ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES will go to the polls on December 7, 2005, approximately four and a half years after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves was elected to office.

Elections are constitutionally due on March, 2006.

However, Gonsalves announced an early election date last Sunday after months of speculation that his Unity Labour Party (ULP) Government would be incapable of delivering a budget for the period 2005/2006.

Numerous economists had questioned the strength of the Vincentian economy against the collapsing banana industry, a poor tourism performance, a declining offshore financial sector and an ever-increasing public debt situation.

The rising poverty level is beyond 30 per cent and the government’s inability to create sustainable jobs reflects Gonsalves’ failure to deliver on his 100-day promises when he entered office in 2001.

These trying economic circumstances reflect the ULPs inability to manage the economic affairs of the country.

PM Dr. RALPH
GONSALVES

Opposition
Leader ARNHIM
EUSTACE

Against this economic backdrop, it was believed that the Gonsalves administration could not have presented a budget to the people in December of this year, as is the tradition in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

He was, therefore, left with few options other than to attempt to secure a fresh mandate by calling an early election.

His administration has been accused of numerous allegations of political victimisation.

For example, over 2,000 ordinary workers were politically victimised and there has been the widespread emasculation of public officials, which includes the revocation of experienced and qualified Justices of the Peace (JPs).

The political rhetoric on the ULP platforms suggests that anyone who does not agree with the Gonsalves administration runs the risk of being politically chastised and victimised.

Another major issue in the campaign would be allegations of corruption.

On a daily basis, there has been the awarding of public contracts without tenders, and sweetheart deals given to political hacks.

In fact, it is alleged that one of the ULP candidates ran ministerial political interference in a police investigation into counterfeit currency whilst another ULP Minister stood bail for a known drug trafficking offender.

The politicising of the Office of the DPP has become all too apparent within recent times and there are also high-levels of speculations within the US State Department, which involves the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) where drug money had been legitimised through the administrative practices of the present government.

Another burning issue is the economic mismanagement.

Within the last couple of weeks there has been allegations of political interference in the banking operations of the National Commecial Bank (NCB).

The Gonsalves admininistration is alleged to have forcefully influenced bank officials to breach international banking standards by financing government projects in excess of EC$20 million.

Many persons within banking circles are expressing severe reservations on this politically motivated act in breach of international banking standards.

Gonsalves has adopted a Hugo Chavez-like policy in which the State controls the economic directions of the country. Many persons in St. Vincent recalled the failed attempts of the PM to set up a Marketing Board, an attempt at State-run retail supermarket.

Gonsalves publicly stated that it was his intention to follow the socialist part of development advocated by executed Grenada PM Maurice Bishop and his advisor Bernard Coard.

Also, under the controversial Chavez initiated Petrocaribe agreement, the government is attempting to compete with the private sector for control of business activities in St. Vincent.

Gonsalves has made several controversial statements that were in bad taste, even on the political platform.

He publicly stated that the Opposition Leader, Arnim Eustace, is “a roast breadfruit”, and that if George Bush were to meet both of them in the middle of the night, he would not recognise Eustace, whose complexion is dark in contrast to Gonsalves’ Red look.

The PM was indeed angry when the Opposition chose to boycott the last Parliament sitting on the grounds of demanding an apology from the PM for such statements.

On the campaign trail the PM publicly called for the Customs Officers at the Airport to search the Opposition Leader to see whether or not he was breaching any Customs regulations.

Gonsalves also attacked Texan billionaire and owner of Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun airlines, Alan Stanford.

He accused Stanford for being a friend of the Eustace-led New Democratic Party.

Earlier this week, Eustace was in Trinidad and Tobago attending urgent personal business, which triggered a claim by Gonsalves on a political platform on Monday that he did not know whether Eustace was having political meetings with Basdeo Panday or Winston Dookeran of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Gonsalves basically stated that his reason for calling the early election was based on “when the two sevens collide”.

Over the last couple of weeks, he stated that one of the reasons for calling the elections had to do with (a prediction from) the Book of Revelations of when the two sevens collide.

His announcement of the election date on Sunday November 6, was based on the dissolution of Parliament on November 7, and the calling of election on December 7, his interpretation of when the two sevens collide, which determined the calling of election.

Observers recalled a similarity to former Grenada PM Eric Gairy, who, in his latter days, claimed to be fighting UFOs.

At a public meeting last Monday, candidates on the ULP platform described Gonsalves as the “Caribbean King” and a “gift from God”. He was also described as a man with great honesty and integrity.

There were huge banners depicting the PM as a gift of God and as a Caribbean king.

Gonsalves was observed to bask in the glory with no denial or humility.

Local political analysts have all predicted that this election campaign will be an intense battle, as Gonsalves appear to be fighting for his political survival by having to defend himself.

His opponent, Arnhim Eustace, is seen to have succeeded to a large extent in transforming New Democratic Party (NDP) and re-imaging it as a potent political institution that can provide a formidable challenge to the ULP.

One year ago, Gonsalves never anticipated that he would be fighting to hold on for dear life to his political survival in this election.

Prior to Gonsalves landslide election to Office, Eustace held the prime ministership for a mere five months after PM James Mitchell had stepped down.

Eustace honoured the brokered Caricom agreement between then PM Mitchel and Opposition Leader Gonsalves to call an early election, which he lost by 12 seats to three.

In 1998, the James-led NDP had won eight seats, a slim one more than Gonsalves ULP, but Gonsalves got more overall votes.

He decided to create civil disobedience by blocking the roads and leading protests. Caricom intervened and brokered a deal that shortened the constitutionally elected life of a democratically elected NDP government.

Then when Mitchell retired as Political Leader of the NDP, Eustace assumed the leadership with only five months before fresh elections were called.
After suffering a landslide defeat, Eustace understood clearly that the party had to be redefined if he were to challenge Gonsalves in any meaningful way.

Gonsalves represents the rural constituency of North Central Winward, while Eustace, the most senior economist with the Caribbean Development Bank when he entered active politics in 1998, is the incumbent for the urban Kingston.