Ralph Gonsalves on Wednesday addressed his constitutional status and parliamentary participation by clarifying the distinction between his official appointment and the formal requirements for sitting in the House.
Gonsalves asserts that his status is already legally established, stating that on December 1st, he was “appointed leader of the opposition by the Governor General in accordance with the constitution”. He cites this official appointment as the basis for receiving his salary for December and the reason why he was consulted by the Prime Minister regarding appointments to the public service and police service commissions.
Gonsalves dismisses claims that he is not the Leader of the Opposition because he has not yet been sworn in, characterizing this narrative as a “foolish line,” “malignancy,” and “misinformation” propagated by “ignorant people” or biased talk show hosts. He says that his absence from the “opening jamboree” at parliament does not negate his status.
Regarding the specific mechanics of taking his seat, Gonsalves outlines a “simple and straightforward” process required for an elected member to participate in parliament:
• He will attend the next sitting of the House.
• At the beginning of the sitting, he will make a declaration that he is qualified to sit as a member.
• He will “take the oath of allegiance to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.
Gonsalves on Wednesday also emphasized that he accepts his new position based on the “verdict of the people,” viewing it through the lens of “fate history and circumstance”.
He rejects the suggestion that he is too proud to serve as Leader of the Opposition after being Prime Minister for 25 years, stating he will carry out the duty with “dignity and love”.