KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace thinks that U.S. diplomatic cables that portray him as an uninspiring leader will not affect the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) chance of winning the next general elections with him as party leader.
In the cables, leaked by whistle-blowing Website, WikiLeaks, U.S. officials in Barbados said that while Eustace was “undeniable intelligent and acutely aware of the problems facing the country”, he was “a singularly uncharismatic and uninspiring figure who is unable to translate his technocratic expertise into any kind of viable or sustained political activity”.
“People have their views,” Eustace told I Witness News on Sunday.
“People have been making these comments over and over again. I have heard them. But I also look to see who is making them, when they were made and why they were made,” Eustace said.
“And my position has been when the delegates of the New Democratic Party at the annual convention decide that they no longer wish me to be the leader they will do so. Everybody else can talk. They have to make that decision and also the people of East Kingstown,” said Eustace, who has been representing that constituency since 1998.
In respond to a question regarding whether he believe the cables would affect the NDP’s chance of winning the next elections, Eustace said, “No, I don’t think so.
“These comments have been made, I know they are not flattering but the fact remains we continue to do what we have to do,” he further said.
“We have our convention coming up. Our people think clearly you know. They say clearly what they wish and that is what I will take my judgement from: what the rank and file of the New Democratic Party feel about my leadership. If they feel that I should not, then I will move immediately,” Eustace said.
Asked if he felt that the rank and file of the NDP was satisfied with his leadership, Eustace responded: “I believe that if I put myself up to be re-elected I will be re-elected again.”
Eustace, however, said that while offering the NDP presidency up for elections two years early, as he did before, was “an option”, he couldn’t say if he would do that.
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