Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
September 15, 2006

Isn’t expression of opinion their right?

15.SEP.06

EDITOR: Now, for the first time, de Comrade is beginning to worry me. In a press conference the other day, he carried out a tirade against “A supermarket” that (supposedly) supported not the ULP. Eh? So what? Isn’t that their right? Isn’t that how the system works in a democracy? Free choice and all.

Then he carried on about how they (supposedly) gave financial help to not the ULP. As much as he might hate it, it is legal and their right. And the ULP would know that only too well!{{more}}

Then there was the matter of a personal opinion, expressed privately, via email, by a “daughter” of the supermarket family. Somehow, that email ended up on his desk. Isn’t expression of opinion their right? Isn’t that how the system works in a democracy? Freedom of expression and all.

If de Comrade thinks that I am going to get my knickers in a twist over someone’s private opinion, then he wrong. But I’ll get them in a twist, good and proper at that, when our personal and private mail end up on his desk.

He told us that the person that the email was sent gave it to the government. I find that hard to swallow. If that is so, it would mean that he betrayed his source and exposed a mole. Why would he go out of his way to bite the hand that feeds him? Who would want to give information to a person who would do that to you? No, de Comrade would not shoot himself in the foot. So the question remains; how did the peeping Tom Government get the email? Are we being wiretapped? Is it only one email one time? Now we boast, in public and over the radio, about intercepting private mail. Is that what we have come to? Must we close the curtains and turn down the lights? Is the ULP Big Brother?

The whole episode boggles my mind. The picture is as clear as it is simple. This is what we have: de Comrade is haranguing the supermarket group for supporting a political party of their choice. It was an outburst against the democratic process. He goes on to criticize one of the daughters who had the audacity to express an opinion. (In spite of it being expressed privately; behind closed doors.) Another strike against the democratic process. He not only tells us that he has a copy of the email but tells us the gist of what is in it. He tells us that what the daughter is saying is tantamount to what is going on there and then; that there are times when the government does not want to follow the democratic process! De Comrade has made the daughter’s observation as right as rain. Man yes, the whole thing boggles my mind. A few years ago, Ralph would not have walked into that trap – a trap of his own making too boot – and I wonder if he is losing it.

PATRICK G FERRARI

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Preliminary Statement from CEOM to the 2025 General Elections in SVG
    News
    Preliminary Statement from CEOM to the 2025 General Elections in SVG
    Forrest 
    December 1, 2025
    In response to an invitation extended by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mounted a ten-member CARI...
    NDP romps home 14-1
    Front Page
    NDP romps home 14-1
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    THE PEOPLE SPOKE emphatically in Thursday’s general elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)propelling the New Democratic Party (NDP) into the...
    ULP’s ‘Come Home Rally’ attracts thousands
    Front Page
    ULP’s ‘Come Home Rally’ attracts thousands
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    A MAMMOTH CROWD thronged the Arnos Vale 2 Playing Field for the ‘Come Home Labour Family’ rally of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) as it closed out the 2...
    Political Parties close out elections campaign with big entertainers
    Front Page
    Political Parties close out elections campaign with big entertainers
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    “THE WIND OF change is blowing throughout this land,” declared Dr Godwin Friday, leader of the New Democratic Party. He was speaking at the party’s cl...
    NMCM: main polling day complaint, long lines
    Front Page
    NMCM: main polling day complaint, long lines
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    VOLUNTEERS UNDER THE auspices of the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism (NMCM), who have been monitoring the general elections campaign, h...
    Jamaica’s Andrew Holness Congratulates Dr. Friday
    Press Release
    Jamaica’s Andrew Holness Congratulates Dr. Friday
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    EVEN BEFORE his swearing in as prime minister, regional leaders have been sending messages of congratulations to Dr Godwin Friday on the victory of hi...
    News
    Preliminary Statement from CEOM to the 2025 General Elections in SVG
    News
    Preliminary Statement from CEOM to the 2025 General Elections in SVG
    Forrest 
    December 1, 2025
    In response to an invitation extended by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mounted a ten-member CARI...
    Regional leaders send congratulations to Dr. Friday
    News
    Regional leaders send congratulations to Dr. Friday
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO’S Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bessesar, was also among regional leaders to send early congratulations to Dr. Godwin Friday. “Tonig...
    Online educator drops in on students at St Vincent Grammar School
    News
    Online educator drops in on students at St Vincent Grammar School
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    BY GRACE FRANCIS WITH A VIEW to setting foot in every country in the Caribbean, online educator, Kerwin Springer, of Trinidad and Tobago paid a visit ...
    Party leaders travelled north on Thursday
    News
    Party leaders travelled north on Thursday
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    LEADER OFTHE Unity Labour Party (ULP), Dr Ralph Gonsavles, and leader of the New democratic Party (NDP), Dr Godwin Friday both went to constituencies ...
    Sir Calvert Jones recognized by the OAS
    News
    Sir Calvert Jones recognized by the OAS
    Webmaster 
    November 28, 2025
    A PRESENTATION BY Vincentian artist, Sir Calvert Jones at the 10th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities ...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok