Just eight months of general elections were held in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The main opposition party (NDP) led by Dr Godwin Friday, is calling for fresh elections.
“I want to thank the people who came out on the streets on Tuesday who heeded the call of the New Democratic Party, who came out and exercised their democratic right to protest, to demand better from the government and to challenge the government in the things that they are doing wrong.”
“I am so pleased that the people came out. They were determined; they were robust, strong, committed, and courageous.”
Friday said protesters were sending a message to the government that democracy is not just about what happens in parliament; it is what happens here in the streets of Kingstown, what happens in our communities, what they feel in their hearts about what is happening in the country.
In a three-minute video posted on Facebook, the Opposition leader urged Vincentians to take to the streets on Thursday.
“That’s Thursday tomorrow because the parliament continues and the problems continue in our country. So we must continue with the protest action. And to the police, I know there were some incidents, but I want to send this message, that the police also must protect the protesters and many of them showed restraint, but there were others who went over the top”.
“Tomorrow, we expect that they are going to be there to see that the people exercise their democratic rights and to protect them as well from abuse.”
Friday said what the Opposition and protesters are demanding is nothing less than fresh elections to save this country.
“We have a government in place that didn’t get the majority support of the people, so it’s a minority government that’s here; majority rule is that real flesh and blood people vote for the party that they want to form the government.”
Fresh elections are what we have as our primary objective in encouraging the people to stand up for democratic rights. So that the will of the people, as expressed in the last election, becomes manifest in the government that runs this country, Friday said.
