PM plans to keep NDP in Opposition

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said publicly on Sunday he is putting everything in place to guarantee he does not spend any of the remainder of his life under a New Democratic Party (NDP) administration.

And he said his only remaining ambition “is not to have them hypocrites dance” on his grave.

“I want the crowning of me with roses to be done by the ULP stalwarts, not by those damn hypocrites,” said the Prime Minister. {{more}}

Prior to the delivery of the feature address at the 12th National Convention of the Unity Labour Party, the Prime Minister became emotional and tears flowed from his eyes as two of the late Sister Patricia-Ann Douglas’ former students sang a song dedicated to her memory.

The Prime Minister then announced that one of the national scholarships to be awarded in 2006 will

be the Sis Patricia-Ann Douglas Scholarship. This scholarship would be tenable at the University of the West Indies.

In a speech that spanned three hours, Dr. Gonsalves encouraged the ULP delegates to love and not hate.

“Don’t let anybody feel they have power over you that you will hate them, but be on your p’s and q’s,” said Dr. Gonsalves.

He warned his supporters not to listen to messages aired by the New Democratic Party.

“We fight too hard for this thing and we holding it within the framework of the law of SVG,” Dr. Gonsalves noted. He promised the party that a glorious future is ahead of them.

His speech encompassed issues such as LIAT, the Non-alignment Movement, the Cross Country Road, the International Airport, the Education Revolution, the Youth Empowerment Service as well as his role in the latest regional flour negotiations.

And on the issue of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) he appealed to supporters to get themselves ready not only for the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) aspect but for the single economy.

He said Vincentians stand to benefit by selling their labour to other countries in the Caribbean.

The Prime Minister also addressed the issue of Haiti. He said St. Vincent and the Grenadines now stands ready to provide all the necessary assistance to a duly elected President. “That’s why we stand to welcome Preval in July in the Councils,” Dr. Gonsalves noted.

Following the convention’s opening ceremony, former Senator Edwin Snagg was elected as the new Chairman of the ULP, replacing Robert Fitzpatrick.