subject: The Desperate Despot: Ralph Gonsalves [print this page] The Desperate Despot: Ralph Gonsalves The Desperate Despot: Ralph Gonsalves
St. Vincent and Grenadines goes to elections this December. This will be the third time Ralph Gonsalves will be contesting for the seat of Prime Minister. On the two previous occasions, he managed to hit home and grab the seat. This time, thought, it looks tough for him. History tells us that the citizens of SVG have never returned a man for a third term in office. But more than history, what will cause the downfall of Ralph Gonsalves is the common Vincentian. After being humiliated in his own country, the common man will raise his voice in protest. Thanks to the dictatorial regime of Comrade Ralph, they cannot voice their words of protest. But when it comes to ballot, they will not allow him another shot that can break SVG for ages to come.
As the Election Day comes nearer, the Prime Minister is getting increasingly desperate. He has already threatened the citizens with dire consequences if anyone dared to "sabotage" his ballot box run. What sabotage is he talking about? He has sabotaged the democracy of St. Vincent and Grenadines for about nine years now! People have lost their sense of dignity. The democracy is in tatters. The judicial system is under his thumb and the judges and magistrates merely puppets. Men who dared to speak out against the rulings of the Prime Minister were subjected to harassment in the name of the law. They suddenly found the police and lawyers baying for their blood. The corruption is so institutionalized that people are not sure they can find protection even under the umbrella of the police.
There is only safe place in St. Vincent and Grenadines. That is the good book of Ralph Gonsalves! If you are a political aide of the Prime Minister, you can consider yourself to be above the law of the land. People in his favor toy with the regulations that are expected to bind the country together. Women are the worst hit by this utter disregard for authority. Ralph Gonsalves himself assaulted women sexually on at least four occasions. One can only presume the number of cases that went unreported. It's not a very easy idea for a woman to stand up in court and accuse Ralph Gonsalves of rape or molestation. She can expect a disinterested Magistrate, a hostile police and barbed questions from planted press personnel. When you are challenging Comrade Ralph, you are entirely on your own against the entire establishment of SVG.
Think you have heard the last? Not when we are talking about Ralph Gonsalves. He stated coolly that he will deal with the families of the people who try to get in his way of winning the election for a record third time. If you are getting this feeling that St. Vincent and Grenadines is being ruled by the mafia, then you cannot be farther from the truth. Such cases occur everyday. It's time for the Vincentians to take a step and uproot this corrupted network once and for all.
