Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace (File photo).
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) will not encourage citizens to engage in illegal activities in protest against the government or state entities.
Leader of the Opposition and NDP president Arnhim Eustace made his position clear on radio yesterday.
He was responding to a caller who advocated damaging Central Water and Sewerage Authority distribution pipes in protest against the increase in water and solid waste management rates announced last week.
“If he is asking me whether the New Democratic Party is going to recommend to the public that they dig up the pipes, I will say no. I want to make myself clear on that,” Eustace said.
The former prime minister said that he understands the sentiments behind the callers comments.
“In a sense, those sentiments apply to a lot of other things. But I believe that we can take protest action of various types all within the framework of the law,” Eustace, however, stated.
“I am not going to go into 2000-2001. I think a lot of things that were done that time were not legal or right and I am not going to behave in the same manner,” he said of the Unity Labour Party (ULP)-led “roadblock revolution” that halved the life of the NDP’s fourth term in office and paved the way for the ULP’s election in March 2001.
“I believe that the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have a right to change their government. They were given that opportunity just about a year ago and they went in another direction, albeit with not much of a difference…” Eustace said.
The ULP was in December 2010 elected to a third consecutive term in office by a one-seat majority, winning eight parliamentary seats to the NDP’s seven.
“[b]ut we as a party have taken certain decisions in relation to the matter that are now outstanding and we will be taking different types of action, very shortly, actually, in terms of this action,” Eustace further said, seemingly in relation to a case that could see Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ election voided in addition to him being banned from Parliament for five years.
Eustace said that while everyone is entitled to their opinions, some citizens who are critical of the NDP do not respond when called upon to act.
“There are some legitimate actions you can take. I am prepared to take those actions. But I am also saying that a lot of people who in fact make these statements, when it comes to the time to take any action you don’t see them,” he said.
He spoke of a picket of the Office of the Minister of National Security – Dr. Ralph Gonsalves – to highlight escalating crime and violence late last year.
“I went down there, I just had to leave. The very proponents of it, who were on radio pushing it and so on, they weren’t even there,” Eustace said of the poorly attended event outside the Financial Complex.
“In fact, I was embarrassed by the situation. It is very easy to say you must do this and you must do that. Nobody has any concern about how you must finance it or anything; nobody! But they expect certain types of action but they are not prepared to participate in it,” he said.
“All I am saying, we have some things we have discussed internally and will implement them …” Eustace further stated.
One man was injured during an NDP protest last year when protestors also rammed the gate to the Parliament building.
The man sustained injuries to his leg when police reportedly pulled him onto spikes while trying to get him to come down from the gate to the Parliament compound.
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Well, is only now he realize that his violent protests not working.
Posted by no-nonsense | January 24, 2012, 07:58NO-NONSENSE! the first political killing took place in 1994 General when Ralph Gonsolves and his MNU joined with the Labour party. Do you remember the woman who was hit with a stone while on a motorcade out in the country area? It was the first time that ever happened in SVG. It was the ULP in opposition who nearly caused a riot when the rocked the GG car and tried to converged on Armin’s car when he accidently touched someone in the court yard. It was a ULP government in parliment that we saw the perpetualtion on voilence against opposition parlimentarians. It was under the ULP that the Leader of the opposition’s daughter was kicked by a police in parliment. It was the same ULP that celebrated that event. It was the ULP that beat up protesters in Central Leeward in 2001, when they protested against the placement of prisons. It was under ULP that a police man slapped Cummimgs and pull gun on Dr. Friday during the Grenadines $ tax protest. It was under ULP we saw three youth man gunned down by police in the Vermont valley. It was the PM that was in the picture posing with the said “Vincypack” policemen. It is the ULP that vowed to pursue the youths that are involved in drugs until they exist no more. So come on, don’t come with that attitude… trying to give us the impression that your party is creeky clean. Please enlighten us. Tell us when and where did the NDP perpetuated any voilence against any one either in opposition or in government. Please educate us. We have not forgotten and we do not want that here. To my knowledge the NDP has always been against voilence. So,what exactly is the point that you are making?
Posted by Olbap | January 24, 2012, 10:20This is why I don’t blame the “leadership” of the NDP when they don’t listen to people when they talk sometimes. They are getting licks right now for not being aggressive/violent/forceful enough. Now here you are saying that they’ve been too violent. You will never be able to please Vincentians; that’s why you always think with your own mind and don’t let anybody force your hand. The problem in the country is us – the people. Only because it would be too obvious why nobody can’t can’t tie rope around our necks and lead us to eat grass.
Posted by Bagga | January 24, 2012, 13:56The only person need to be banned is YOU Eustace, If you ever win an election Vincentian will certainly have to leave SVG by the THOUSANDS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO VISION WHAT SO EVER.
Posted by GODWIN | January 24, 2012, 09:04GODWIN it is happening under ULP.
Posted by Olbap | January 24, 2012, 09:47Mr “No Nonsense” tell the public of an incident where Eustace operate violently in Public. I think you should called your self “Nonsense” Honestly from the depth of my heart you are one of the biggest hyprocrite one can think about.
Answer the question please or shut up:
1.Who block public road in St.Vincent 2000-2001 to gain Power,was it Ralph or Eustace?
2.Who told police to handle Eustace and his party Ministers of parliament in the Court house as criminals prior to the last election was it through Ralph ordersor Eustace orders?
Always,
Neut&Indep(best way to be for the sake of your nation)
Prof- DAS
Posted by Danniel8 | January 24, 2012, 09:27Danniel 8,
1. The public servants, concerned citizens (NOBA) and ODD blocked the road not Ralph, he wasnt that fat then.
2. The speaker fo the house orderred the forcefull removal of the opposition becuase they disobeyed the rules of the house.
Kenton, your line which stated “The man sustained injuries to his leg when police reportedly pulled him onto spikes while trying to get him to come down from the gate to the Parliament compound” is in correct because based on the information received the gentleman injured his own self trying to climb over.
Posted by John | January 24, 2012, 10:03JOHN you are a very funny Guy, you know that right? ah mean, you are trying to entertain us with your comments. You could not be serious.
Posted by Olbap | January 24, 2012, 12:04Thank you John, that is also my answers. You are so correct ‘the gentleman injured his own self trying to climb over’.
On the issue of the first killing. That was a very unfortunate incident, anyone could have been killed that night. I remembered being at Chateaubelair, It was announced that NDP supporters were loading their trucks with stones in the North Windward area and that we must try and get home before it was dark. Many of us took the Mespo, Greggs route, we met some NDP supporters but we passed each other without any problems. Today, we still do not know who started the stone throwing. OLBAP, I am sure the police had reasons to use force IF NECESSARY.
Posted by no-nonsense | January 24, 2012, 17:05The point I am making No-NONSENSE is that someone instigated the stoning of the political motorcade. The stones did not just lift themselves off the ground. People planned the thing. As a result a woman was killed. The woman was a NPD supporter, on a NDP motorcade. Go figure! There were a number of motorcade events in 1984, and 1987 and even before that were conducted by both Old labour and NDP. All were without incident. I am not accusing anyone of anything, but what I found strange is that this thing started in 1994 when the MNU, joined the labour party. Hearing a rumour of a NDP instigated stoning and being actually stoned by the NDP are is not the same thing. All I am saying is that I am around for a long time. I supported both old Labour and NDP. Never has the issue of political voilence been a serious problem before 1994. The question is: Who started this shti?.
Posted by Olbap | January 25, 2012, 11:26Martians have just landed a space craft at Rabaca, anyone who would like to join the new political Martian party are invited to meet under the bridge, but only when its raining.
If they can get their heads out of Gonsalves a..e, you will meet NO-NONSENSE, GODWIN and JOHN there. They believe anything their told. Members of the Gonsalves DUNCE class.
Gonsalves a… now so big you can fit almost all the ULP heads in it.
By the way take a few others with you, Miller, the Francis boy, and idiot boy from agriculture. Hopefully the Martians will take you all back to Mars for idiot training, come back with a degree in stupidity, wont take much training because your all already pretty stupid.
Posted by Peter | January 24, 2012, 11:55Mr John don’t make yourself a fool fool like the others. If you want to know exactly whom you are responding to, read all my responses posted by I-witness News. Every political movement or action always and must has a leader,an instigator or an advocator behind all the ‘scenes’. Who is in charged of the concerned citizens,the public servants and the ODD. Are they taking charge of themselves now? Who give the speaker of the house so much power to abuse it on educated men like himself? Read the article about the Speaker and Leacock during the parliamentary budget. Who is the aggressor Leacock or the Speaker. Who wants to demonstrate their power as the bigger man? Leacock or the speaker?
Next time you see I post a comment be very careful how you respond or please don’t if you not making sense. By Proffesor-Dasilva. Neut&Indep
Posted by Danniel8 | January 24, 2012, 12:25Mr John you and “nonsense” are reading from the ‘Gonsalves Gazettte’ secret volumes. Can you brings those magazines to the public view ?????????
By Professor Dasilva
Neut&Indep
Posted by Danniel8 | January 24, 2012, 12:37AND WHAT ARE YOU READING FROM? ‘ Eustace”s Gazette? You are just a RALPH HATER like the others.
Posted by no-nonsense | January 25, 2012, 08:18I don’t think anyone here actually hate Ralph…just the harsh way he’s treating the people of this country that he claims to love…I guess the mentality applies if you love me you will beat me…
Posted by lisa | January 25, 2012, 09:38No Nonsense, MY DECEITFUL NUTTY PROFESSOR could not KEEP up his FARCE about being NEUTRAL and INDEPENDENT as I have PREDICTED and ADDRESSED when I saw his post for the first time on his BLOG. Like TRUE to FORM, he has been LIVING UP to my PREDICTION and ARGUMENT to the LETTER.
In other words, just like the PREDICTABLE “RALPH HATERS,” the DECEITFUL NUTTY PROFESSOR is NO EXCEPTION.
Posted by VINCY POWA (@VINCYPOWA) | January 25, 2012, 12:55Vincy Powa, as I said before, I like your dedication to your party. I think it is mis guided , but all the same, you are very committed. Having said that, I believe that your contribution could be improved if you try to dicuss issues rather than personality. I support your right to criticise, rebutt and comment on anything on this blog. This is your democratic right. No one should try to deny you that. You are also free to choose what you will comment about. Nobody can tell you when or how. I know we give the little personal “chook” here and there, but it should be in relation to issues. I see that there is some personal animosity between you and the Professor. This ought not to be. Each of us have strong believes and convictions about what we believe. It is healthy to say what we feel in a way that focuses on the issue at hand. It does not have to deteriorate into personal hatred. Let us try to raise the standard of our discourse. I have addressed the Ralph Haters issues already, no need to go over that.
Posted by Olbap | January 25, 2012, 18:18LISA, why don’t you give us some EXAMPLES of the “HARD WAY he is TREATING people of this COUNTRY that he CLAIMS to LOVE.”
Posted by VINCY POWA (@VINCYPOWA) | January 25, 2012, 12:57Ahhhhhhhhh, the budget is over, the ULP have been out debated [plus the speaker], the cheer leader vincy powa stayed away from the site during all the revelations of the budge, but here he is, back asking people silly questions about examples and examples.
When the wages were frozen, no powa, and the wage freeze is what this same powa said eustace would do if he get into office
so the great vincy powa who said eustace is all about doom and gloom, when ralph actually delivered the doom and gloom, he is no where to be found…..TYPICAL BOOT LICKER.
The ulp in their 2001 manifesto said the vincies are paying too much for water and electricity, and they WILL lower it if elected. Since they have gotten into office, water rates have been increased twice and electricity at least once, but you will never hear the great vincy powa on matters like that, which affect the same poor people he and ralph claims to love.
you watch, he will be all over the site again now that the budget beatings are over, and the doom and the gloom have been handed down on the poor people of svg. POOR FELLA
Posted by vincy in bad shape | January 25, 2012, 14:15Vincy Powa and nonsense boy,I write my responses BASE on what is happening in SVG. I only visit SVG once or twice/year. In SVG I listened to ALL the radio stations AND both leaders,in SVG and Abroad. If you read all my post you will come on one of them that talk about my relationship with Ralph. THERE YOU WILL REALISED THAT I AM NOT A RALPH HATER.You see you guys talk more than you read. Let me tell you the truth: From all that I have read ,heard and seen,St.Vincent and the Grenadines is running onesided in terms of justice and equality for ALL,EVERYONE,EVERYBODY,ALLcitizens,NOT just SOME. (I am seeing a pretend democracy where the chosen ones have plenty and the unchosen ones gets little or nothing.) Before you say Ralph Hater tell me first that “I made a lying statement.” So if you guys see it more than me and want to make politics blind your eyes then you are no different from Robots that are program to respond.(Jesus said who have eyes to see let them see and who have ears to hear let them heart).
Have a good day boys.
Neut&Indep
Posted by Prof-Dasilva | January 25, 2012, 15:15VincyPowaBOY I will speak for Lisa. Now listen
1.Wich Caribbean Island prime ministers you ever heard about going around suing civilians before another new year can start. That is like a ‘spoil brat’ child behavior. It’s a damm shame.
2.Which caribbean Prime Ministers name ever called up in so much women sex scandal affairs.
‘sounds like a woman preditor’
3.Which caribbean Prime Ministers acts like they want to shut private radio station down.
‘sounds like a dictator’
Have a good day boy,and get a life.I guess you in the dark too long.
NEUTRAL & INDEPENDENT
Posted by Prof-Dasilva | January 25, 2012, 15:41So what you are saying, You RALPH HATERS will continue to go around, spreading all kinds of lies and defaming individuals, mainly the PM just for political purposes and don’t expect him to do anything about it??
I have written on many occasions about the sex scandal, one which I just cannot swallow and I have given my reasons which I will not repeat here. “HE LOVES WOMEN”, that’s great I am so happy he doesn’t love MEN…LOL…LOL (hope you put the right spin on that).
What makes you think he wants to shut a private radio station down? All the gentleman has to do is to ‘pay up’ for defaming the PM, simple!!!!
You seem to be one of those who supported the comrade, can’t get what you wanted or get things your way, so COMRADE and the ULP is the worst thing this country have ever seen. SORRY I’M NOT FOLLOWING YOU!!!
CAN’T WAIT FOR 2015, MY VOTING FINGER IS READY AGAIN!!!!!
Posted by no-nonsense | January 26, 2012, 21:32VincyPowa, Lisa made a mistake in her language, she did not mean hard, she meant floppy.
MR FLOPPY
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SULPHUR
Posted by Peter | January 27, 2012, 09:07I truly believe that if a man is a known liar and is a self admitted liar, his worth in any defamation case can not be more than a bag of fertilizer, $20.
I find it hard to believe that any court in the world would award him $200k- $500k. Most of all the damage he has done to himelf via his gross stupidity, and self-belief of being untouchable.
Posted by Peter | January 27, 2012, 09:13nonsense you did not answer my question that certain people have it going on ‘fat and feasty’ while some catching their ANUSES in SVG? Is that true or false. If you say false then I accept that I am a Ralph hater. Poor people catching their buts to pay bills, buy food for their children, and pay transportation. If that is False then I agree that I am a Ralph Hater. You and vincy Powa seem to have Robot brains program by machine, because you all cannot understand what people say. I am giving you fact here yet are you dancing away from them,you dishonest deceitful creep.
Posted by Prof-Dasilva | January 27, 2012, 21:25Peter don’t worry with foolish brainless nonsense and VincyPowa talking their stupid anuses that Ralph won case. Neither Ralph nor his Parlimentary ULP comrades will ever loose a case under the ULP Govt. Tell that stupid boy that MR JUSTICE HAS TAKEN AN ABSENCE OF LEAVE WITH PAY IN SVG. WHAT A DISGRACE!
And by the way to Love is womem is one thing, but to be scandal as a rapist is another. Besides the idiot boy can claim who love men and who don’t. How the hell he know about another man same sex life if it is not revealed, something aint looking right there. Hahahaha.
NEUT&Indep
Posted by Prof-Dasilva | January 27, 2012, 21:47MY NUTTY and DECEITFUL PROFESSOR, your questions have nothing to do with my comment to Lisa, which is TYPICAL of NOISEMAKERS, because they only want to see and hear what they want to see and hear.
Nevertheless, I will more than ANSWER your QUESTIONS.
But before I do, let me ask you these questions; are you and LISA one and the same? Did she give you permission to speak on her behalf? Or are you just a VIRTUAL DICTATOR speaking for others with their consent?
1. I do not know nor do I care. However, if that is the only way this nation is going to get the NOISE MAKERS and LIARS of the NDP to SPEAK TRUTH, Dr. Gonsalves has SURELY done us a GREAT SERVICE. Always REMEMBER, it is the COURT OF LAW that found these NOISEMAKERS of the NDP LIBELOUS in their attempt to SOIL the GOOD CHARACTER of the PRIME MINISTER and LEADER of this BLESSED NATION, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Let them PAY for their LYING MOUTHS. However, I APPLAUD the GOOD FAITH GESTURE by the LEADER of this NATION towards Mr. Eustace and Mr. Cummings.
2. The DPP and the COURTS have SPOKEN: NO EVIDENCE to SUPPORT their CLAIMS. The woman in Canada was even DISCREDITED by the men she claimed that she told the story to.
3. There was an NDP PRIME MINISTER by the name of James Mitchell who SHUTDOWN a PROGRAM on this NATION’S RADIO STATION, NBC RADIO, called SEARCHLIGHT. Is that the DICTATOR you’re REFERRING to?
That said; the BRAYING DONKEY who felt COMPELLED to RESPOND to a POST I DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY to someone else is talking about GET A LIFE, truly AMUSING.
I SUGGEST that you take a LOOK in the MIRROR and tell us if the person LOOKING back at you is becoming UNGLUED.
SEE U AROUND BUB…continue with your BRAYING.
Posted by vincypowa | January 28, 2012, 12:44There it is again Prof, you are unhinging VincyPowa, everytime he uses the word BUB its because he’s losing control.
VincyPowa, have you booked your treatment in Cuba yet? new poodle brains available, big improvement on what you have already got.
By the way get a check up, some venereal disease cause serious brain damage, your ranting must be suspect.
Posted by Peter | January 28, 2012, 22:02