Gonsalves returns to power

TIMES INT'L

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves scraped to a third consecutive victory in Monday’s general elections, leading his ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) to a razor thin one seat-majority in the 15-member Parliament. 

The ULP, which won 12 seats in the 2005 general election, saw that figure dwindled to eight, as the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) staged a courageous effort to regain the government it lost to the ULP in 2001. 

“In 2001, we won these eight seats rock solid, and the four marginals. In 2005, we did the same thing. On this occasion, there was a small swing against us, we lost the four marginals. They are easily lost, easily regained. A win is a win, and we will proceed to do our work with the people and with the grace of Almighty God,” Gonsalves said.  

In a nationwide radio and television broadcast, Gonsalves acknowledged that the victory is a “slim one” and promised citizens he would be more attentive in the future. 

 “… I will listen very attentively. I do listen and I do listen well. I will interpret what you see very keenly. You will see me on the streets far more than you have seen me over the last five years. I will be in communion with you,” Gonsalves said. 

But Gonsalves said that while the victory was “statistically” slim, his party had won 51.61 per cent of the votes. He added that when Barack Obama won the United States’ presidency with a similar margin, “it was acclaimed that he had a landslide”. 

“…we will not be human if we don’t feel really happy at this achievement,’ he said. (CMC)

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