Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has warned his predecessor, Sir James Mitchell not to “trespass in areas” after Sir James commented recently on the issue of a government senator’s implication in the shooting of a 60-year-old man at his home.
Gonsalves, speaking on Tuesday after his return from Cuba, said he has seen that Sir James has said that he would have fired the senator, Ashelle Morgan.
“Did he fire Carlyle [Dougan]? Did he fire PR [Campbell]?” Gonsalves said, referring to two lawyers, who resigned as attorney general in Sir James’ administration after they were embroiled in scandals.
“And they resigned over certain things which they admitted. They were not charged with any criminal offence,” Gonsalves said.
“He said he fired persons? Where he fired them?” the prime minister further said in response to comments Sir James made on Boom FM on June 8.
“Look, Sir James, don’t get me –. Look, I respect you. You held this office which I now hold. You held it for 16 years. But don’t trespass in areas, please. Don’t try and rewrite history.
“And I was involved in those issues with my friend PR and my friend Carlyle and I know what are the facts and you know them too.”
Gonsalves, however, agreed with Sir James when he said that Morgan – who is also deputy speaker of the house of assembly — cannot step aside, as Opposition Leader Godwin has called for, because one is either a parliamentarian or not.
“In other words, what he was saying, Friday’s call for Ashelle to step aside is inane; is silly…” Gonsalves said.
“I have to be fair, as a leader of this country, and in building democratic institutions, I have to be fair to people. So anybody comes, makes an allegation against three, four, five members on the government side, they must step aside? And do what? The government doesn’t function?” Gonsalves said.
He said that even when Dougan and Campbell resigned as attorney general, they did not resign as members of parliament.
Diamond Estate resident, Cornelius John, a farmer and businessman has identified Morgan as one of three persons who came to his house uninvited on April 13, when he was shot.
On May 11, at the last meeting of Parliament, House Speaker, Rochelle Forde expelled the opposition leader from that sitting, even as Morgan was allowed to sit. Friday defied the speaker’s rulings in an attempt to get the house to force Morgan from the chamber.
All the opposition members walked out in support of their leader ahead of the passage of an EC$119 million supplementary budget in response to the explosive eruption of La Soufriere.
After leaving parliament, the opposition told the media that they would have supported the fiscal package and would have called for more for persons affected by the volcano.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Gonsalves noted that only government lawmakers were present when the bill was passed into law.
“The other fellas manufactured a walk out or a put out. However, you want to shape it,” the prime minister said.
Gonsalves continued:
“I don’t understand you want to tell me big men and a woman over on the opposition side, you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, you can’t stay and protest about something while staying and debating a matter which is of great importance…
“I am very disappointed to see Sir James joining with the chorus and in the process, Sir James trying to rewrite history. Don’t get my mouth on him this morning because I mean — and depends if I get provoked this morning, he giving you an idealised version about his government, eh? Eh? When you had European countries, including Britain, the United States, Canada, their officials asking if the then commissioner of police, they’re making allegations about him, I don’t want to say anything about him because he is dead — as to whether he running a drug enterprise from inside ah the police force. A man like that wah talk to me? Eh? …
“Sir James, don’t let me start on you, you know. But, I am — But I don’t want to – I going forward. You notice? I going forward. But that doesn’t mean that I leave my mouth inna me moma, to quote Poorsah.”
Don’t hold back Ralph, spill yo guts, then let Mitchell spill his. I am sure the same how you can speak about him, is the same he can speak about you. If you think you, your government and commissioner is innocent and pure of heart, then spill your guts and let the chip fall wherever they fall.
You talk about Mitchell administration running a drug ring? where is the cocaine drug trafficker, Trinidadian-Vincentian Gonzales??? Isn’t he missing under your administration? how many bails of cocaine went missing in the police exhibit under your administration?? what is the purpose of Cubans and Venezuelans on the island? under your administration???? why so many weapons of mass destruction on the island???? Why are criminal public servants being justified??? and the decent public servants are abused and then fired?????
Keep going, give it to him. He thinks he alone can open cans of worms. (Who else lef dem mouth inna dey moma?) Listen to his choice of words. May God help him and his members.
The rule of law does not require the opinion of the government, they require ‘due process of the law’ and therefore; persons especially within leadership roles, should refrain from making any statement; that being impartial or partial.
I am not an officer of the law; but am able to differentiate favouritisms of any comment made. The matter cannot be fair after the PM gives his opinion or suggestion based on assessed desired options on the alleged.
However, the PM insists that he has to be fair: “I have to be fair, as a leader of this country, and in building democratic institutions, I have to be fair to people”. Let me emphasize Mr. PM– ‘fair to ALL people’.
Sir James has done no different from that of the position the PM has taken since the first remarks he made on the alleged.
I am no fan of Mitchell, but as a Vincentian he has the right to speak out when he sees the government is encouraging criminal acts against Vincentians. Weren’t the guys you mentioned and Carlyle your friends Ralph?
They stepped down and so should your girl-friend Ashelle.
This is the difference between a statesman and a tin pot failed revolutionary.
Remember when the policemen almost beat a youth to death in the interview room. They were charged with a ridiculously lesser crime, found guilty, appealed, lost appeal, convictions upheld, given back their police jobs as now convicted felons, got a pay rise and promotion.
When you look at all the past anomalies, what else do you expect?
Perhaps the constitution was burnt along with all those dodgy passports, remember that episode?
These two white men have past their shelt-life, sell by date. In my view they do not represent the views of the majority of Vincentians. To quote from one of last week’s newspaper 90 percent are black. I suspect they both don’t care much about the poverty of the people in this land. They want power to take Vincentian society to pre Joshua and Cato days. Thats going back to the 1950s. When a small grouup of people had the whip hand over us Vincentians and in many cases that group of people still have the power over the majority of black Vincentians. This must change. Too many Vincentians are afraid to talk about it.
Thief never like to see thief wid long bag…
Open confession is good for the soul. Also good for the SVG people.they both know where all the bodies are buried .SVG citizens need to get rid of them both.there won’t be any love lost. Just saying
Time to put fatty on a diet. He is so affluent he is effluent, how can that possibly be on such a tiny salary?