Opposition spokesperson on National Security, St. Clair Leacock, says that the New Democratic Party (NDP) will not allow the type of political unrest that forced an early election in 2001 to prevent the party from returning to office if elected in the Nov. 27 general election.
“There are some people who want to butter their bread on both sides. Twenty-four years ago, you wanted to cut short the government of the New Democratic Party. Twenty-four years after, you want to bring your warriors on the streets to prevent the legitimate government of the New Democratic Party that will be ushered into office.
“I repeat tonight and do so solemnly. Once you do your part, you have nothing to worry about. You win in your constituencies, you give us eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 seats. You swear in your attorney general, you swear in your prime minister, you’re swearing your Minister of National Security and the rest, better keep they arse quiet,” Leacock told the NDP Rally in North Union on Saturday.
He was speaking in apparent response to a call by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves for “Labour warriors” to take to the streets on election night as the votes are being counted.
Gonsalves said that the NDP are “sore losers” and the “warrior of Labour” must be ready to prevent any unrest.
However, Leacock said that once the NDP wins the general election, the country “has no fear.
“Under a New Democratic Party, once we win, we will rule in the interest of the people of Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Leacock, who is seeking a fourth five-year term as MP for Central Kingstown.
“You ask us, and are asking me to address the question of crime and violence in St. Vincent. Let me remind you tonight, there is a crime called sedition … and once the New Democratic Party is duly declared the winner of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there’s a place for those who are seditious,” he said.
“And this New Democratic Party will stand firm, stand resolute, because we understand that the family is the basic unit of our society. We understand the individuals are the basic units of our society, and your New Democratic Party has promised you and is delivering to you at the individual level a better life in St. Vincent Grenadines.”
He said the country cannot have “a government that is a bandit doing what they like.
“Already, they have gone too far. There are absolutely too many things in our beloved land that do not pass muster for constitutionalism. This election is the most serious in the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
He said people should go to the polls and ensure that democracy will reign.
“It’s an election that assures you that none of us, absolutely none of us, will be on anybody’s plantation. It’s an election that we in the New Democratic Party have an obligation to deliver to generations unborn, a better life and a better experience than they have had over the last so many years.
“I want, as your shadow minister, soon to be minister of national security, to swear to you solemnly this, our blessed land can be, will be, and must be a better place for all Vincentians. We will be the United States of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” Leacock said.
“We will be a St. Vincent for equal opportunity and peace will reign in this country. Tonight, I close, I close on the solemn oath, whate’er the future brings, whate’er the future brings, our faith, our faith, our faith will see through,” Leacock said, quoting the national anthem.
“We are marching to Zion and victory is assured under this Democratic Party for every boy, woman and girl and we are saying thank you, Jesus, as you deliver us to the Promised Land.”
The Unity Labour Party is vying for an unprecedented sixth five-year term in office, while the NDP is hoping to return to office after 25 years in opposition.
The “Promised Land” for the NDP, a party eager to sell our citizenship to the highest bidders, regardless of where they come from and regardless of their motives, is five more years rotting in Satan’s Hell.
C.Ben-David David of Layou St Vincent, why are you afraid of an NDP victory? Is the development of SVG according to the NDP manifesto based only on the Citizenship by investment program? What you are trying to do is to drive fearing the wider Vincentians populace.
Let me ask you a question, when did you convert to judasim? Did your spouse a former banker converted also?; if not why not?
In a context of severe youth unemployment and underemployment, the ULP’s negative rhetoric on the citizenship by investment program is puzzling. It is legitimate to ask what tangible benefits these talking points provide for the ordinary citizen, whose primary concerns are economic opportunity and stability.