Opposition Leader Godwin Friday has welcomed the announcement of Thursday, Nov. 27, as the date for the general election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, saying that the following day is Friday in more ways than one.
Friday addressed a campaign event of his New Democratic Party (NDP) in Calliaqua Tuesday night, immediately after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the date at the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) “Labour Strong Rally” in Kingstown.
Gonsalves also announced that the Parliament, which was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, was dissolved with immediate effect, and nomination day is Nov. 10.
“East St. George, the party now start!” Friday told party supporters at the NDP rally.
“The work continues, because we ain’t done until Election Day, and election is what? November 27 and after the 27th is what? After the 27th is Friday,” he said.
“Well, it’s Friday in more ways than one. What a wonderful night. This is a wonderful time,” Friday said.
Political observers have long speculated that Gonsalves would hold the election on a Thursday.
In doing so, if he wins, he will be sworn in on a Friday to an unprecedented sixth consecutive five-year term in office.
However, if he loses the vote, it means that the opposition leader will be sworn in on a Friday, which is also his surname.
Gonsalves did not deliver a detailed address before announcing the date as he had done on previous occasions.
He addressed the crowd dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie as he announced the election date.
After making the announcement, he said that he was ready to rumble and that he would return later in his red, indicating that the speech would be made as political leader of the ULP.
Meanwhile, Friday, who will be making his second bid to become prime minister after his first attempt failed in 2020, noted the long wait between polls.
“We have come, finally, to this moment when the people of this country will once again have the opportunity, the sacred obligation, to make a choice as to the future of our country. This is indeed a wonderful day, and we have waited for a long time,” he said.
“The weeping may endure for a night, but the joy comes in the morning, and in particular, it comes on a Friday morning, when we will have a new government in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Friday, who has been representing the Northern Grenadines since 2001.
He noted that on Nov. 27, voters will make a mark that will decide the future of the country.
“In this election, we face a simple choice. Do you want five more years of what we have seen, a tired and out-of-touch government who believes that they are entitled to rule over us as though they are the new colonial masters? We turn our back on that sort of government.”
He noted that the election date was announced one day after SVG celebrated its 46th anniversary of independence from Britain.
“On Nov. 27, we must make a choice to deepen that independence, and that choice comes from replacing a government,” he said, noting that the NDP has identified four pillars –tourism, agriculture, the blue economy and the new economy – of the economy to take the country forward.
“… because we cannot, as a country, go forward just by begging and borrowing,” Friday said, adding, “We have to build and produce as we have done in the past, and we want to do it because we know it will make life better for us.
“So, for farmers and fishers, you are an essential part of the economic development of the country under the New Democratic Party. I want you to succeed, because when you do so, I succeed, the country succeeds.”
Friday said an NDP administration will encourage investment in tourism, domestic investment, and foreign direct investment, “so we could jump start the economy and move forward, and faster.
“You can’t have a country where you say you deliver one major hotel institution in 25 years, and you’re bragging as though you are some genius.
“The other countries in the region are leaving us behind. That is why so many of our sons and daughters are leaving our shores to go to those places. We want them to stay here, to use their talent and their intellect, the training that we have given to them in our educational institution, to build this country up, to feel proud about St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That is what we intend to create.”
The Comrade says where are going for six in a row. He wants to be a six star general as Paul Biya in Cameroon who will be 100bat the end of his term.
Why is Ralph naming my BIRTHDATE (November 27th) as the Election Day in my homeland? I hope he encourages his candidates to visit every house in their constituencies and speak to the people.
Find out what’s hurting the people and don’t tell them you know of their problems. Dr. Friday is making a big mistake when he put TOURISM at the top of his list. Agriculture has more people involved in the economy and can the GEN –Z population more involved with equipments they can use to cultivate the proper food-stuff to export. Not many in this group can purchase a vehicle to move tourists’ around the island. And tourists are not on the island daily to seek their service.
Farmers don’t plant the banana as before because I was told the wind destroys the plant, more easily that plantain, figs and others in that group.
For the fisher folks there should be a ban of Tri-tri for 3 years to see if the seine boats can find fish to catch. I spend months in Layou with little or no fish after the Tri-tri season. Fish enter the river to lay their eggs and these eggs hatch and return to the sea to attract bigger fish that comes closer to shore to feed on them. You don’t have to take my word, just talk to the fishermen and they would tell you the same issue I am raising about the fishing industry.
Yes, catching tri-tri needs to be criminalized because of its destructive environmental effects.
Friday, November 28 will surely be cry-day for Friday and his bunch of second rate colleagues as the mighty Comrade extends his reign for another five years.