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Unity Labour PArty candidate for East Kingstown, Luke Browne, left, and immediate past MP for the area, Arnhim Eustace.  (iWN file photos)
Unity Labour PArty candidate for East Kingstown, Luke Browne, left, and immediate past MP for the area, Arnhim Eustace. (iWN file photos)

The Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) candidate for East Kingstown, Luke Browne says he was hoping for “that last showdown” with incumbent MP for the area, Arnhim Eustace.

Eustace defeated Browne twice – in 2010 and 2015 — even as his margin of was reduced from 373 votes in 2010 to 149 in 2015.

However, Eustace, 76, a former prime minister, minister of finance and leader of the opposition, had, as early as 2016, indicated that he would not contest the upcoming general elections, which has been announced for Nov. 5.

Eustace’s 22-year stint as a MP for East Kingstown ended last Friday with the dissolution of Parliament.

On Thursday, opposition lawmakers, anticipating that the announcement of the elections was imminent, used the sitting of the national assembly to pay tribute to the elder statesman.

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Speaking after the tributes by opposition lawmakers on Thursday, Browne, 36, said that with what was said, he took it that it was confirmed that Eustace would not seek re-election.

“He had initially announced that he would retire from electoral politics. And I think he thought subsequently that he’s not quite ready to be done yet. So he suggested that he will still be in the political fray,” said Browne, who was a senator for the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) in the last Parliament and is Minister of Health.

Browne said that with Thursday’s messages of a political send off, it was confirmed that Eustace would not contest any further political races.

“I should say that I greet this news with mixed feelings because I thoroughly enjoyed the clashes that I had with him at the polls before.

“And you notice that, Mr. Speaker, we made particular progress in the outcome of our elections. And I was hoping that he would give me the opportunity for that last showdown, which no doubt, may have resulted in his retirement anyway.”

Browne further stated:

“Mr. Speaker, it has been further said that the Honourable member is the long standing, you may say, representative for the constituency of East Kingstown, which happens to be my constituency.

“It means that he has been my representative for all these years. I wouldn’t venture from the floor of Parliament today to comment on the fruits of that representation.”

Browne added that there is a photograph that was “popularised some time ago” of Eustace handing over a trophy to Browne at his high school graduation.

“I think he was either the Minister of Finance or the Prime Minister at that time when I was graduating from the St. Vincent Grammar School, and very poetically, he was captured handing over a trophy to me at that graduation ceremony. 

“And I believe, Mr. Speaker, that history will repeat itself, in that I will be his successor, in the seat of East Kingstown. 

“All said, I wish him the best with his retirement. We have had our political contests and crashes. I have never had any ill will towards him as a human being and as a person. It was a battle of ideas and a battle to see who may be able to shape and mould the future of our constituency, which I hold dear to me and in which have spent all my life.

“I wish that he would be able to reflect on the future course of that constituency. And maybe he may comment approvingly on my representation thereof before he departs this land,” Browne said.

Browne is pit to face off with the NDP’s Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, a first-time candidate, in the Nov. 5 poll.

8 replies on “Luke was hoping for ‘that last showdown’ with Arnhim”

  1. Luke flat and condescending

    Luke your remarks very poor and shaby to Mr Eustace who serve this SVG and wider Caribbean with Distinction which we cannot say the same for Ralph who was kick out from Teaching in University in Barbados by Tom Adams/ Cato after the Grenada Revolution.

    The same thing was said (rumors) University in Jamaica for roiting and uprising as one of the defacto leader as it been alleged.

    Mr Brown, you should be ashame to accursed Mr Eustace for poor Representation in that constituentcy. When the Opposition Party members Elected or not is not given monies from general funds (tax payers ) to do many thing with from this wicked party to which you apart of. ULP.

    The OPPOSITION members have to used their own money to service their constituents. How dear you speaking of poor Representation

    Corlos is not elected member in parliament but in North Leeward he given projects and finances to carry out as the defacto while Mr Mattews on the side line. The Two female Mini mi, they also,. and man in Grenadines (Snaggs).

    I hope day will come when the voices and Vote of the people in Constituentcy Elect a man/woman to be their Representative in government , or the house of parliaments, will look and give consideration to it, and put a stop to politcal tribalism in Vincy land.

    I also endose Major Leacook ” Constituentcy Development Funds). Small budgets funds that can be use by the elected member in his district.

    This will help stop the communists mentality and victimization as we witness by the HAND of Ralph and ULP Government .

    My two cents

  2. Like don’t worry yourself you have a lot to worry about ,Bramble will a tough competitor. If you can’t defeat him it will be time to reconsider your candidacy. It is said that you are the stuck up type for no reason.

  3. I was never a fan of Arnhim Jose and hardly knew the man, I know Bramble even less. However, the first time I had placed my eyes on this Luke Browne, I had to ask my cousin who the fellow was because of what I was seeing unfolding before me..

    And yes Jose, I am inclined to agree with you, a real “johnny-come-lately” who no doubt regards himself as “positively entitled” like so many in that party of theirs and who are perceived to “have their nose in the trough”!

    Well that is the way privileges goes in SVG one suppose especially for the entitled few where politics and entitlement combine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxJh-1_rW7Q

  4. Some people believe that they alone must have ownership to this country, but thank You Daddy, we are all mortals, a day must, must, must, must, will, will, will, will, will, will, come.

  5. Now can anyone tell me, what has Luke said in his statement to the retired Honorable member, Mr. Eustace to warrant these hateful attacks on him. The words of the you g man were kind words to once his political opponent. It is such a shame that some of us cannot put political differences aside for a moment. The said thing about it is that when people who you will expect better from will get themselves entangled in these political fray.

  6. Nathan 'Jolly' Green says:

    James he is one of those chosen by Ralph to make his son look good. He is the man that wanted to sue the University because they only awarded him a second class degree.

    Ralph took him to Libya to meet Gaddafi, they came back with the funding deal for the international stadium to be built at Diamond. The money was sad to be a mixture of grant and soft loan. The stadium was never built, instead they are building a running track which does not conform to Olympic standards.

    Where did the Libyan US$16 million go, I have asked this question so many times I am out of breath and panting in participation.

    This year in the Chinese Zodiac is the year of the Rat. The Years of the Rat include 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. I just thought I would throw that in because the word rat keeps coming to my mind, I am unsure why.

  7. This young upstart has nothing to offer. Failed miserably in health. Does not have the ability and maturity to hold a ministerial portfolio. A literal windbag. According to Shakespeare, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. Bramble will clean him up. Will continue where Eustace left off.

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