Opposition MP St. Clair Leacock has told Spiritual Baptists in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that the New Democratic Party (NDP) will not try to “obtain leverage” from them.
He made the pledge as he brought greetings at a Spiritual Baptist service at Victoria Park to mark the inaugural Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day national holiday in SVG.
Speaking on behalf of NDP President and Opposition Leader Godwin Friday Leacock acknowledged Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ contribution to making the day “an historic one” adding, “and we recognize that at the same time that we are reminded that the things that unite us as a nation are now far greater, and always will be greater than that which divides us”.
In this regard, he acknowledged “the maturity” of the Parliament in uniting to pass with bipartisan support the law declaring May 21 a national holiday in recognition of the struggle of Spiritual Baptists for religious freedom in SVG.
He said it was a “recognition that a great people who can be found in the spiritual Baptist movement, but a symbol of the resilience, unity, strength and self-belief of us as a predominantly black people”.
Leacock noted that he was speaking on behalf of Friday, “whose heart is here, but physical body is absent.
“He is, in fact, elsewhere, doing official duties, but he, too, is immersed in the significance of today’s occasion.”
Addressing the politics of the occasion, Leacock, an NDP vice president, said:
“Let no one fool us. The Spiritual Baptist movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines sees no colour. You are equally divided across all of the political spectrum, and we do ourselves a great good when we diminish the politics and accentuate your spirituality.”
Leacock, a former commandant of the SVG Cadet Force who holds the rank of major, said he was speaking with authority on this matter, adding that he, more than anyone else in the Parliament of SVG, has been on parade at the said park, celebrating one occasion or another.
“And today I say this is the parade and the gathering of gatherings, and the most significant one ever to present itself on these grounds in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.
“I bring the assurance of our political party that at all times we will build on the rich legacy and history of your movement.”
He said there have always been Vincentians in the vanguard from the privileged position to represent the cause of the Spiritual Baptists.
The NDP vice president recognised the role of former prime minister Robert Milton Cato, who as a lawyer, had represented Spiritual Baptists in a landmark case in the 1950s.
He spoke of former representative of Central Kingstown under the NDP, the late Parnell Campbell, a former attorney general.
Leacock said Campbell — who was a Spiritual Baptist — has “perhaps in modern times done more for the spiritual Baptist movement than anyone in St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.
The MP said his mother was a Spiritual Baptist and, noting that his grandmother was from Trinidad and Tobago, welcomedthe Trinidadian delegation at the service.
“All that is left for me to do in the name of my distinguished leader is to let you know that no time would you ever see, feel or experience our political party trying to obtain leverage of you, the spiritual Baptist in St Vincent, the Grenadines.
“Indeed, at this time in our history, we need you more than ever to unify our St. Vincent and the Grenadines, because all around us, there are the circumstances that require social, spiritual and redemption of our people, and you are consistently and magnificently pointing us the other way and reminding us that in Christ there’s a saviour, and that after all, and at the end of the day, this challenge that you champion, it’s not too difficult a one.
“All it simply requires is that as we go on our knees in the morning and evening, we remain faithful to the call; just be our brother’s keeper.”
Leacock’s comments were probably a nod to the NDP’s Social and Spiritual Redemption Charter that it proposed over two decades ago as part of its maxim of creating a kinder and gentler society.
Among other things, the charter called for funding of youth groups and other initiatives to turn young people from crime, but was repeatedly rejected by Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party government, which has been in office since March 2001.
The Churchgoing public also vote. It might be an idea to solicit those people too. Ralph Gonsalves is not above lying to appease people from all walks of life, even the churchgoers. I do hope this time people show Gonsalves they know his tricks and not allow him to continue on his illegal dictatorship.