Eustace says NDP is now in charge

After months of posturing by political leaders and guessing games by their party faithful, Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace created history on Saturday night when he attempted to pre-empt what is the Prime Minister’s prerogative, the ‘ringing of the election bell’.{{more}}

Eustace, President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), at the Sion Hill intersection, where a throng of New Democratic Party (NDP) supporters had gathered on the eve of a special Unity Labour Party (ULP) rally at Calliaqua, declared: “I will tell you when the bell will ring because NDP is now in charge. The NDP is now in charge. I will tell you when the bell will ring.

“On Monday morning, day after tomorrow, the Parliament of St.Vincent and the Grenadines will be dissolved and the day that you will go to the polls is December 15, 2010. NDP is in charge,” said Eustace to the crowd that went wild with frenzy.

Eustace further stated that if the date is changed, it was done so by Gonsalves on Saturday night. He sent a warning to the Prime Minister that he will know whenever he selects a new date.

The Political Leader of the NDP chanted that his party is back and will remove the ULP from office in the next General Elections.

The Opposition Leader spoke of the self-control he had exerted over the past nine years that the NDP spent out of office, after being in government for 17 years. He said during that time, he took a lot of “licks” as he was criticized as being soft; some of the criticism he said, came from his own people.

Eustace stated that there are those who felt that nine years in Opposition was too long, but had he taken the Government two years after the ULP took office in 2001, “This country would have been in flames.”

Eustace expressed that he was not prepared to take responsibility for any violence in this country, which could have resulted in the loss of life.

He said, like his critics, sometimes he wants to react violently, but “ah say Eustace cool it, cool it.”

The NDP Leader said the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, today, recognize that they are in a situation where the New Democratic Party will form the next Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Throughout his speech, the Opposition Leader addressed other topical issues such as the privatization of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), Hurricane Tomas and what he calls “damage to the human spirit”. He accused the ULP administration of repairing only the homes of persons who support them. Eustace also addressed the subject of unemployment, payment of students’ examination fee, a sum of US$1 million allegedly deposited at the National Commercial Bank, alleged financial losses at the National Insurance Services (NIS) and payment to businesses of money owed by Government.

“You know when I look out at this crowd here tonight, I feel a sense of humility, I feel a sense of responsibility, because when you look at this many people who are looking forward to a change of government in this country, I know that myself and my team here have a great responsibility to you the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“And we intend to win and we intend to run a successful government, where every man, woman and child, regardless of which party you support, will be treated equally,” said Eustace, noting that he has seen what victimization has done to St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

The ULP removed the NDP from office on Wednesday, March 28, 2001, when it won 12 of the 15 seats. In the Wednesday, December 7, 2005 poll, the ULP won 12 seats again, while the NDP held on to three. The NDP had previously held the reins of Government when it won the 1984 General Elections and served for 17 years, the longest period in the history of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.