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Senator Guy Mayers: Will he apologize for the 'witchcraft' comment?
What did he hope to achieve by saying that we were living in the “last days” and more so when he mentioned a ‘witchcraft’ conference that no one has been able to confirm actually took place in St Lucia?
Said Mayers: “There is talk of a witch conference to be held here. Whether it was held or not I don’t know but I was inundated with calls because people were so concerned that this thing was being allowed in St Lucia.
“Madame Speaker, from my understanding, it was started under the former administration, so you should know about it and a wife of a high ranking member of that administration was or still is the local coordinator of that event.
“God help us because in this time of distress this is the last thing we want to be happening in St Lucia.”
Since his comments Mayers has been criticized by talk-show host Rick Wayne, who said that rumour and hearsay “have no place in the highest office of the land.” He also said that Mayers should not have been making statements about a private citizen, who could not defend themself.
This week the St Lucia Labour Party women’s arm called on Senator Mayers to withdraw his statements or they will use their “influence to cause a change to the discourse on these matters.”
The St Lucia Labour Party Women’s Organization (SLPWO) called Mayers statements an abuse of the Parliament to slur “a woman of Labour as practicing witchcraft.” The women’s arm of the SLP cites this “hateful” label as a means to spurn fear and reprehension in the predominantly Christian community and among unsuspecting St Lucians. In their opinion, this is a “superfluous low blow by the government and contends that the UWP has to stoop to such lengths because it cannot attack the Labour Party on its record in or out of office so it is spreading lies about the opposition.”
Targeting Mayers, the SLPWO asserts that this is a reflection of the inadequacies of “men like himself within his party who are defined only by the office which good fortune has bestowed on them rather than from their own effort grounded in hard work, commitment, dedication and perseverance—unlike accomplished St Lucian women who should not have to make excuses for excelling academically, financially or otherwise.”
The SLPWO believes that Mayers’ statement “betrays the fear of those like him who attribute their emasculation to the accomplishment of the woman and by extension brings the entire Parliament of St Lucia into disrepute.” It is against this backdrop that the organization is calling on the Prime Minister to “force the Minister to issue a public apology to the people of
St Lucia.”
According to the SLPWO, women have come far in St Lucian society by pushing the limits of their achievement and asserting their right to inhabit the corridors of government, justice, medicine and education and not limit themselves to the armchairs of beauty salons. For the red party, the attack on a wife of one of their members is unwarranted.
The release goes on further to state that the SLPWO will continue to adhere to the highest ethical standards and implores the UWP to follow suit and restrain itself to common decency, value for fair play, respect for differences, and an abhorrence of corruptible behaviour.
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Utter garbage from the Women’s Arm. What of a million and one references to COmpton as Jab La; his alleged use of voodoo and a Haitian obeah person to win elections. Wasn’t it the most recent election that was also claimed to be won via occultic practices? I know there were quite a few calypsoes about it. In other words, stop acting like petulent children cry foul when your nasty rules don’t play out in your favour. Both sides are playing a vicious, filthy games with the hearts and minds of St. Lucians are their venue, and both sides continue to prove peurile, reprehensible and down right laughable, if one can bring one’s self to laugh at such obviously serious matters as the future of the country.
Really, Gentlemen please use your brains, experience and intellect a little more productivly, use it to improve St.Lucia and deal with the various crises’ happening right now. Leave the cartoons & soaps to t.v.
SPOT ON A.T. THE SHOES ARE ON THE OTHER FEET AND HURTING LIKE HELL!!
Freedom of speech, the luxury our forefathers fought for, the privilege we abuse.
Well said Sam! Instead of addressing the problems we are facing in St. Lucia, our leaders choose rather to distract us or try to, with a whole lot of hearsay , rumors and statements that they have no facts for, using the pretext of the ’sanctity’ of what is said in parliament.
Enough of the name calling and rumors ! It is time to find a solution to our woes.
Remember the population has a voice too!
Leave the crap for the road and address our concerns!
I find this laughable but not funny the uproar by the SLPWO to challenge a statement which didnot identify a particular person. I say if the cap fit wear it! Yes in this challenging times you would expect a higher intelectual debate from our representatives in parliament on both sides.
However, I do not see the need from an apology from the parliamentarian. SLPWO, the Opposition, government needs to stop being petulent and get on with the business of dealing with challenging economic crisis of the day.
First of all, what century are we living in?
Whatever ones belief, the fact that a minister can even feel that he is justified in announcing this makes a mockery of the entire population of Saint Lucia, and of their intelligence. No wonder the doors are open for unscrupulous individuals to do whatever they want in this country if ministers speak of such things that belongs in the dark ages; what next the Spanish inquisition?
I agree that the highest office in the land should not be used to promote hearsay but I like many other St Lucians got news of the alleged witchcraft conference and supposed people of high authority who participated. What surprises me is that all the Christian associations and various denominations remained mum on the issue. This is not the first time that the church has failed to play its role in society.
As for the women’s arm of the SLP….nothing but hot air!
it is the priviledge of the minister to air his views in parliament.Freedom of speech is just that freedom of speech WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION.
however there is much nastiness in terms of the now defunct witchcraft.In order for the craft to work all the nastiness has to be taken out of it and it must be used with a GOOD motivation not a hurtful motivation
Additionally the power of Spirit ,(which people call supernatural but is natural for us) and what lies BEYOND SPIRIT is the forte of the black man,and only the black man can reconnect himself\herself back to the Almighty Spirit who makes and sustains all things by its almighty power in order for the craft to be reenergised!!
Guy mayers should hold his head down in shame. To use the honourable house to perpetuate a rumour like that is distasteful. And lets not play games, Dr.anthony’s wife has been savaged in the rumour mill ever since this story surfaced. Therefore to suggest that mayers did not mention her name in the house is like talking to a bunch of dek deks. Whether it is from the SLP or from the man on the street, it does not matter, but guy mayers has to be scolded for his pathetic senate remarks.
Mayers is simply resorting to a tactic that right-wing political parties often use, most commonly the right wing elements of the republican party in the united states, and that is to play to the fears of the electorate and play God politics by painting the other side as ‘anti-god’ in a society where people still value religion. This tactic is mostly used in times of economic crisis to turn attention away from bread and butter issues to cultural and social wedge issues.
Thankfully, mayers attempt to follow the pat robertson political playbook has failed miserably!
I agree with mayers, stand up for what is right …. we have too many problems in St Lucia, and witchcraft is not the way for our island to be heading ..
Your reporters should check to see how broom sales have been lately.
this is just like american politics except they are actually shameless enough to say folks are using witch craft LOL here we dig up old bones on candidates and it seems in ST. LUCIA it is the same ,there is no such thing as witch craft only blessings, and the hardship we as human beings bring onto ourselves with free will .GOD is the one who determines fate ,not voodoo or other kinds of mumbo jumbo .Whether it be good or bad spells are just tricks the root man/woman uses to steal money ,and for government officials to even mention it is not a god look for ST LUCIA when the world is watching. I am an american and my husband is lucian and i find this story very interesting that the people even give it the time of day !! .Here in the US both parties would be destroyed and publicly humiliated to the point that their careers would be over i think lucians are GREAT but that story makes people from other places view you all differently
Fair_balanced.
Here’s what. Do your part to get to the bottom of this. Check with Vigie and Vieux Fort to see if there has been an increase in unexplained air traffic. This can be very dangerous to jet engines. Especially if broom fragments and pieces of loose witch cape get sucked into the turbines.
What is so interesting with this blog is that almost every single commentator thus far is pretending to be politically educated, enlightened, and so on, whether presumably UWP or SLP. Yet I find that the most valuable comments have come from “Liberal,” who obviously READS-up on politics. Every single other person obviously is only shooting off his or her mouth and head, about his feelings, passions or perceptions. Folks, I have said before and I will say it again, that for you to provide valuable commentary for the readership, you have to READ, READ, READ, read FAR and WIDE, and STOP just shooting off your mouths the way folks like Guy Joseph and Guy Mayers do. READ my brothers and sisters, no matter which Party you support, and this is the only way we will develop Saint Lucia and take it away from the witchcraft-inspired Dark Ages. You can start your reading lessons with “Liberal” above. Then go on the NET from day to day, and READ-UP on politics, science, computer science, English Language, philosophy, economics, medicine, culture, social development, mining, archaeology, engineering, BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS, then and only then, will you make valuable contributions to the BLOG. READ my brothers and my sisters!!! One Love from London. Donna.
Wow Sista Donna! I`ll second you on that comment, and let`s put the Kwéyol language in it, when it comes to mind broadening views!!!!!!!!!! Apwan Kwéyol say moun la!!!
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