When asked about the prospect of the former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (now Leader of the Opposition) speaking on certain matters during the budget debate in Parliament, Minister Leacock issued a stern warning, stating twice, “He had better not”.
Leacock speaking on Boom 106.9 FM OMG show, suggested that it would be “crazy” for the former Prime Minister to enter that debate and advised that he should avoid it to prevent a “slam down”.
The Deputy PM expressed a general reluctance to discuss the former Prime Minister during the show, stating he did not want to give him “relevance”,. However, he addressed several specific issues regarding the former leader’s conduct and status:
Leacock alleges that he had received reports from public servants, including the Commissioner of Police, that the former Prime Minister was calling and “interfering” with their work and warned that this behavior compromises the police’s ability and stated that if it continues, “there will be consequences” and the former leader must be told to “get off” a space that is not his preserve.
On security detail, Leacock confirmed that he provided the former Prime Minister with a security officer who could drive. However, he dismissed complaints about the level of security, asserting that the former Prime Minister “can afford his own security” and is simply looking for excuses.
Leacock minimized the significance of the former Prime Minister being sworn in as Opposition Leader, noting that the opposition consists of “only one” member.
He criticized the former administration’s governance as “isomorphic”—meaning “one way or the highway”—and likened the former leader to an “emperor” who “has no clothes,” surrounded by people trying to anticipate his wishes rather than providing genuine counsel.