Letter: Democracy is the greatest gift that any country can bestow on its people
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| Published on Monday, November 23, 2009 |
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Dear Sir:
The owner of Caribbean Net News and its Editor must be congratulated for giving the public in St Vincent and the Grenadines and beyond the opportunity to air their views on the upcoming referendum to be voted on November 25.
A CANA report quoted the Supervisor of Elections, Sylvia Findlay-Scrubb, as saying that there are just over 98,000 voters; this mammoth figure is worrying to me. I cannot see how there could be so many registered voters in a country with a population of 106,000, and moreover, more than 40% of Vincentians are below voting age.
In the December 2005 general elections, OAS Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, questioned how there could be so many voters in a country with such small population; it seems as if the situation is even worse now.
I am also worried after reading a report from veteran Caribbean journalist, Ricky Singh, in Sunday's Guyana Chronicle when the respected journalist quoted Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves as saying that "funding for the educational campaign in constitutional reform was borne by the State with help from the Organization of American States (OAS).
We all know that it was not an educational campaign on the reform, but a vigorous YES vote exercise.
What is very disturbing also is that there are reports that large sums of American dollars have been sent to St Vincent to buy votes. At least six large amounts of US dollars have been exchanged at the National Commercial Bank.
Caricom and the OECS should be worried about some of the issues currently taking place in St Vincent. When your neighbour’s house is on fire, you must wet yours, for sweltering heat can cause your house to ignite.
Is it coincidence that the president of Iran is visiting the Caribbean at the same time the referendum is being voted on in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
It is quite clear that the Unity Labour Party has lost favour with the people and support is dwindling at a rapid pace. The reckless spending of the public purse and the unusual association with governments who are not traditional friends of our nation have caused quite a stir among Vincentians at home and abroad.
The way in which the Queen is being desecrated by members of the government and the ULP send the wrong message to our young people.
Vincentians, we have only one choice in this matter and it is to vote “No” come November 25.
Mourine De Freitas-Ramjeet | | | | Reads : 892 | | | |
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