St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Elections could be held this year – Gonsalves

Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace (l) and St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (r). PHOTO/File

St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has for the second time in as many months signaled that the next general elections will be held ahead of the 2015 constitutional deadline.

“Comrades, when I told you to go on your marks, I wasn’t making sport you know,” Gonsalves told supporters of the ruling Unity Labor Party (ULP) at a rally on Saturday night in celebration of the party’s 13th anniversary in office.

Gonsalves, whose ULP will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, first hinted at early general election in February as he addressed the party’s annual convention, telling party supporters to get “on your marks.”

Some political observers say that the general elections could be held as early as July, while others believe that they would be held towards the end of 2014.

Gonsalves, 67, who during the 2010 election campaign asked voters to give him another term to mold a new generation of leaders, suggested to party supporters on Saturday that the next election will be his last as party leader.

“I am asking you to tell your children and your grandchildren, I want the young people to tell one another that they have to do this last one for the comrade.

“I will stay in North Central Windward where I have a house and I will represent my constituency there.” -(CMC)