NDP pledges to fix ecomony

Heeding the call of their political leaders, supporters of the New Democratic Party (NDP) came out in their numbers over the weekend, for the first of what the party says will be many marches and rallies.

Supporters converged at the Sion Hill intersection on Saturday evening, in the East Kingstown constituency, a stronghold of the party, {{more}}to hear party members, most of them candidates for the upcoming general elections, outline the party’s plan for the country, should they win at the polls.

A confident and energetic Eustace, in whose constituency the meeting was held, pledged that should the NDP be returned to government, his government would turn the economy around from what he described as the “terrible state” it is in, under Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The Opposition Leader read out a list of businesses that had closed or downsized since the Ralph Gonsalves-led Unity Labour Party took office in 2001.

“We want our businesses to again thrive so, we could get back jobs for the young, and many of the older people in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“And that is why we have to get rid of him. So, Ralph boy, yo gone!

“Because I believe the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines with proper government, can do much better.”

Eustace’s call for a change of government and his promises of a better future under his party were echoed by the various speakers who took the podium. Those offering themselves as candidates in the elections due in less than a year provided the crowd with some of their plans for the country, should they form the next government.

Echoing their leader’s plea to be given the opportunity to form a new administration were parliamentarians Dr Godwin Friday, representing the Northern Grenadines; Senator Dr Linton Lewis, candidate for East St George; North Leeward’s Patel Matthews; Nigel Stephenson from South Leeward and Major St Clair Leacock of Central Kingstown. Noticeably absent was West Kingstown’s Daniel Cummings, while representative for Southern Grenadines Terrence Ollivierre, opted to perform a song, his contribution to Vincy Mas 2015.

Those hopeful of entering Parliament on an NDP ticket also made appeals to the masses. Lauren “Shearer” Baptiste, the North Windward candidate, was joined by Kenroy Johnson of North Central Windward constituency, Addison Thomas of South Central Windward, Curtis Bowman of Marriaqua, and Noel Dickson of South Windward.

A recording from Dr Jules Ferdinand, the candidate for West St George, who was also absent from the proceedings, was played to supporters.

Saturday’s rally was preceded by a march from the party headquarters in Richmond Hill.

The event is the first since the NDP’s meeting in Clare Valley last November, when a motor vehicle plowed into the crowd, killing Edgar Cruickshank, and injuring others.