KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – 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.
“Ralph Gonsalves is the true world boss,” Skerrit said, echoing a term that Gonsalves used to describe himself in the November 2020 general election campaign when the ULP was elected to a historic fifth consecutive term in office.
“You know you have a gem in St. Vincent and Grenadines in Comrade Gonsalves. A true patriot, a decent gentleman, and someone who will always stand by you, especially in difficult times,” said Skerrit, who described Gonsalves, 76, as his mentor.
Skerrit said he has been following Gonsalves as a primary school student, “and Prime Minister Gonsalves has brought pride and joy to you, the people of St. Vincent and Grenadines, and 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 note 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 only appreciate a good thing once it is gone.
“Let me tell you with the greatest sense of sincerity that you have in Prime Minister Gonsalves, a good man who has been with you in difficult times and 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 straightforward. 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.”
He said that if leaders were to complain about how difficult it is to run small countries like Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Gonsalves would be “complaining every minute, but he’s a true leader.
“And leaders find solutions to challenges, and that’s what Gonsalves has been doing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, finding solutions to challenging problems that we confront,” said Skerrit, noting that 20,000 people were evacuated as a result of the April 2021 eruption of La Soufriere volcano.
“… for a small country like ours here in St. Vincent and Grenadines, that’s a monumental task. But the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and Grenadines stood tall and has responded admirably based on what the World Bank and all international agencies are saying. Gonsalves has shown authentic leadership in providing hope and care for the people affected by La Soufriere.
“I am here to tell you the people of this country, especially the young people. I don’t have to tell you what Gonsalves has done for education in this country. You know better than me.
“I don’t have to tell you what he did for housing, the house revolution. You know better than me. I don’t have to tell you what he has done to create jobs in St. Vincent and Grenadines. You know better than me.
“And what he has done for his senior citizens of St. Vincent and Grenadines and the young people. You know better than me. I am sending a simple message to you that you have a remarkable God-sent man as your prime minister, who continues to defend you in the international and regional arena.
“Nobody in the world, no matter how powerful the country is, can stand and disrespect St. Vincent and the Grenadines without Gonsalves standing and defending his country and speaking boldly to his country, to his people,” Skerrit said.
He urged party supporters to remain loyal to the ULP, adding, “let us keep what we have. Let us stick to who we know. And you know Gonsalves, and you have in Gonsalves a good man, a decent, loving, caring person”.
and then 