SIR JOHN: HEADS SHOULD STAY OUT OF OTHER COUNTRIES’ ELECTIONS

PLATFORM TALK

Ground rules need to be put in place to govern the behaviour of Heads of State as regards elections in other countries.

This is the view of St. Lucian Prime Minister, Sir John Compton, which he shared with SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week during the recently concluded 18th Inter-Sessional meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM.{{more}}

Last Monday, at the opening of the conference at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Chairman of CARICOM, made a point of hugging Sir John when he arrived at the meeting hall. Then at the beginning of his speech, Dr. Gonsalves “embraced most specially” Sir John, “to break bread and give us of his wisdom in the true spirit of our Caribbean Community.”

“I heard them, I noticed,” said Sir John, referring to the smiles and giggles by those present who obviously knew of the widely published comments made by Dr Gonsalves during the St Lucian elections.

“That’s why I say to keep out of local elections so that when we come together we could concentrate on CARICOM issues and not need to smooth over anything,” Sir John said.

Sir John said that although he disagreed with Dr Gonsalves’ actions during the St. Lucian elections, he has taken it all in good stride. He said that they hadn’t yet sat down and spoken about it, but says that he has dismissed it as platform talk and is ready to deal with CARICOM matters.

“I can’t be bothered with what Ralph had to say about me, he and I have to work together to build these two small nations, but if he had stayed out we wouldn’t be in this position,” Sir John stated.

As for his own rivals in St Lucia, Sir John said that the country was too small for vindictiveness on any one’s part. “I am not out for revenge,” he said. Some regional commentators had been critical of Dr Gonsalves when he referred to the veteran Sir John as “yesterday’s man”.