Opposition lawmaker St. Clair Leacock is rejecting the “bad boy” caricature.
“Mr. Speaker, I take this Parliament very seriously. I don’t use the word friend loosely and sometimes it pains me when I am caricatured as a bad boy,” he told Parliament on Thursday.
“It pains me, because those who know me, know of my history, know of my parents, their own value systems, the way I was brought up, the service I have given to this country,” the Central Kingstown representative said.
He was speaking while congratulating the three mew government senators — Jomo Thomas, Camillo Gonsalves, and Luke Browne — on their appointment.
Sen. Gonsalves is this country’s immediate past ambassador to the United Nation.
Leacock said that he was once “offered the position of Ambassador to the United Nations. “I never got there. I am still here today serving the New Democratic Party,” he said.
His comments made after mentioning the presence of Parnell R. Campbell in the Strangers’ Gallery.
Campbell is a former Central Kingstown MP and attorney general under the NDP, of which Leacock is a vice-president.
“That’s an opportunity that I had,” Leacock further said of the U.N. position.
“I look forward to us understanding that the opportunity to serve is about the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And whether we like it or not, there is considerable hurt out there but large portions of our society that have great difficulty in making ends meet.
“And I would want you therefore, as you examine every piece of legislations that comes before you, have in the forefront of your consideration, how does this piece of legislations improve the lot of the average Vincentian — not about yourself, because, ultimately, they are our reason for being,” Leacock, a former senator, told the new senators.
“We may go different roads, different pathways, but let them (the people) be the reason for us being here in the Parliament of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he further said.
Leacock told lawmakers that he expects that “the level of debate would be lifted in the Parliament by the presence of you three senators.
“I have no doubt about that. And it means we have our work cut out on this side — sharper, fresher legs; sharper fresher legs.
“We expect keen debate and contest as you will bring your experiences to bear on the matters before us. I say to you, however, that there are greater moral responsibilities we have for the temporary privilege to serve in this House, whether as MPs or senators in service of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we, politicians are our worst enemies in the way we destroy ourselves before the public and often times in the way we conduct ourselves in this Honourable House. And so, even in my wisdom years, I am of the view that there are some rebuilding that has to be done and to restore some of the dignity that our house should have.”
Some persons have referred to Leacock as a “bad boy” because of his robust exchanges in Parliament with House Speaker, Hendrick Alexander, and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
Thank you for acknowledging what these three will bring to the table. With them, SVG has started its shift from gutter politics into a proper, respected, academic debate in moving the will of the people. Kudos to you Sen for your contribution! How about the opposition stepping their level up but getting rid of the washed out politicians. The ULP have one up on the NDP as always, the older folks of the ULP show respect in stepping aside to allow fresh perspectives to lead the country. When will the NDP do just the same? If/when they decide to make that move, it would be an interesting, reinvigorating time for politics in SVG.