Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has accused the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) of wanting to overthrow his Unity Labour Party (ULP) government.
The ULP was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in office on Wednesday after it won eight of the 15 Parliamentary seats, according to the official count.
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But the NDP, which won the remaining seven seats, says it is the legitimate government, claiming that it won the Central Leeward constituency also, which officials have placed in the ULP column.
Speaking at the ULP election victory rally in Argyle Saturday night, Gonsalves said:
“And I am urging them to stop this nonsense about bringing out a few hundred people to try and block roads to stop people from doing their work.”
He said it was not a question that there is a policy of the government that is being challenged with a view to reversing it.
“… this is a free and fair election in which a government won,” Gonsalves said.
“The party won, the ULP won. And what they are wanting to do, in short, is to carry out a coup d’état against a legitimate government. And I will not tolerate, and I will not allow the NDP to undermine the free and democratic institutions of this country.
“Up to now, I have not asked Labour people to come out and confront the NDP. I haven’t said that, because I don’t want any war and bloodshed,” Gonsalves told party supporters at the construction site of the Argyle International Airport.
Gonsalves, however, invited party supporters to come to the swearing in ceremony of the Cabinet at Heritage Square in Kingstown on Monday.
He said he, the Governor General and three pastors will speak at the event, where the ministers will take their oaths of office.
“And I want you to be there, because what we are doing there is your business and I want to see you there coming out in your numbers.”
Gonsalves told party supporters to come early, saying they will not get transportation, as vans will be taking passengers home.
“I want you to come earlier and hang around and wait until we start the proceedings at 4:30. It is important that you listen to what I am saying on this, if you want to be there. And it is important that you be there. It is a historic occasion,” Gonsalves said.
He said it is the first time in the Caribbean that a party with the same leader had won four consecutive terms, both with the seats and number of votes.
“And on this fourth term, what makes it particularly historic is that we increase the number of votes we got over the year 2010. It’s a remarkable performance, and I thank you,” Gonsalves said.
If those words came from an NDP person they would be arrested for incitement.
The election was stolen, we all now know that and I am sure so does he.
Up to now, I have not asked Labour people to come out and confront the NDP. I havent said that, because I dont want any war and bloodshed, Gonsalves told party supporters at the construction site of the Argyle International Airport.
“Up to now” infers that he will or may ask Labour supporters to come out and confront the NDP, he said nothing to exclude him saying that any time soon. He made no demand on his supporters not to confront the NDP and he made no demand that they should remain peaceful.
Inviting his supporters to the swearing in ceremony could well end up with a serious riot, which I am sure plans have all ready been made to gas and bludgeon any NDP supporters and for a state of emergency to be declared.
Desperate men do desperate things.
Peter, remember that Tear Gas Friday meant the beginning of the end of Labour Party rule and the beginning of 17 years NDP rule.
The current NDP would love nothing better than a declaration of emergency together with a curfew and jack-booted Venezuelan soldiers parading in the streets armed to the teeth. Throw in the shooting of a few innocent bystanders, preferably the children of ULP supporters, and the Party would be in heaven.
Tell the truth, they would love for this to happen, wouldn’t they, my good friend and airport-denying compatriot?
David I am sorry to say but having read what you just wrote I believe you may well be mentally ill.
People who still retain some dregs of conscience ought to sign the petition on change.org that calls attention to the documented outrages that presented in the wake of the December 9th elections.
SVG is showing symptoms of a very bad case of plantation style PTSD in the face of its annual rants each October about independence. Independence of what, I wonder. Disgusting, repulsive batch of wealthy, dishonest and scurrilous charlatans dragging along the enfeebled entertained. Shameful.
Peter, remember that Tear Gas Friday meant the beginning of the end of Labour Party rule and the beginning of 17 years NDP rule.
The current NDP would love nothing better than a declaration of emergency together with a curfew and jack-booted Venezuelan soldiers parading in the streets armed to the teeth. Throw in the shooting of a few innocent bystanders, preferably the children of ULP supporters, and the Party would be in heaven.
Tell the truth, they would love for this to happen, wouldn’t they, my good friend and airport-denying compatriot?
We already had a petition; it was called the 2015 general election.
Who is ultimately responsible for all this crap? Surely not our current political master class.
Ultimate blame lies with our former British overlords who send us all to the back of the bus when they cynically and selfishly granted us the empty self government we are now suck with because we had sunk from cash cow to chronic dependency status with the demise of the sugar-cane estate system.
Political independence is a hollow notion because we are forced to politically align ourselves with all manner of wicked regimes (Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, Iran, Lybia, etc.) to gain a few handouts and have no voice or influence whatsoever in world affairs.
This is why we are so oppressed by our leaders of all political parties: there is no other role for them than to micro-manage our lives to serve their own personal interests.
As for economic independence, there is nothing more to say than that all the important economic decisions that effect our lives — save favouring one group of hangers on, desperately poor people, and various categories of parasites and leaches over other similar categories whenever there is a change of government — are made outside SVG. This holds true whether we are talking about banana production, local manufacturing, tourist development, migration opportunities, aid, or the the borrowing of money.
When it come to political and economic sovereignty, we are a crippled country.
So we should curse Great Britain– and the various political and left-wing radical elites that welcomed statehood and independence for their own selfish reasons — rather than each other for the horrible state of affairs we are now in.
Those of us who had the misfortune to know “Comrade Ralph” in the early days know what he is capable of. Changing of a leopard’s spots would be a miracle. Beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. (Mixed metaphors intentional). Proclaiming to be near to God. Remember that Satan was also there. For those who do not believe in God and Satan, translate good and evil. That great whooshing sound I hear (thank you Ross Perot) is the downward slide of SVG as it accelerates to its final collapse. If you listen carefully, you will hear it too.
To hell and NO HAND BASKET. So what else is new? The country can’t afford a hand basket.
It is very interesting hearing from those who are stating that the Elections were Stolen , there were 3 distinct Organizations in the Country , None of these Organization stated that the Elections were fraudulent .
The Supervisor of Elections , did not state that there was a problem in the Central Leeward
Constituency . It is exceedingly strange that the NDP is claiming that its Candidate won by 6 Votes , but it turns out that its Candidate lost by over 300 votes . It is true , according to Reports
that in one Polling Station the NDP’s Candidate won that Polling Station by 6 Votes .
What the NDP needs to do , rather than talk , talk , talk , File a Court Case , if the NDP fails to
file a Court Case , but instead talks about Irregularities , then WE will know that the NDP is
playing Games . In essence Put Up or Shut Up .
VERIDICAL