(See video at end of post)
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chairman, Ralph Gonsalves has dismissed allegations that the regional integration grouping was being hypocritical when it voiced concerned about the ongoing situation in Venezuela, while remaining silent on the political developments in St. Kitts and Nevis.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Opposition Leader, Arnhim Eustace last week the 15-member grouping for remaining “deafeningly silent” even as a motion of no confidence against the Denzil Douglas government in Basseterre has not been debated for more than a year.
“What I find most disheartening, is the deafening silence of the other CARICOM governments who appear to wish that this situation in St. Kitts did not exist,” Eustace said, adding that the regional leaders “should hang their heads in shame for condoning this unacceptable state of affairs.
“CARICOM ignores the situation in St. Kitts but makes a firm statement in support of [President Nicolas] Maduro in Venezuela indicating ‘that no democratic society can reasonably pursue disorder or any unwanted subversion of democratic institutions,” Eustace said.
But Gonsalves, who is also Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said Eustace was confusing the issues before him and that the two events were dissimilar.
“There is no hypocrisy there. Where in CARICOM statement is it hypocritical?” he said, adding that in St. Kitts and Nevis, two elected parliamentarians crossed the floor and joined the opposition.
Gonsalves said that because St. Kitts and Nevis has a unicameral system, the government can still get its legislation passed because, senators can vote, adding that the only area where a majority becomes important is a vote of no confidence.
The CARICOM chairman said that the opposition had filed a vote of no confidence in the government and when to the courts when they felt it was not being heard when they thought it should have been heard.
“And it get tie up in the court. That’s what has happened. I mean any first year child in politics should have told them this is a political question, don’t go and tie yourself up in the court, because you are using a tactic which the government would love.”
Gonsalves said he has written to Prime Minister Douglas indicating that there is a sense of uneasiness when a motion of no confidence is not heard in a reasonable time, but that, in fairness, it is the opposition that went to court.
“The opposition has locked itself into an internal process. In the case of Venezuela, the situation is dissimilar,” Gonsalves said, noting that in Caracas, the government, was elected 11 months ago and won overwhelmingly the local government elections at the end of last year.
“But what is taking place in Venezuela, it is plain for everybody to see, you have a number of elements from outside of Venezuela seeking to add to the destabilization of the country.
“St. Kitts is a purely internal matter, which is being sorted out within the law of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Gonsalves said.
Now a real man would be in the midst of it supporting his Marxist comrade. He did it for the Marxist scum bag Walter Rodney, and the Marxist scum bag Maurice Bishop, so why not the scum bag Maduro?
Mr. PM the people of STKN are fed up of you and the constant defence of your friend Denzil. Hiding behind legal shenanigans will not work this time. The failure to respect peoples wishes is bad for any democracy.
Mr golsalves you should be ashamed of yourself not aquainting yourself with the facts as pertain to the situation in St. Kitts Nevis where the motion of no confidence is concerned for you should know that the court connot prevent a government or the speaker of the house from placing the motion on the table for debate. Further more the court ruled on the matter almost three weeks ago and say that the matter is not subjudice and that it should be herd as a matter of priority. Those arguments are for conmen who are trying to subvert the law and no decent leader will agree with that. Shame on Caricom Leaders to try to protect their friend Denzil Douglas and want to follow his dictatortive ways.
We should all remember Gonsalves is the king of Caribbean hypocrisy. He said he wanted TT to stop funding their airline by giving them discounted fuel prices, said it was unfair. Yet signs off every year on millions in cash to keep LIAT flying, subsidised to the hilt.
If I had the inclination I would post hundreds of hypocritcal actions and behaviours by Gunslaves.