Unity Labour Party holds final National Council meeting before General Elections

With ONLY A FEW months to go before general elections are to be held, the National Council of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) this week held the last council meeting of the party’s third term in office.

As political leader of the Party and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves pulled up outside the Russell’s Auditorium at Stoney Ground, where the meeting took place on Wednesday,{{more}} he stated openly “Last one before the General boy,” as he was greeted by party supporters and members of his Cabinet.

At Wednesday’s meeting, which was declared an “internal affair” by party general secretary Julian Francis, members of the media were not allowed inside.

However card carrying members of the ULP joined present and aspiring constituency representatives in a show of force, at the meeting during which the associates from the various constituencies conducted business.

Party Chairman and Southern Grenadines hopeful Edwin Snagg told SEARCHLIGHT that during the meeting, members were expected to select a date for the party’s next convention.

When asked about the selection of candidates for the remaining seven constituencies for which no candidate has been named, Snagg pointed out that this would be done at a separate forum under a different process.

To date, no candidate has been named to represent the party in the upcoming general elections in the constituencies of East Kingstown, Central Kingstown, West Kingstown, Central Leeward, the Northern Grenadines, the Southern Grenadines and Marriaqua.

Snagg said that during the National Council meeting, the key items on the agenda are the roll call of constituencies, short addresses by key party members, and the open forum, during which members would air their concerns, grievances, or offer words of congratulations to the party leadership or to each other. The open forum is usually followed by an address by the political leader of the party, Ralph Gonsalves.

General elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines are constitutionally due by December this year, with provision in the constitution for a further 90 days before Vincentians must to go the polls.