KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Feb. 19, IWN – The second longest-serving head of government in CARICOM, St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, says he is ready to work with whichever leader the electorates in both Grenada and Barbados select..
Grenadians will elect a new government today — Tuesday, with Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and his National Democratic Congress facing a tough challenge from the opposition New National Party, led by Opposition Leader and former prime minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
And, elections in Barbados on Thursday are expected to register “a painfully close finish” as Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and his Democratic Labour Party try to stave off the Barbados Labour Party, led by Opposition Leader Owen Arthur, a former prime minister.
“First of all, I make no comment about any of the elections. So, I am not agreeing with your thesis because I don’t want anybody to say that I am supporting…” Gonsalves said last week in response to a reporter’s statement that all indications point to a defeat for the incumbent parties in Grenada and Barbados.
“I think it doesn’t matter which government is in Barbados. Both Stuart and Arthur and their respective parties are responsible and I will work with any of them … on all regional issues — CLICO, BAICO, LIAT, all the issues,” Gonsalves said.
“The same thing with Keith Mitchell. When Keith was in office, I worked with Keith even though Keith Mitchell and [former prime minister Sir] James Mitchell here and Keith has links with the NDP. I never had any problem with working with Keith either. “
The New Democratic Party (NDP) is the opposition in St. Vincent.
“I mean, I work with Tillman too. I work with anybody who the electorate throws up. I may have my preference, which you may or may not know, but I work with anyone the system throws up,” Gonsalves said.