“…that whole presentation was directed against the corruption of the ULP, not against the supporters of the Unity Labour Party. I never directed any of those comments to the Unity Labour Party supporters,â Ferdinand said, while addressing a meeting of the NDP at Chateaubelair last Saturday.
Ferdinandâs remarks were in response to a âletter to the editorâ published by SEARCHLIGHT on September 25, in which Dr Richard A Byron-Cox describes Ferdinandâs actions on September 19 as “dangerously provocative and may incite violence. For me, it was indeed a symbol of violence, expletives and deadly hate towards his political opponents.â
Byron-Cox added that he was not surprised by Ferdinandâs actions.
“… Indeed I expect Jules to do much worse as the elections get closer â¦Jules is SVGâs most cunningly dangerous politician….â
However, the NDP candidate for West St George, in his own defence, said he had been told by a supporter of the ULP that he will not be voting because he (Ferdinand) is a good man and he cannot vote against him.
“… so I donât know where Dr Richard A Byron Cox is getting his information from,â the NDP hopeful stated passionately.
Byron-Cox, in the letter, also attacked Ferdinandâs weekly articles in another local newspaper, stating that “weekly, Jules presents himself … as a paragon of virtue. He is always preaching to us about morality and the like.â
Ferdinand said on the contrary, his articles motivate, build people up and uplift people.
“…there are times when I admit my mistakes, my shortcomings and I will say we need to do better and very often after I say âweâ, I put in brackets you and I, so how could he in all good conscience say that I am talking down to people?â
Ferdinand nonetheless said he is not deterred by Byron-Coxâs comments and is now even more firm in his belief that he is running for the right party.
“Those of us who are here making themselves available to be candidates, making it known to you that we are ready to represent you to the best of our ability â¦we know that this task may not be easy. It is not for the weak, it not for the faint of heart, it is not for the fearful and so as we go forward, we are fearless; so let them say what they wantâ¦and we will do it under the leadership of the Honorable Arnhim Eustace,â Ferdinand firmly stated. (CM)