By Duggie Joseph
Caribbean Net News St Vincent Correspondent
Email: duggie@caribbeannetnews.com
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: Despite early morning showers supporters of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), came out in numbers to participate in a protest march called by the Party and marched through capital city, Kingstown.
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| Members of the NDP rally in Kingstown, St Vincent. Photo by Duggie Joseph |
Some members of the business community closed their doors while the march was taking place.
While delivering a televised address last month, President of the NDP and Leader of Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, made a call for the business community to close their doors and asked other organizations like the privately-owned mini bus operators to join in the march.
The march concluded with a rally at 'Heritage Square', which NDP Senator, St Claire Leacock says has been renamed 'The People's Square'.
When the NDP took to the streets on Wednesday 28th February, no permission was given by the police for a rally to be held at the Square, but NDP went there and staged one.
Speaking at the rally, Leacock said the police gave permission for the rally to be held at Heritage Square this time around.
"We have shown the police that respect begets respect," Leacock said.
Leacock touched on a number of issues and asked the NDP supporters to be aware of what could happen when the next elections are held.
According to Leacock, the governing Unity Labour Party, ULP, "stole the elections from us" and has plans to do the same when the next general elections are called.
"Gonsalves and company know how easy it is to steal the elections one more time. All they have to do is to continue what they are doing now and by the time the next election is held in this country, the next largest people would be the Cubans," Leacock said. "I have no disrespect for the struggles of the people from Cuba, but I have disrespect for the intentions of the government for what they want to do with the people of Cuba."
While not providing any proof, Leacock asked his party supporters to be vigilant, since it is the government's intention to have over 500 Cubans registered as voters "and put them strategically in constituencies that matter and ensure that you continue to suffer and be victimized."
A number of Cubans, along with personnel from Venezuela are expected to be here for the construction of an international airport.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves announced on August 1st 2006 that an international airport would be constructed with assistance from Cuba, Venezuela, Taiwan and Mexico.
The airport should be completed by 2011, the year in which the next general elections are constitutionally due.
Leacock also touched on the issue of drugs and crime and said he wanted to be "very careful", while speaking on a matter that involved the judiciary.
"We have to change the direction in the way things are happening in this country," stated Eustace. "So many people in this country are having it hard, it is unbelievable," He said a number of persons have called him to complain that "they can't send their children to school, they can't find work," and called on Dr Gonsalves to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT), on all basic items, "so that people could have some ease."
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