Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • From the Courts
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Prof. J Robinson – Eye of the Needle
      • 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
      • logo
      • logo
      • logo
    • About Us
      • logo
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • From the Courts
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Prof. J Robinson – Eye of the Needle
      • 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
      • logo
      • logo
      • logo
    • About Us
      • logo
      • 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
    Police investigate death of man following fire at Belvedere
    News
    Police investigate death of man following fire at Belvedere
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), said they have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death ...
    CXC launches New initiative
    News
    CXC launches New initiative
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), has officially launched its highly anticipated Caribbean Targetted Education Certificate (CTEC), following a...
    Commonwealth Small States Office helps SVG prepare for Universal Periodic Review
    Press Release
    Commonwealth Small States Office helps SVG prepare for Universal Periodic Review
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs in collaboration with the Commonwealth Small States Office hos...
    CED Business programme graduates to receive support getting their businesses started
    Press Release
    CED Business programme graduates to receive support getting their businesses started
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    Twelve entrepreneurs have completed a six-week business development programme aimed at equipping them with the knowledge, skills and resources needed ...
    Searchlight to cease publication after 31 years
    Press Release
    Searchlight to cease publication after 31 years
    Webmaster 
    August 27, 2026
    After 31 years of continuous publication, Searchlight newspaper will publish its final print edition and pause its digital editions on Friday, Septemb...
    Educator dies in freak accident
    Front Page
    Educator dies in freak accident
    Webmaster 
    August 25, 2026
    CONDOLENCES CONTINUE to be expressed online for the family of Sherefa Clouden-Gonsalves, the educator who died over the weekend after a freak accident...
    News
    Police investigate death of man following fire at Belvedere
    News
    Police investigate death of man following fire at Belvedere
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), said they have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death ...
    CXC launches New initiative
    News
    CXC launches New initiative
    Jada 
    August 27, 2026
    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), has officially launched its highly anticipated Caribbean Targetted Education Certificate (CTEC), following a...
    Virtual Heritage Expo-Week of Indigenous Peoples
    News
    Virtual Heritage Expo-Week of Indigenous Peoples
    Webmaster 
    August 25, 2026
    AS PART of the commemoration of the IX Inter-American Week of Indigenous Peoples ( August 10 to 14, 2026), the OAS General Secretariats in The Bahamas...
    Gonsalves calls again for gov’t to buy back Pignataro’ Canouan leasehold
    News
    Gonsalves calls again for gov’t to buy back Pignataro’ Canouan leasehold
    Webmaster 
    August 25, 2026
    LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION Ralph Gonsalves, has intensified his call that Italian billionaire Andrea Pignataro, is not the right fit for Canouan’s devel...
    Government may end export of live animals to Grenada
    News
    Government may end export of live animals to Grenada
    Webmaster 
    August 25, 2026
    THE GOVERNMENT is considering ending the export of live animals from St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to Grenada, with Agriculture Minister Israel ...

    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