Sick and tired of this gutter politics

Editor: One of the things that I admire about Dr Ralph Gonsalves and the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration is their level of consistency. The ‘Labour Loves You’ campaign isn’t new. As a matter of fact, it is an extension of the ‘Together Now’ slogan of the 2001 elections, which carried with it an underlying message of hope, love and unity throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).{{more}}

From 2001 to 2015, the record has shown that Ralph Gonsalves and his team believe in making opportunities available for ALL Vincentians regardless of race, creed, colour and political affiliation. Yes, even supporters of the New Democratic Party have benefitted greatly under the policies of the ULP administration. Low Income and no income houses? Yes. Scholarships to pursue tertiary education? Yes. The Youth Empowerment Programme? Yes. As a matter of fact, some would posit that supporters of the NDP have benefitted more under the current administration than the previous one. The mantra of education as a way out of poverty has become extremely believable under the present administration, because they have proved that they are not just about false hopes, but realistic and achievable visions.

I fully understand the dilemma that the NDP (and Mr Eustace) is facing. This will be their fourth and final attempt at unseating Dr Gonsalves. If they do not succeed in their attempt to do so, they would have to finally admit that for four consecutive elections, they have placed their faith in a man that the electorate has rejected many times over. It would also be an admission and acceptance that they have a weak head and an even weaker body.

A word of advice to Mr Eustace — there is no shame in admitting that you have bitten off more than you can chew. No shame in admitting that the people around you are half responsible for your inability to win on your own merit. No shame in admitting that while you are the ‘head,’ you are being led by persons who have hoodwinked you into believing that they can help you to win an election through scandal and dirty politics.

This letter comes a week after the now infamous ‘sex’ tape that has been circulating on-line as political fodder and seemingly part of a campaign strategy. The first thing that I thought upon hearing it and seeing the ‘push’ from the people that support you is this: “How can a man who campaigns as Mr Clean conduct/allow/support one of the dirtiest campaigns in the history of St Vincent and the Grenadines?” Make no mistake sir, your silence on this is deafening and endorses the action, even if you are in no way directly tied to its release.

Any political campaign founded on dirty politics is disgusting and an insult to Vincentians everywhere. I am not concerned about the allegations levelled against the Prime Minister — these attempts from your camp are nothing new. We’ve heard it before. We’ve seen it before and we are sick of it. Differently still, we are in 2015 where this type of ‘scandal,’ if proven to be true, has nothing to do with a person’s ability to lead and to continue to lead effectively. I hear the ‘morals’ and ‘values’ and the keeping with the norm argument from the peanut gallery, but this too will be discarded, ESPECIALLY in 2015 where your party sought to initiate a conversation about gay rights.

What I am deeply concerned about, however, is that after 15 years in Opposition, your plans for SVG remain half-baked at best, like a cake that appears finished on the outside, but raw on the inside.

I am disappointed in you, sir — the pappyshow that you seem to believe is our country’s affairs — not attending Independence Day parades, not calling meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, disagreeing with every government policy that aims to help the poor and the working class of this nation, walking out of Parliament and walking out on the nation’s business on countless occasions. The position of the Leader of the Opposition is a job, Mr Eustace — a job that you are paid a Minister’s salary to perform. Therefore, your argument as to why we, the voting public should elect you as leader, Mr Eustace, is not convincing. I do not believe you. The Vincentian public does not believe you and I am beginning to question whether or not you believe yourself.

Ever since you were cast from your inherited position as Prime Minister into the waiting room of the Opposition, your party has done nothing but level personal attacks against Ralph Gonsalves the man. That has always been your campaign because you refuse to rise to the occasion and actually do your job as Leader of the Opposition (unless of course you believe that your only role as the Leader of the Opposition is to get back into power).

Fifteen years in opposition and you have provided Vincentians with no sound policy to be implemented should your party be elected.

Fifteen years in opposition and you have given us no transparent plans for the future under a NDP government.

Fifteen years in opposition and no arguments of ‘merit’ to convince the electorate to vote for you other than you are ‘fed up’ of Ralph and the ULP and you want ‘Change’.

Fifteen years in opposition with countless abdications of the trust and representation that the people that have voted for you put in you.

You have failed as opposition leader but now seek to convince to the electorate that you would succeed as Prime Minister???

I do wish to make it clear that this is not an attack on Arnhim Eustace the man. I do not know you personally nor do I want any part of the type of politics that you and your party appear to stand for. I do however take umbrage with your lack of vision for St Vincent and the Grenadines, your secrecy and lack of transparency when it comes to your ‘investors’ and your silence on the nasty way in which the campaign against Dr Gonsalves is being conducted. You have not once spoken out against this nonsense and must therefore wear this on your shoulders as part of your campaign.

Mr Clean, Sir? The irony.

This one dutty, sir.

This one real mucky.

And if you do not distance yourself from it, sir, I can only assume that you speak from the centre of it and for that, this once undecided voter will never give you a vote.

V.A