The multi-denominational Christian Council is appealing to Vincentians to “exercise calm, and a sense of right judgement” after the ruling is handed down tomorrow in the election petitions case.
“We appeal to Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves and the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday and all parliamentarians to take all reasonable steps to influence supporters and members of the public to remain calm and peaceful at all times, to respect the judgement, and to promote tolerance, goodwill and harmony,” the council said Wednesday in a press statement.
“Let us continue to pray for our nation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that through submission to the reign of God, we may assume those responsibilities which make for the good and well-being of all Vincentians and the raising up of leaders who would practice justice and integrity in the land. Such, we pray, would serve faithfully in our generation and honour God’s holy name,” the Christian counsel said.
The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has filed two petitions challenging the outcome of the vote in two constituencies in the December 2015 general elections.
Electoral officials say that the Unity Labour Party was returned to a fourth consecutive term in office by winning eight of the 15 parliamentary seats.
The NDP is, however, challenging the results in North Windward and Central Leeward, two of the seats in which the ULP is declared to be the winner.
Both the petitioners and the respondents have indicated that they would appeal if the court does not rule in their favour.
Acting High Court judge, Justice Stanley John will hand down his ruling at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the High Court building in Kingstown.
It is totally immoral for these religious leaders to speak now they have been shirking their responsibility in the matter of election fraud for too long. They are also recipients of government relief from tax and import duties. Perhaps they should be judged as bought men who often have to take the side of wrong to keep their hands in the cookie jar.
How true Jolly Green. I always appreciate your insight. Thanks!
The Christian Council was correct to issue this appeal if only because the NDP has maliciously incited its beguiled supporters to believe that the 2015 election was wickedly and deliberatley stolen by the ruling ULP. But there was not a shred of evidence showing that the various errors made before and on election day were deliberately planned in advance to steal the election.
That so many people believe the worst of others is a clear reflection of their own character: too many of our people are so willing to engage in otherwise tolerate the presence of anti-social and criminal behaviour like lying and stealing that they assume everyone else also has this propensity. Our national motto should be: “It takes a scamp to know a scamp.”
You old scamp C-ben, you old Nephrops norvegicus. Are you actually saying Gonsalves is a scamp?
You do not have to pre-plan, which is a different offence style, actions can be decided on the spur of the moment. None the less, if an action is illegal it is illegal, how it came about is immaterial, wrong is wrong and can never be right. Of course the wrong doer can claim mitigating circumstances, but no one did.
Only God and the wrong doer know the truth.
Even if they were or mistakes, if they resulted in illegality they were an illegal act.