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From left: Senators Jomo Thomas, Camillo Gonsalves, and Luke Browne. (IWN photo)
From left: Senators Jomo Thomas, Camillo Gonsalves, and Luke Browne. (IWN photo)
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Vice-President of the New Democratic Party, St. Clair Leacock. (IWN photo)
Vice-President of the New Democratic Party, St. Clair Leacock. (IWN file photo)

Even before the three new government senators were announced on Monday, Opposition lawmaker St. Clair Leacock was speculating on who they would be and gave his impression of the implications for local politics.

Leacock told supporters of his New Democratic Party (NDP) at a rally in Barrouallie on Saturday that Jomo Thomas, Camillo Gonsalves and Luke Browne would be sworn in as Government senators on Monday.

The three were announced as senators on Monday.

He said that while the NDP is “renewing and refreshing” itself, the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) is “quickly and very directly and very openly rejecting their own members.

“So, if they say that the guy Browne is not good enough for him, that’s their story, that’s their business; if they say amen to Elvis Charles, that’s also their business. We will deal with that when the time come,” Leacock said.

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Former ULP senators David Browne and Elvis Charles, along with Dr. Douglas Slater demitted office last month.

Leacock defeated Charles in the 2010 general elections to become Parliamentary Representative for Central Kingstown.

Leacock said he was reserving comment on Thomas, a lawyer, political activist and commentator, “because time ain’t ready.

“But I want to say something that is important about these changes because you have to understand the psyche of the ULP at this time as they are going out of office.”

He said he has “no disrespect, no dislike, no contempt” for Camillo Gonsalves, son of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

The younger Gonsalves was on Monday appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Information Technology.

“He has a right, like anyone to be in the Parliament,” Leacock said of Sen. Gonsalves.

“But to begin with, he is coming with three bites at the cherry,” he however added.

Leacock said the younger Gonsalves was coming into Parliament as Minister of Foreign Affairs and will replace Clayton Burgin as the ULP’s candidate in East St. George — giving him two bites at the cherry.

He further said that he is convinced that the ULP will lose the next general elections – constitutionally due in 2015 – and would not want to come into Parliament “to face Daniel Cummings (MP for West Kingstown, an opposition lawmaker) and the others on the other side.

“So, I believe he will resign his seat and make room for his son. So, you see the story. Camillo has his one, two, three shots at government,” Leacock said.

He said that this is where Sen. Thomas “comes in too, to be important to the ULP”.

Leacock said Gonsalves has always been “a consummate communist — all about himself and now, in his twilight years, he has to come to grips with a reality”.

The reality, Leacock said, is that every political organisation of which PM Gonsalves has been a part has died after he left.

“So he is struggling to ensure that on his exit from politics the ULP doesn’t die and the one person who can chock step with the communist philosophy and ideology is Jomo Thomas and that is the reason for Jomo Thomas entering the politics at this time, to see that in the ULP there is a continuation of the ideological fervour and the backwardness of ideas that has cemented that party for many years,” Leacock said.

“I am putting that out to you big and bold now. Because, no Jomo to replace Ralph, no ULP. We need not waste time on Luke Browne. That will take care of itself,” he said of the former national scholar who is now Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, and Culture.

Leacock said that ULP is now saying to the population what the NDP has always said.

“They have no quality, none whatsoever in the Parliament of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. After Ralph, captain out all man out. Not one single one of them could have carried a debate save and except for seconding a motion.

Leacock said the ULP is bringing the new senators to Parliament in the hope of breathing new life into the party before the next general elections – constitutionally due in 2015.

He said that this confirms that the ULP has no quality, no leadership, no vision, and no ideas to carry the country forward.

“And I am saying to you, when you look and examine the slate of candidates that are before you and the political parties that are before you, there is only one political party that can speak to a future for your St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Leacock said.

4 replies on “Ahead of announcement, Opposition MP weighed in on new senators”

  1. Urlan Alexander says:

    I have been very wrong in my assessment of this whole political unfolding. I could have sworn on a bible if it comes to it that Jomo Thomas, based on what he says in a Kenton Chance IWN news article, will be the next leader of the ULP. Maybe its the impression the comrade wants to give; take the spotlight off of Camillo until he could do to Jomo what he did to Ken Boyea and Stalky John. We await the next chapter in this saga of political spinning.

  2. “captain out all out” …. sounds very true of the ULP. The recent sudden ‘love’ for Jomo has made me wonder the same. Is Dr. Gonsalves getting scared of the possible threat that jomo can pose if he’s not elevated in the ULP ranks? Mr. Leacock is right on the mark.

  3. No more old, washed up politicians. New young educated blood! Show me something better than this decision? All three,-well educated, well trained, internationally RESPECTED. Well done boys–a better St.Vincent on its way. Thanks Comrade!

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