FRIDAY, OCTOBER
16, 2020
VOLUME 114, No.42
Black Sands opening unknown Page 3
LAST WEEK THURSDAY, October 8, would go down in our history for a number of reasons. There are, however, two (reasons) that many will consider significant, i.e. the two most important. The first was that it was on that day, his first day out after a 14-day mandatory COVID-19 related quarantine, that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves ‘rang the bell’ and declared that November 5, 2020 will be general elections day. The announcement was made hours after the adjournment to November 12, of a sitting of the House of Assembly. Dr. Gonsalves was reportedly in quarantine until 3 p.m. and did not attend the sitting. Parliament was dissolved last week Friday, October 9, and Nomination Day was set for October 20. Dr. Gonsalves, though, before he
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In announcing the elections date, Dr. Gonsalves said that he anticipated that the elections would be held in a “peaceful environment.” He assured the citizenry that all matters related to the holding of “free and fair elections” were in place; promised “a clean, informative and uplifting campaign” in which he was Dr. Gonsalves confident now ready to rumble in earnest; and predicted that the Opposition New The date for the next general Democratic Party (NDP) was in for elections is some time before the another defeat. constitutionally due date, March 15, The ULP under the leadership of 2021. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, now 74 years It is also the first time since he was old, is looking to take an bestowed with the authority to call unprecedented fifth consecutive general elections, that Dr. Gonslaves victory at the polls; and Dr. Gonsalves was calling one outside of the month of feels that if there is a high voter December. He had previously called turnout, marked by a high turnout of elections on and led his ULP to victory young people, that his ULP will win on December 07, 2005, December 13, the election. 2010 and December 09, 2015.
made the announcement of the elections date, was visibly at the helm of a Unity Labour Party (ULP) ‘Road Caravan’ bolstered by a specially prepared truck with amplified music, and soca artistes Fireman and Luta leading the ‘Labour-laced’ chants from the truck.
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ULP punches NDP Page 20
We are not free Page 36
Top Left: Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, seen here on the truck that led a Road Caravan last week Thursday, rang the elections bell not long after the caravan came to an end. Top Right: It must have been a bitter-sweet day for Arnhim Eustace (with walking stick) pictured on his final day as an MP with his parliamentary colleagues. (Absent: St. Clair Leacock and Kay Bacchus-Baptiste)
Eustace’s farewell dampened The second event of significance that occurred last week Thursday, was paying of tributes during the sitting of the House of Assembly, to Arhnim Eustace, 76, who was retiring after 22 Continued on Page 3.