NDP’s challenges

Editor: The NDP’s current challenge to the outcome of the 2015 General Elections and in particular the Central Leeward result is quite confusing and the NDP press conference did little to clarify the issues for me.

The first claim by the NDP is that, acting on a message from an agent present at the preliminary count, they won the General Elections by virtue of their candidate in Central Leeward winning that seat by six votes.{{more}} The NDP then followed up that claim with a second claim that ballot boxes were “missing” during and after the count. The question we must ask ourselves is on what basis then were we claiming victory by six votes, if we are saying that ballot boxes were “missing”? It has to be one or the other; both situations could not be possible, because if boxes were missing, then a winner could not and should not be declared by either party.

Another claim by the NDP is that there were some stunning irregularities which they will be challenging. Now, let us be fair; although voter irregularities are a common feature of every election here in SVG, in the region and around the world, the NDP and any other party has a right to so challenge. What really matters is if these irregularities can be deemed to be material or germane in changing or influencing the final outcome. That determination will clearly have to be made in the law courts following the submission of reports and evidence.

In the meantime, the engine of the country has to keep running These are serious times, requiring all hands to be on deck. We need our Opposition to keep our Government in check. Surely, we will not again be resorting to boycotts of Parliament and street marches, as we did in all previous elections. The country cannot afford this and any such plan or urging could only come from persons within the NDP who are once AGAIN creating diversions from what is clearly the major challenge for our party going forward; the challenge of succession, restructuring and team building.

Clearly the leader of our party does not look good coming out of these elections. The party’s national appeal declined from 49 per cent to 47 per cent, and in every seat, save and except Central Kingstown, all the ULP candidates gained support on our candidates. Even the leader himself suffered one of the largest declines in support. This is not good for the party and it is time we take stock and begin accepting reality.

Major Leacock was the only shining star who increased his support and by so doing should clearly be the front-runner in the race for leadership, restructuring and team building. He is eminently qualified, gaining in popularity and maturity and must now be given the reins of control to bring the party back on track and to begin restructuring. I hope that these protests and boycotts are not being organized primarily to frustrate the transition of leadership so clearly needed within the NDP.

Megan R