PM vows to defend his territory

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be an inhospitable territory for Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL), the political consultants working alongside the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), says Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

At a press conference held last Wednesday afternoon, Gonsalves disclosed that his administration will deal with representatives of the organization within the framework of the law.

He said Vincentians, including students, cannot work in the United Kingdom without a work permit.

“Why should I allow Strategic Communications Laboratories to come to St.Vincent and the Grenadines? They coming as tourists and work. This is not a banana republic,” said Gonsalves.

He noted that work permit applications made on the behalf of the consultants will come to him as the minister who deals with such issues.

“I will decide in a very dispassionate way whether or not to grant those work permits. There are conditions laid down in the law,” said Gonsalves.

On the other hand, he said, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) consultants are from the Caribbean and hold skilled national certificates or they are media personnel who don’t require work permits.

“We shall deal with them within the framework of the law,” said Gonsalves.

“They are coming to fight me on my territory, my terrain and I am not going to allow white colonialists to come to St.Vincent and the Grenadines and seek to subvert the harmony in this country in the interest of their financiers. I will not allow it,” said Gonsalves.

Gonsalves said what he has gone through in his life, no one in SCL can go through it.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves said a scientific poll was conducted in St.Vincent and the Grenadines recently which showed that his numbers are better than those of both Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and that of the NDP’s founder Sir James Mitchell.

“My numbers are not being shaken.”