-
Petitions could see ULP gov’t falling – Eustace
-
Party will continue with protests
-
Eustace says NDP supporters facing ‘gloomy’ period
-
NDP decides approach to Parliament
The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has filed election petitions in connection with the Dec. 9 general elections, party leader Arnhim Eustace announced on Monday.
Eustace also used his weekly radio programme to encourage party supporters amidst what he said is a “gloomy” period for the 40-year-old institution that has been in opposition for almost 15 years, after 17 years in government.
He noted that the party has not lost any elections petition and pointed out that they were filed on Dec. 30, two days after a High Court denied NDP candidate for Central Leeward, Ben Exeter, access to certain election documents.
“They (petitions) weren’t event filed when the court ruled against this other matter.
“The real election petitions — the meat of the matter, the fraud and the theft, the way ballots were dealt with — all these things are being dealt with by the petitions. Not the case that we had a couple weeks ago,” he told listeners.
The NDP is claiming that it won the Dec. 9 general elections, which electoral officials says were won by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party (ULP).
‘petitions … can lead to a by-election’
Election officials say the ULP, secured a fourth term in office by winning 8 of the 15 parliamentary, while the remaining 7 went to the NDP, a carbon copy of the December 2010 elections results.
Eustace said that the outcome of the petitions could see the ULP administration falling.
“The petitions, if we win those petitions, can lead to a by-election. It can even lead to a general elections, if we win those petitions,” he said.
He said that the NDP has a few more days to file some affidavits in support of the petitions.
“And over time, we will be giving you information to the extent that it is possible, of what is happening with those election petitions,” Eustace told listeners.
“What we lost a few weeks ago had to do with the right to remove all the ballots from the Supervisor of Elections office to the court — the Registrar of the High Court,” Eustace noted.
“And that matter, of course, will come up again in the petitions,” he said, adding that the election petitions are not affected by the Dec. 28 court ruling.
Judge refuses NDP’s application to inspect election documents
NDP will not spend ‘any real time in Parliament’
Eustace said NDP officials met Monday morning and decided to “continue the process in terms of our meeting, rallies and the different things we do in terms of protesting the results”.
He reiterated that the NDP does not recognise the ULP administration as a legitimate government and the meeting discussed how the party will operate in Parliament.
“You can be out of Parliament and go into Parliament for five minutes and be out ten minutes later. So, we know what the rules are and we will be dealing according go the rules. But we’re certainly not going to spend any real time in Parliament,” Eustace said.
“I want people to understand that clearly. Our concentration will be on the case and the protests that are needed, as we see it. We were doing some fine-tuning to that protest today.”
Eustace said party supporters should not be afraid.
“The real battle is to come. The real battle over what happen to the seat in North Windward, what happen to the seat in Central Leeward, those will come now that we have filed the petitions on December the 30th, 2015.”
He said that some persons have said that the NDP should accept the results of the elections.
“There are a lot of people who don’t really have the kind of confidence in our justice system that we should have, or what you should expect in a democratic society.”
He said this is not a recent development, adding, “A lot of that confidence was eroded before today.
“And when you make statements that ‘oh, you have to come back to Papa’, what is that telling the people,” Eustace said, quoting a statement by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves some years ago.
“What are you telling the public? These are the kinds of issues,” Eustace said.
‘we are not letting it pass’
He said that some persons have said that it is true the elections were stolen but the NDP should accept the results. “That is foolishness,” Eustace said.
“The kind of corruption we have in the system here now, our system will collapse if it continues as is. Not only the system — the parliamentary system — will collapse, but our economy will also collapse, and that is what our people live by. Our values are collapsing because you now begin to accept wrong as right,” Eustace said.
He told listeners that ignoring what the NDP says is the theft of the election will erode the system.
“All you have is a corrupt process. And those who try to hide behind it with ‘It done gone so’, what’s wrong with them?” Eustace said.
“Those who should be speaking out, everybody trying to give an excuse. But they admitting it’s wrong, you know – ‘But ‘let it pass’
“Well, we are not letting it pass,” he said, noting that when the government wanted to increase the number of seats from 15 to 17 in 2010 and the NDP went to court over the decision, people said that the government would win the case, but the NDP triumphed.
“So, don’t give up hope. We have to keep the issue constantly before the people of this country to ensure some victory for us at the end of this process.”
Eustace said the NDP has to do the legal and political work which give support to ensure a judgement in the party’s favour.
He said it a normal human reaction for persons who have worked hard on behalf of the NDP to be hurt about the outcome of polls.
“But when you don’t get through because the other side stole, that’s a different matter. That you can’t take and that you should not talk, hence the reason for going to court and for protesting.”
Eustace encouraged party supporters not to lose heart.
“I know it is a kind of gloomy picture for NDP supporters are facing, given the general environment, but we have to have faith. We have to have faith. We know that the elections were stolen and, therefore, under no circumstance should we accept the results of this election. There is no justification for accepting the result of the elections.
“And I am telling you, because of this, we will pay a much heavier price in terms of our economy, because of what has happened here,” Eustace said.
“Our name, in many countries now, is associated with corruption. That has impact on people coming to invest in our country.”
He said the issue that the NDP is dealing with is “serious and very fundamental”.
“It is no fly by night matter. At risk is the heart of all our population for the benefit of one or two people who have become extremely wealthy off the back of the majority of the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And that you will hear more about too,” Eustace said.
Mr Eustace, I’m baffled by you. If you are so confident, why run into the house to take oath. Since you are so happy for Bi-election, be brave stay with your confident self.
Who is advising or should I say ill-advising you? You are at the end of your rope man. Have some respect for yourself, your party, your country. Step aside gracefully. I know you’re trying to drag it out but time is not on your side. For your own sake, you can’t be a BIGGER loser than you already are, can you?
Why don’t you tell the Vincentian public about Mr Exeter conceding inside the Polling station even going as far as shaking hands only to later make a U-turn after learning of your Party’s plans. One of your BIGGEST Goons, Mr Brian Alexander, gave his confession speech on his facebook page, leaving some harsh words for yourself and the NDP hierachy; he went as far as saying and I quote ” I am finish, count me out. I told my Party they can’t compete with lumber” Only for him to make a sharp U-TURN, citing late night activities in Central Leeward after a fellow NDP supporter (a female business owner i the Capital) talked him into it.
Mr Eustace, I thought you were Mr Clean. Live up to your name nuh man. Tell the people the truth. Stop all this nonsense before it’s too late for your party. After all it’s already too late for you..
Strange that when Ralph is persistent we all admire him for it. when Eustace is persistent we criticize him for it. Your advice is to give-up and play dead. No wonder corruption has flourished in SVG. As much as you laugh at and dislike Eustace for standing up for what is right I admire him for it.
In the year 2016-
When the courts eventually throw out these election petitions, on the grounds that they are frivolous and vexatious; what would Mr Eustace tell the NDP sheple…oh right, the court system is corrupt and we in the NDP do not accept the rulings of the court. And further more we will continue with our asinine protesting and we will come on nice radio and talk a load of rubbish-putting Dougie in more legal jeopardy-until the next election.
In the year 2020-
We will not accept the results of this election. You know the NDP can’t win because the election is rigged; we will file petitions and when the Camillo Gonsalves courts throw out the cases; we will protest and AND we will go on GYPSY RADIO former niceradio- and talk a load of rubbish until the next election of 2025…
In the year 2026-
…Ladies and Gentlemen the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:The Hon. Anesia Baptiste-Fang.
My fellow Vincentians; we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of our beloved son of the soil, The Hon. Arnhim U Eustace,Opposition Leader for the past 20 years. A man who never gave up on his dreams of winning an election,even when naysayers like myself doubted him. In the words of Salt N Pepa: “What a man what a man, what a mighty good man. I want to take a minute or two and give much respect due”. In my three hours press hugging in 2012, when I rudely stated that its time for Mr Eustace and the old heads to resign from the leadership of the NDP and that the party needs to be reconstituted with young blood; I must say I was emotional but of sound mind. But did Mr Eustace listen to me;hell no! This was the measure of the man, he listens to no one,he did it his way;he was a leader of men with no vision. “What a man what a man,what a mighty good man”.
I suspect the initial “U” stand for undeterred, because come high or low, Mr Eustace had on blinkers and nothing was going to lead him from his beaten path and with loyal followers acceding to his every command..off into the political wilderness they went hand in hand. What a man what a man,what a mighty good man. Mr Clean as he was affectionately called, has won the hearts, minds and derision of the masses for his dedicated service to the nation. If I could continue with the words of Salt N Pepa, by the way, this song was my jam back in the day but I digress. “I know that ain’t nobody perfect, I give props to those who deserve it and believe y’all he’s worth it”. I will forever be grateful to this man, because if it wasn’t for his intransigence, I would never have become the person that I am today, the leader of this blessed land and a beautiful people.
I remembered like it was yesterday, back in 2012, when I left the NDP and went my own way; I remembered folks vilifying me and making all sort of disparaging remarks that I am done politically…that I am a religious fanatic, a lunatic…Yes, Peter Binose, C.Ben-David, Saadiss, I am talking to you. I remember Linton Lewis saying that my position on the religion policy issue of the NDP at that time, was fundamentally flawed; but I took strength from the perseverance of Mr Eustace of never giving up on his dreams and I continue to follow my path.
It was just a year ago, I saw Mr Eustace on TV, in his wheel chair, leading the protest against my Administration; chanting, WE WILL NEVER ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS. Surrounded by his loyal followers, like Birth France’war-Official Wheelchair Pusher;Brain Flexunder-Chief Conspiracy Theorist; Matches Tights-Chief Placard Holder; Winnette Fraiddicks-Chair Of Public Ethics; Loose’set Kin-Resident Demagogue; Charming Barely-Chief Gadfly; Dr Frynight-Zeno Eminence; Dug’ass DeFritters-Chief Alarmist. I want to take this opportunity to send a message to the sheple of the NDP, this is now the sixth consecutive election that the NDP have loss, its time to put down the placards and rejoin civil society. My people, lets forever remember the name of Arnhim “Undeterred” Eustace, the epitome of intransigence and perseverance. If there is one thing we can learn from Mr Eustace is this,those who fail to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. “What a man what a man, what a mighty good man”.
May he rest in Peace. I thank you.
In the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May God bless the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.