KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Former senator Anesia Baptiste believes that this country needs a political party in addition to the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).
“It is clear that an alternative political party is needed; one that has genuine respect for the religious liberty and freedom of expression of all of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, whether they be majority or minority groups. And one that also stands for true economic development and social progress that brings SVG into a golden age,” she said in a press release Sunday night.
Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace last month revoked Baptiste’s senatorial appointment after she said she would not observe an NDP policy that the party’s candidates and potential candidates for general elections should not criticise other people’s religion.
“I, Anesia O. Baptiste, have come under attack in recent times by some whose aim is to smear my character before the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with their propaganda. Many untruths are spoken and published about me, the Thusian Institute for Religious Liberty Inc. And the independent Thusia Seventh-day Adventist Church to which I belong,” she said in the skeletal statement.
“The fact that both major political parties — the Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) have engaged in such misrepresentations is evidence that they are both the same. I simply stood for Religious Liberty consistently. This is the consistent thread running through all my actions,” the statement continued.
Over the past six years, Baptiste has fallen out of favour with both the ULP and the NDP.
I-Witness News last week pressed her for an answer about whether she had at all considered forming a political party.
“My comments will be no comment at this time,” Baptiste said.