Gonsalves’ open letter for help
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves
Fri, September 03, 2010 - 12:05 AM
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has sent an open letter to Caribbean people urging them to support his administration against attempts by foreign groups and individuals to “undermine” his government and the “sovereignty” of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The letter, sent to the editors of various Caribbean media organisations, claimed that over the past 11 months “foreign elements out of Britain and the United States of America have aligned themselves to the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) . . . in an insidious campaign of defamation . . .” .
Gonsalves, whose Unity Labour Party (ULP) is seeking a third consecutive term in government, said the latest campaign by two American consultants was to ask people both here and throughout the region to contribute $5 towards safeguarding democracy on the island.
“Their damning falsehood is that there is no democracy, no freedom and an absence of a guarantee of civil liberties in St Vincent and the Grenadines under the ULP government,” said the letter, which was also sent to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments.
Gonsalves said that the campaign indicated that he had aligned himself with Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez and as a result “should be removed from office”.
“They assert that they are doing what they could to give ‘the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines back the democracy they painfully miss and we feverishly cherish’.”
“What imperial, what colonial arrogance,” Gonsalves wrote, adding that it was his administration that had strengthened democracy and freedom in the country over the past few years.
“All this has been recognised by the governments of Britain and the USA, by the World Bank and by non-governmental bodies such as Freedom House Foundation and the Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy, both based in the USA.”
Gonsalves said that what was occurring in his country should not be seen merely as an opposition party hiring foreign consultants to aid in conducting an election campaign.
“This has gone much further. It involves defaming the good name of St Vincent and the Grenadines, attempting to destabilise a democratically elected government and seeking to exercise foreign control of our country, its democratic institutions and people.”
Gonsalves said he was calling on his “brothers and sisters” in the Caribbean to show solidarity with his country “and to resist those from outside our region who defame us and who seek to control us”. (CMC)
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Does Dr. Ralph Gonsalves want us to believe that it is not the constitutional right of foreign elements to question his alignment with Hugo Chavez? And why is this undermining democracy? Surely Dr. Ralph Gonsalves does not believe his actions are unquestionable? But, if he does ... that would be right in line with Chavez’ way of doing things—treating Venezuela like a fiefdom. People are watching you, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
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Comment Link@ZOEYHUTCH, What Constitutional rights does a foreigner have to question DR. GONSALVES alignment with HUGO CHAVEZ?
What is so wrong with a good working relationship between these two Caribbean leaders.
The late RIGHT HON. ERROL WALTON BARROW came under such attack during his early leadership of our great nation Barbados. Who questions the relationship between COMMUNIST CHINA AND THE GREAT LION THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? Caribbean people wake up and understand what Dr.Gonsalves is saying. The attack can be against ST.VINCENT today, and BARBADOS tomorrow.
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Comment LinkAs they say at the Apollo Theatre “wop-wop”. What utter and complete rubbish. The funny thing is when these leaders recycle the same old tired line even when it doesn’t properly suit the picture. For one thing Barack Obama is the Commander and Chief of all U.S. security and military forces. So Dr. Gonsalves, are you saying that a black president does not want to see St. Vincent and the Grenadines to retain it’s sovereignty anymore? Is that the argument you’re making? It was one thing to shout this fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) when a Caucasian president was in charge. It sounds ridiculous to do so when a black one is.
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Comment LinkHalf the time these regional leaders complain American isn’t noticing them, then the other half of the time they complain America is interfering with their country. Barack Obama has his hands full with his country’s own economy, plus Iraq, Iran, N. Korea, health care reform, the oil spill, U.S. mid-term elections, along with his picks for supreme court. I doubt he has time to be preoccupied with your little 3x4-small islands. I mean just several weeks ago these CARICOM isles were complaining that Obama only met with the leader of the Dominican Republic. Now he’s interfering in your country. If he drops St. Vincent completely off his agenda I wonder what you’d do Ralph? Obama isn’t even studying Chavez, Castro, and yourself. He’s talking about lifting the ban on Cuba actually. So why not man-up and answer to your own failures as a politician. Don’t blame America. (As usual.)
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