PM blasts ULP ‘renegades, traitors and castaways’

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has spoken of “renegades, traitors and castaways” as preparations are on-going for general elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

In readiness for the upcoming elections, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has been overhauling its slate of candidates and recently named candidates for the constituencies of Central Leeward and North Leeward.

Speaking on NBC radio on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Gonsalves spoke widely about the NDP and some of its policies.

Criticizing the party for it’s Citizenship by Investment policy, and it’s stated plan to switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan to mainland China, Gonsalves said “any person who enters that miasma of backwardness would sink.”

Apart from opportunists and self seekers, the prime minister alluded to “renegades, traitors and castaways who could not accommodate themselves to the principles and policies” of the governing Unity Labour Party.

“If there is any renegade, traitor or castaway…have them,” Gonsalves stressed, while suggesting that more and more people are gravitating towards the Unity Labour Party.

With respect to the new NDP’s North Leeward candidate, Kishore Shallow, Gonsalves said he would speak more on that at another time.

He also suggested that the newly named opposition candidate chose that party so that his star could shine brighter.

General Elections are constitutionally due in St Vincent and the Grenadines by February 2026, but the Prime Minister can call the date at any time before that.

Gonsalves heavily chastised Opposition Leader, Godwin Friday for his recent trip to Canada.

“In the height of our recovery, Friday took himself off and went away for three weeks.”

He said the NDP Leader “ has no leg, on which he can talk to anybody in the country about leadership.”