<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has described Julian Francis as the best political General Secretary the region has seen. Speaking in a brief interview with Asberth News Network<\/em> (ANN), Dr. Gonsalves responded to concerns about Francis\u2019 health and how it might impact the Unity Labour Party\u2019s (ULP) performance in the upcoming general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA 100% fit Julian is formidable,\u201d Gonsalves stated. \u201cHe is still there with his wit, and he will be there to guide because we have other people. He can\u2019t do the work like before\u2014working the long hours and doing the physical work\u2014but you don\u2019t replace a man like Julian that easily, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gonsalves continued to praise Francis\u2019 contributions, describing him as \u201cabsolutely incredible\u201d and \u201can excellent political organizer and manager.\u201d He noted Francis\u2019 past role as acting CEO of the National Commercial Bank before being dismissed by former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere has not been any mass political party in the region with political skills like Julian\u2019s. He is an excellent organizer with multiple skills,\u201d Gonsalves said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast, he criticized the opposition New Democratic Party\u2019s (NDP) attempts to find a strong General Secretary since 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook at the NDP\u2014since 2001, they have tried several persons, from Allan Crickshank to Brenton Smith. Not one of them could come close to Julian,\u201d he asserted. \u201cThe best person they had of substance was Jeanie Ollivierre, a good organizer. Maybe the NDP never liked strong women, just like I think they made a mistake by not choosing Louise Mitchell. But that\u2019s not my business. I run against whoever they bring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked if the ULP was fully prepared for the elections, Gonsalves admitted that no party is ever completely ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNobody can be fully ready. You know, when you have an exam, and you get into the room, there\u2019s always something you wish you had gone over. But we will be more prepared than the opposition,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has described Julian Francis as the best political General Secretary the region has seen. Speaking in a brief interview with Asberth News Network (ANN), Dr. Gonsalves responded to concerns about Francis\u2019 health and how it might impact the Unity Labour Party\u2019s (ULP) performance in the upcoming general elections. \u201cA 100%<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":41467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mainstory"],"yoast_head":"\n