for his soul to rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him. Thank you very much.”

An ardent Statesman with a big heart, Prime Minister Gonsalves agreed to disagree. Although he was opposed by the deceased, he attended the service at the family’s behest with all intent of maintaining dignity.

It is important to note, that from the time of Mr E G Lynch’s death aannouncement by Arnhim Eustace, NDP callers began to call in to NICE Radio to announce their threats and plans of disrespect. Interestingly, this same call-in segment is hosted by a different NDP leader every morning. To this premeditated act of bullying, the sole retort of the hosts was, “This service will be hosted by the deceased’s family, not the NDP.” This is the second time that NDP supporters have displayed such irresponsible, reckless, and disrespectful behaviour for the house of God. This is the second time that NDP supporters have been allowed to remove the dignity of celebration of life of one of their own radio hosts.

Do you think ULP supporters, Green Party, Republic Democrat will display such reckless, disrespectful, irreverent behaviour? Should any of their supporters pass on into death into eternal life and NDP leaders or supporters are invited to attend even to pay tribute from the podium? The answer is Hell To The No.

It is widely felt that the NDP leaders and supporters owe the Lynch family a public apology for the desecration of such a sensitive service, and intrusion in the family’s grief.

To Mr Eustace and NDP supporters, your version of democracy cannot be supported. The office of the Prime Minister, the chair of our nation’s leader, the head of Government of our blessed land SVG, demands total respect, regardless of who occupies this seat. Anyone in this position is called and elected by God. The votes of the people is the voice of God until such time he set up and he takes down whenever the time is right. We must remember that the good book demands that we touch not the Lord’s anointed. Our Prime Minister is still Dr Honorable Ralph E Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Concerned citizen and friend of the Lynch family