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The main opposition New Democratic Party is considering giving priority to a “special mental asylum” over a state-of-the-art hospital after hearing comments by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves recently, party leader, Arnhim Eustace, says.
Eustace’s comments came in response to Gonsalves’ response to Eustace’s announcement that he intends to sue persons who he said has illegally transferred their voter registration to East Kingstown, which he represents.
Gonsalves, in comments in various segments of the media, has noted that Eustace needs permission for the Director of Public Prosecutions to bring such a case.
The law was changed, but Eustace forget that, said Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs.
“When I listen to these men, it’s like Eustace doesn’t even understand the Representation of the Peoples Act,” Gonsalves said.
He explained why it is now necessary to get a fiat from the DPP to bring a private criminal complaint.
“… the right had been abused with busybodies bringing cases, which they have little or no evidence to substantiate…
“They just want to terrorise and harass people and you have some lawyers willing to involve themselves in that kind of exercise, Gonsalves, who is also a lawyer, said radio.
“OK, you have the evidence, give it to the DPP. There is an independent prosecution service which has been built up…
“That’s why I said … in an interview on SVGTV … If Eustace name man, he and his lawyer, you say you are going to bring criminal charges … I will bet Eustace his house in which he lives and my own at Gorse that he cannot and he will not bring one single charge, criminal charge in this week or any week for this matter directly,” Gonsalves said last week.
“You got to go through the Director of Public prosecution. And when he talks the rubbish about is jail for them, what happen? He is the judge? He is the chief magistrate? What kind of foolishness he is talking about?” Gonsalves said.
Speaking at the New Democratic Party (NDP) campaign rally in Campden Park last weekend, Eustace noted that he has submitted to the Supervisor of Elections the names of persons who he said have been transferred into East Kingstown but do not live there.
“What I am surprised about is the attitude of the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in this matter. He has gone along a road which suggests that even that which is illegal, his DPP will give me trouble,” Eustace said.
“We’re talking about the law you know. His DPP will give me trouble.”
Eustace noted Gonsalves’ proposed bet of each other’s houses “that the DPP will deal with me and we will never get anywhere with our petitions.
“So here we have a prime minister who is Minister of Legal Affairs and he is encouraging illegality. I have, therefore, changed part of our manifesto to bring forward the need for a mental asylum a bit earlier,” Eustace said to laughter.
“We had said that we want to work on a state of the art hospital. But I have to give some priority to a special mental asylum. So we are going to change our manifesto to reflect that.
“I never hear more stupidness than I am hearing in the last few days from the prime minister. He has lost his way. He has lost his mind and it is time for him to go,” Eustace said.
https://youtu.be/0Jd7qm5K-Ic