In the face of history

21.DEC.10

Editor: I feel elated that the ULP has retained power in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and that Ralph Gonsalves continues to serve as Prime Minister.{{more}}

However, their folly, which cost them the North Leeward seat, has placed them in a spot which has proven to be very difficult. One seat majorities have never worked in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In 1966, when there were just nine constituencies, the peoples political party (PPP) defeated the St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) 5 seats to 4, but Sam Slater “crossed the floor” one year later, and brought down the government, resulting in an election in 1967, which the Labour Party won 6 seats to 3.

In 1972, the SVLP and the PPP were tied 6 seats apiece, with James Mitchell who ran and won independently in the Grenadines siding with PPP to form the Alliance Government. That collapsed in 1974.

In 1998, the New Democractic Party(NDP) held a one seat majority over the Unity Labour Party (ULP) 8 seats to 7,that lasted just over two years.

I hope that Dr. Gonsalves can keep his team together and change this trend in our history.

I cannot conclude without lamenting the loss of the North Leeward constituency to the NDP.

Jerrol Thompson is a fine guy who has done some good, but the electorate sent a strong signal in 2005 when he could just squeeze out a 20 vote win.

What does the leadership of the ULP see that the rest of us did not? Clearly, this is a foolish act of surrender.

Kenneth Wyllie (USA)