It is no secret that Ralph E. Gonsalves built a successful political career by unforgivably exposing, overstating, and or exaggerating, the mistakes, misfortunes, and indiscretions of his political and other opponent. He makes a habit of using his storytelling abilities to dress up the truth in order to make them more interesting than they are. There are even cases where he conspired and aided in the downfall of people who he felt were a threat to him.
We have seen this in the way he sheepishly entrapped Stanly ‘Starkey’ John in order to depose him of the opportunity to regain the leadership of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), the political party he now leads, which is the same organization he is currently using to destroy the Vincentian way of life (values, morals, economy, pride etc.) and St Vincent and the Grenadines. We have also seen the way in which he disposed of his own blood relative, Ken Boyea, forcing him to leave the political comfort of the ULP while denying him to create, among other things, a political legacy.
There are many political, social, and other casualties that litter the course, hills, and the valleys of St Vincent; all victims of Ralph Gonsalves. Although many citizen of St Vincent had suffered, and are suffering, directly at his hands; unfortunately the biggest causality will be St Vincent and the Grenadines, and to a lesser extent CARICOM.
Now that I have given an overview of the man we are force to coexist with; let me address the reason for which I write. We have seen how Ralph squandered the well needed millions of dollars to ensure that his friends in the legal fraternity are rewarded for past deeds done in his efforts to discredit Sir James Mitchell for his effort in the Ottley Hall Marina project, which saw the underdeveloped island losing about thirty million United States dollars, and later accumulating tremendous interest for the nation’s inability to effectively service that loan.
I will never say that there was not inappropriate behaviour and unethical practices by persons close to this project. I will never say that there was not illegal practice involved in this project, but I suspect that all those who knowingly participated in any illegality were not made the object of the witch hunt that is the Inquiry. For one thing; to implicate the true players would not have benefited those who went through all of the trouble of instituting it, and it would have defeated the sole purpose of the Inquiry; which was to discredit Sir James Mitchell. Unfortunately, with his own hands, Ralph Gonsalves managed to cause his own character to be plunged into disrepute (the allegations of rape and sexual assault).
What was the crime which was committed by Sir James Mitchell? In my opinion, Sir James F. Mitchell was guilty of being too naive and trusting; he is guilty of the same offence most Vincentian are guilty of; we are far too naive and too trusting. An example of this is the fact that they hand over their life, their children’s future, and the future of my blessed country into Ralph Gonsalves’ hands. However, there is a thin line between naivety and stupidity; a line that I hope the Vincentian community will not cross.
I am convinced that Ralph Gonsalves is obsessed with trying to create a positive legacy for himself. In his obsession to be viewed as a brilliant politician and businessman, Ralph Gonsalves took the initiative to get CARICOM involved in a sweetheart deal with one who appears to be even more sinister and conniving than Dr Aldo Rolla; Allan Stanford, who allegedly schemed billions of USA dollars from his investor who trusted him. Can the governments of the Caribbean trust Allen Stanford? Was this deal too good to be true? Did Allen Stanford see a sitting duck (Ralph Gonsalves and his pathetic deal) and took advantage of it? How will Allen Stanford’s new self created troubles impact the following; CARICOM (LIAT), inter-island Caribbean travel and the citizen of these countries? I guess we will never know until the creditors come knocking trying to recover their client’s money, as in the Bernie Madoff case.
The questions that immediately came to mind were, apart from the use of Allen’s private jet; did the St Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister benefit personally from Allen Stanford? Was this just an ugly repeat of Sir James Mitchell’s mistake, or is Ralph Gonsalves too bright to be so fooled?
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