Central Kingstown MP, St. Clair Leacock says that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has insulted the Vincentians’ intelligence by suggesting that they elect his US-born son, Camillo Gonsalves as the next prime minister and reject Opposition Leader Godwin Friday, who was born in Bequia.
“You, in East St. George, have a serious responsibility,” Leacock said in Diamond on Saturday, where the New Democratic Party (NDP), of which he is a vice-president, held a village meeting hosted by the party’s East St. George and South Windward candidates.
“Ralph has already insulted your intelligence. He said Friday is from Bequia and you must not put him in a position to be prime minister of this country. But put Camillo who was born in America to be prime minister over you. Lord, have mercy,” Leacock said.
“He sick not just in your head but all over,” the opposition lawmaker further said, responding to a comment from a member of the audience.
“And Laverne’s job is to ensure that will never happen. That will not happen,” he said, referring to Laverne Gibson-Velox, who will make a second bid to unseat the younger Gonsalves, who is expected to seek a third five-year term in office as MP for East St. George.
“And I’m saying that it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that St. Vincent is for Vincentians,” Leacock said, adding, “You interpret that how you want to.”
Recently, the prime minister has been taking issue with Friday’s Canadian citizenship, which he attained as an adult while living in the north American country, where he studied.
Gonsalves said that Friday’s dual citizenship makes him unfit to be prime minister, noting that a similar case was being made out against the opposition leader in Jamaica, who was born there but inherited British citizenship from his parents.
The Vincentian leader is making his case against Friday although Canada is a Commonwealth country and Commonwealth nationals can contest or vote in elections in SVG, if they live in the country for the requisite periods of time, even if they don’t have Vincentian citizenship..
Gonsalves has said that Camillo, who is also finance minister, did not have to relinquish his US citizenship, but chose to do so before contesting the general elections in 2015.
In addressing Friday at the meeting on Saturday, Leacock referred to him as “Dr. Godwin ‘Man From Bequia’ …” in apparent mockery of Gonsalves.
Well I can understand the PM’s frustration about the erection of that so called insulting billboard at Gibson corner that was like a kick in his jawbone.Getting kicked in the jawbone by a jackass is no cakewalk, he should go to Barbados and have his jawbone realign.
I really believe that the NDP could push the issue of Camilla as a born US citizen, who only came back to Vincy because his father is the pm and highlight this leader’s hypocrisy. Don’t think Camillo had any intentions of returning to SVG. Highlight it for what it’s worth NDP..this hypocrisy and double standard by this pm needs to stop.
Knows how to work on the minds of the poor people. he knows how foolish they are that’s why he is continually doing so.
If Honourable Godwin Friday was born in Canada , then would it have been a bigger talks for the hypocrites?