IT WAS A GRAND PARTY for supporters of the ruling Unity Labour Party on Monday night.
On a new playing field in the community of Hope Penniston which saw devastating floods as a result of a passing trough system in Christmas 2013, thousands walked across the recently rebuilt bridge to listen to Dr Ralph Gonsalves and his slate of candidates trumpet their stewardship of the country over the last five years.
It was the final rally of a month-long campaign that started on November 7. Vincentians go to the polls today.
Supported by regional colleague former prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer as well as by chairman of the Caribbean Pan African Network David Comissiong, who confessed he was born in St Vincent, and Editor Emeritus of the Nation Publishing Company, Harold Hoyte, Gonsalves begged Vincentians to go out and vote as his party and he seek a fourth term in office.
He promised that when he won the elections today, he would come back to the community and Argyle for a grand celebration.
Candidate for the South Leeward constituency, Jomo Thomas, also urged Vincentians to go out and vote. He, too, provided an update on the party’s achievements in the last five years.
Meanwhile, Comissiong hailed the ULP as the Labour party of the region for its inclusion of Pan Africanists in its party. He predicted St Vincent was “on the verge of taking off”.
“I came of my own volition,” he told the Vincentian crowd. “When I came I was reporting for duty. I was awaiting instructions.”
The large crowd of flag and rag waving people later partied well into the night to the tunes of Luciano and a host of popular local artistes including Lutha.