Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has described his St Vincent and the Grenadines counterpart, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, as “the best prime minister in the entire world”.
Addressing a rally in Arnos Vale on Sunday night marking the 22nd anniversary of the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) in government, the 50-year-old Skerrit, who has been in office since 2004, remarked: “I am here to celebrate with the best prime minister in the entire world.
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“Ralph Gonsalves is the true world boss,” Skerrit said, echoing a term that Gonsalves used to describe himself in the campaign for the November 2020 general election when the ULP was elected to a historic fifth consecutive term in office.
“You know you have in St Vincent and the Grenadines a real gem in Comrade Gonsalves. A true patriot, a decent gentleman, and someone who will stand by you all the time, especially in difficult times,” said Skerrit, who described Gonsalves, 76, as his mentor.
Skerrit said he has been following Gonsalves since he (Skerrit) was a primary school student “and Prime Minister Gonsalves has really brought pride and joy not only to you the people of St Vincent and Grenadines, but every single Caribbean country.
“I can say to you I have been to numerous conferences and summits with Comrade Ralph, and every leader in every country, no matter how big or small, they respect Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Skerrit said that whenever Gonsalves takes to the microphone, “every man Jack listens” because Gonsalves “comes to us as a true teacher.
“And we listen, and we take notes of what Prime Minister Gonsalves is sharing with us. So I am here tonight with my wife to celebrate a great man and a great party: Gonsalves and the ULP.”
Skerrit, who led the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to victory in last December’s general elections, told ULP supporters that people sometimes do not appreciate a good thing until it is gone.
“Let me say to you with the greatest sense of sincerity that you have in Prime Minister Gonsalves a good man, a man who has been with you in difficult times and has given you hope. Let us stick with Prime Minister Gonsalves and the Unity Labour Party because they are the best thing for the people of St Vincent and Grenadines.”
The Dominican leader described Gonsalves as “a great man”, adding, “when the history of leadership will be written, Prime Minister Gonsalves will be in the highest or the tops as one of the best leaders the world has seen … .
“So don’t think that Gonsalves is the prime minister of St Vincent and Grenadines alone. Prime Minister Gonsalves is the prime minister of the entire Caribbean. I am telling you, I am telling you that he is my prime minister, … a man who I have the greatest love and appreciation for.”
Skerrit said he did not come to the rally “with no big speeches for you.
“My message to you is very simple. You have in Gonsalves a good man. And when you have a good man, there is no need to change a good man. And when you have a good political party, there is no need to change any political party.” (CMC)
