Dec. 31st 2013
An open letter to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Opposition Leader Mr. Arnhim Eustace.
Gentlemen let me first state that this letter holds no malice or negative thought whatsoever. 2013 is quickly slipping away and I have tossed and turned all night wondering if I should do this or just leave it alone, but my conscience keeps telling me that it would be hypocritical of me to ignore this urge.
You are two gentlemen that I hold in the highest regard. I have nothing but respect and brotherly love for you both and I think that individually you both know that to be true. I am begging you to rebuild our nation together. As you said in your address this morning Mr. Prime Minister, this is our greatest natural disaster in living memory.
Actually it is our greatest disaster in over 100 years (since the volcanic eruption of 1902). This affects us all and it is impossible to properly rebuild a divided nation. Our island is so divided politically that it’s sad. You both have the keys to open those doors of change. Our people are openly resentful of and disrespectful to each other and too often, this is because of politics. The political division is destructive. Friendships are broken. Families are divided and communities are split.
I cannot, and do not consider myself a supporter of any political party in SVG but I guarantee that I will work vigorously and tirelessly with any positive entity to ensure the progress and advancement of my nation and people, hence the reason for this letter.
At this juncture, our island needs all hands on deck. Let us try to imagine the difference it would create if our people saw you working together. Can you imagine how much animosity would be dissipated if Vincentians saw the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader traveling around the country together examining the damage and speaking to them together in true and genuine concern for their well-being. Each of you have supporters who are fiercely loyal and protective of you so can you imagine how much tension will be eased in our nation if our people were to see a united face from you and realise that right now your primary concern is not politics and political mileage but that the only item on your agenda is to get their lives back on track and to work together while doing so.
Gentlemen, I beseech of you both to put your differences aside for now. You are both valuable assets to our people and you can both make sterling contributions to the reconstruction of our nation. I know you both love SVG and the people of SVG so for the sake of our people, pleaseeeee reach out to each other. It does not matter who calls who first because you have both made a pledge to serve the people, so somebody please call somebody before it’s too late and we slip into a national quagmire . God bless you both and your respective families.
Happy New Year to you both and remember: We have a nation to rebuild.
GOD BLESS ST.VINCENT & THE GRENADINES.
Your humble servant
Junior “Soca” Jones
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Heartfelt and genuine Mr Jones, but did you ask Santa first? Because for what you are asking, he was your better bet.
At any rate, I think you’re mistaken lad. We have been where you are wishing for us for the last 12 years, since April 2001 in fact. Didn’t you hear “Together now?” Didnt you believe the man? Havent you seen the together now? I think not from what you wrote, so what makes you think it is going to change after 12 years? Your letter?
This is it, lad. This is as together as we would get so you might as well go and stone the sea.
Wishing for something from Santa is okay, but to go looking up in the sky for him and his reindeer with you wish in his sleigh is quite another.
I loved what you wrote and asked for. But that’s it. It ends there.
@Patrick Ferrari lol so true after so long?Sorry me boy that letter will just fall on deaf ears.Is SVG POLITRICKANS you ah ask that? all the best ah go keep praying
Thank you Junior “Soca” Jones, I completely and whole heartedly agree with you. Gentlemen, Please, please focus on our SVG, leave politics aside and work together for the good of our people.
Nice letter Junior, I know your intent is genuine but such will only fall on the ears of the conveniently deft. However I admire your efforts.
You may not know this, but this call has been sounded by many from many fronts.the leader of the opposition had initiated this after the passing of Tomas; do you know what the public but childish reply to such a noteworthy and honorable venture was. “Arnhim Eustace want to look primeministerial going around with the Prime ” sad but true.
You know what I don’t see any good coming from this venture unless their is actually a change in heart and attituse in Mr. Gonsalves, here is why, to do such only as an echibition, a show will be a lie being perpetrated by the two highest political individual, sending a less than truthful message and this in its self is worst than the divide that currently exist. Here is wht. The vulnerable will be quick to believe in the lie and they will be the ones who will be hurt when the Jack Jumps out of the box (partisan discrimination) catching them.by surprise.
Make such a suggestion in a years or so when Ralph is off the scene and there is a more mature person leading the labor Party with wherever first name the choose to carry.
My school mate Junior Soca Jones save yo breath for when your noteworthy suggestion will fall.on willing ears or for after the public miracle that chenge Gonsalves.
Nice letter Junior, I know your intent is genuine but such will only fall on the ears of the conveniently deft. However I admire your efforts.
You may not know this, but this call has been sounded by many from many fronts before, I will also go this far and tell you, the leader of the opposition had initiated this after the passing of Tomas; do you know what the public but childish reply of the Prime Minister to such a noteworthy and honorable venture was? “Arnhim Eustace want to look primeministerial going around with the Prime ” sad but true.
You know what I don’t see any good coming from this venture unless there is actually a change in heart and attitude in Mr. Gonsalves, here is why, to do such only as an exhibition or a show without any real or meaningful change, will be nothing but a big, fat lie being perpetrated by the two highest political individual, sending a less than truthful message; this in its self is worst than the divide that currently exist. Here is what will happen if such a lie is allowed to happen: The poor and the vulnerable will be quick to believe in the lie and they will be the ones who will be hurt when the Jack Jumps out of the box (partisan discrimination) and catching them by surprise.
I will encourage you to make this same suggestion in a years or so when Ralph is off the scene and there is a more mature person leading the labor Party with wherever first name the choose to carry.
My school mate Junior Soca Jones save yo breath for when your noteworthy suggestion will fall on willing ears or for after the public miracle that chenge Gonsalves.
A brilliant idea! You should have brought it forward before now. I think it’s too late. It will now look like window dressing. However it’s an idea that politicians should keep in their back-pocket. This was the catalyst that could have brought the country together, but both parties failed to take the leap.
Why do I say it’s too late: The big media and laming circus that didn’t involve the leader of the opposition was a mistake. Ralph has used every moment to push himself out there, then after pushing the ladder away, he turns around and looks for support.
Junior Soca Jones I think you would get better results from pulling the wish bone from your chicken or turkey with a stranger, then making a wish if you win the bigger part of the bone.
Although Eustace has tried this approach many times before, Gonsalves has always been about worthless rhetoric.
Even after his audience with the Pope, I still have no hope whatsoever for the man doing the right thing.
Thank you Junior, well put. It should always be country before party politics, regardless to which side one supports. Those who will respond negatively to your request are nothing but evil or selfish at heart. Because evil seemingly exist in their heart, their love for the nation and its people has waxed cold. Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Leader of the Opposition, this call of Junior is the call of the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines, regardless of the temptation to act to the contrary. Our nation and its people are in pain and therefore demand your collective leadership
Great sentiment Junior, but these two entities are much too self centered to even care and they are tearing the country apart. Should have changed with this disaster, but I haven’t seen a change in their attitude. How self-righteous both men are and don’t even want to make a change in their stance on anything. Duh! You shouldn’t have to tell them to tour the Island together. That is something that they both should have done at the beginning of the Crisis. They are not kids, but they sure do act like them. MY SOLUTION. Vote them both out of Office at the next election and replace them with less Toxic Politicians. They are becoming poor Ambassadors of the Island and in most cases making St. Vincent the laughing stock of the Caribbean. As a Vincentian living abroad, I am non political. I just want to see progress and less bickering. The country is very divided and it seems everyone hate constructive criticism even if it is warranted. We need to unite if we are ever going to recover from this catastrophic storm and all hands are needed on deck. NO COMPLAINTS, NO EXCUSES.
This is truly a great letter and I wish to God that these two leaders would simply look into the human side of themselves and come to a compromise for the sake of our beautiful island.
Ere
We cannot start 2014 with the same level of hypocrisy we have been throwing into the public all these years. Rose I hope its ignorance on this tioic rather than hypocrisy. You spoke of the two leader as being selfish, but if you have been following SVG politucs and I honestly believe you do then you should not include the two leaders as selfish etc. for if the truth be told The Hon. Eustace is the only opposition that votes in the house in supports of Government’s projects when it is in the country’s best interest. Is that the action of a man who is selfish and don’t care for his country?
Gonsalves and his Government have been leaving Arnhem out of everything, even when there are state visits of a foreign dignitary simple even nonelected labor member are given priority seating over opposition members they are even pkaced on the program for personal introduction over the lawfully elected opposition.
As recent as last year when there wsd an upsurge in violence Mr. Eustace contacted the PM and expressed his concern and requested thay they appear together in a press conference to address the violence to show a united front against Violence, do you know what Ginzie say, that the leader of the opposition wants to look primeministerial. How many times must Ralph display his chidishness and the innocent be made to carry the blame with his guilty self. Hypocrisy is the worst quality a person can ever possessed. That is a quality my people know a and embraces ooo to well.
I know my people to well to the point that they are going to say, I am playing politics, but this is not politics these are known documented facts, and before I fight for peace I will be a champion for Justice. Because there can be no peace until there is Justice.