As another election approaches, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has, again, told supporters of his Unity Labour Party (ULP) to shelve their discontent until after the polls.
Gonsalves is leading the ULP as it seeks a sixth consecutive term in office in general elections widely expected by November, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
“I know that a number of Labour supporters … you have a little grievance,” Gonsalves said in Fitz Hughes on Thursday at a ceremony to mark the extension of the Fitz Hughes Primary School and the Chateaubelair Early Childhood Centre.
“Your neighbour’s house get fixed before your own and you vex,” Gonsalves said, as he outlined why some ULP supporters might be aggrieved.
“Carlos did tell you, yes, he was going see if he could get you a work by the hospital, and it ain’t quite work out in time yet,” he said, referring to North Leeward MP, Carlos James.
“Let me say this to you, the government, which has been creating jobs and creating wealth and reducing poverty and indigence and building houses, is the Unity Labour Party.
“So, you want your house build and you ain’t getting it before the election, campaign hard for Labour, because it is the only party which will build the house for you,” the prime minister said.
“And I want to say one thing before I sit down,” Gonsalves said at the end of his speech that went on for more than 45 minutes.
“Between now and when the elections are called, I don’t want to hear one Labour man or one Labour woman grumble,” he said.
“We will grumble after we win. You hear what I’m telling you? We will grumble after we win. But between now and then, no grumbling; no complaint.”
At the candidate selection for South Windward held in Biabou on July 19, Gonsalves announced that there would be no voting as he had asked the contenders to stand down and support Rodan John, who was endorsed as the candidate.
In Fitz Hughes on Thursday, Gonsalves also suggested that the party was in a mode where it would not countenance public expression of dissatisfaction among its ranks.
“We in the Labour family, we are now in a mood in the bed chamber. We are there, we’re dealing with our business, and once Labour people come out come vote, you conquer. Register and vote; come out and vote. Labour is working for all,” the prime minister said.
He also urged opposition supporters to support the ULP at the polls.
“And I want those who are NDP (New Democratic Party), join the family of love. Join the family of love — in my father’s house, there are many mansions,” he said, echoing the words of Jesus Christ.
“You hear me? Join the family of love. And don’t sit down. Tegister and vote,” he said, adding, “This is a day of celebration in Fitz Hughes.”
In August 2020, two months before Vincentians went to the polls, Gonsalves used his speech at the ULP national council to urge party supporters to forget about their grumbles and prepare to vote.
“This is a family; we may have our grumbles and our frustrations. But when you’re on your marks, you leave the frustration and the grumbles. We stay together because we have done much. And we have many, many more rivers to cross in the interest of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to lift our country higher.”
At that event, Gonsalves had told party supporters, for a second consecutive election, that those polls were the last as party leader.
The 2025 vote would be the third election since he announced the ULP’s last outing at the polls with him at the helm.
Little grievance?????
Ralph is more delusional than I thought!
That’s bs
The first servant to the people, once again wants the citizens of this great nation to put aside the greviances they have with the said government of the day, his party, and vote for them again?
I would simply say, if citizens of this great nation vote for a 6th time to put the ULP back into the Office of the government, they deserve whatever comes their way.
The vaccine mandate, put long service citizens out of a job and could not meet their monthly obligations. The courts ruled against them. Governments general do not appeal cases, as it is tax payers dollars being used to beat taxpayers, but this government did. With the excuse in the event another pandemic happens.
Grumble first then vote dem out after!
De most painful thing in all ah this is , if the labour party man did not take the bait and join up wid aryo , aryo would ah never never get the opportunity to treat we like dirty dogs and voting pigs. we would have been a happier properous people. It’s all in God timing.
As usual, vote first and grumble after. That is why he the longest Serving Prime Minister in the Commwealth.