Leader of the Opposition Ralph Gonsalves has publicly challenged the 14 elected parliamentarians of the New Democratic Party (NDP) to prove they are operating functional constituency offices, despite receiving state funds to do so.
Speaking on a radio broadcast on Monday, Gonsalves urged local journalists to investigate how many of the NDP’s elected representatives actually have their offices “up and running” seven months into their tenure.
He highlighted a potential lack of accountability, noting that each of these parliamentarians receives a monthly allowance of $1,500 specifically allocated to cover the costs of running these offices.
To emphasize his concerns, Gonsalves contrasted the newly elected officials’ alleged inaction with his own long-standing record of community representation.
He noted that he has maintained a permanent, fully staffed constituency office in Georgetown since he was first elected in 1994. According to Gonsalves, this operational setup serves as a vital community hub, allowing his staff and constituency council members to promptly relay urgent problems from local residents directly to him.
In a sharp critique of the current government representatives, Gonsalves raised serious questions about where the NDP members are actually conducting their official business. He accused some parliamentarians of opening and then quickly closing their offices, while alleging that others are currently embroiled in disputes with their landlords over unpaid rent.
Gonsalves demanded transparency regarding these offices, acknowledging that while some politicians might be operating out of rent-free spaces provided by supporters, the overall situation is highly problematic. He firmly stated that encountering landlord troubles a mere seven months into their term is unacceptable, insisting that the NDP members “need to do better than that”.