BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas has accused popular social commentator Washington ‘Washie’ Archibald of levelling attacks on him as part of an “agenda” to bring his administration to its knees.
Archibald hosts a live morning programme on WINNFM 98.9 dubbed “Ask Washie”, during which he expresses his opinion on a number of issues including the way in which the country is being run. This show runs from 5-6 a.m. and is part of the “Dupont Experience” which begins a couple of hours earlier.
The PM spoke yesterday (Apr. 14) on his weekly radio programme, “Ask the PM”, and in response to a caller said he is aware that Archibald continues to launch “unwarranted...personal attack(s)” on him.
Dr. Douglas explained that he made a move to meet with Archibald to ascertain the nature of his “problem”, notwithstanding which, the attacks continue.
“The caller is right; there is freedom of the press and freedom of speech in this country! But when it descends to unwarranted continuing personal attack and abuse, that, of course, goes beyond simply freedom of the press and freedom of speech. I am sure the caller would have heard and I myself have said that as a result of this continuing attack, there was a very concerned citizen who asked me to visit Mr. Archibald to find out exactly what the problem was. I have made reference to that meeting in the past and what happened as a result.”
The PM, who is also leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, suggested that Archibald is being used to push an agenda birthed by “perpetrators” who are intent on destroying the “Labour Government”.
“The whole point is that Mr. Archibald is carrying out an agenda. The agenda is part of that which has been designed by perpetrators to bring down the Labour Government. And they believe that the only way to bring the Labour Government down is to attack, relentlessly, the Prime Minister as the leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Government of the day. And so I understand very clearly where that is coming from. It is because I understand where that is coming from why I have refused to respond in kind.”
Dr. Douglas declared that he holds Archibald in very high regard and respects him as an elderly individual. He also informed that despite his ability to respond fittingly to his “attacks”, he has opted not to do so.
“I have respect for Mr. Archibald as a senior person in this country and I said that to him in the meeting I had with him. Of course, I believe that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis know that I am capable of responding appropriately to Mr. Archibald’s attack, but I have respect for myself and I have respect for Mr. Archibald as a senior citizen.
“Mr. Archibald is not without blame, is not without sin...because, who is without sin and blame except Christ? Even Christ who was sinless and blameless was crucified as we just experienced from the ceremonies over the last few days.”
Seeking to drive home the point that he has “nothing personal against Mr. Archibald”, PM Douglas said it was his administration that “honoured Mr. Archibald for his contribution in education though he is not without blame and is not without sin. We recognised his contribution as an educator and we named a school after him. I presided over that meeting in my Cabinet that took that decision.
“I have nothing personal against Mr. Archibald but Mr. Archibald, I believe, is carrying out a personal agenda that has been prepared in order to bring the government that I lead down. He says I am in power for too long. I have too much power. Prime Minister(s) in small countries, according to him in our conversations, have too much power.”
Archibald, according to the PM, “forces his opinion over on those people (the electorate) by attacking me relentlessly every morning when people wake up”, because he believes he is wiser, more educated and “understands politics more than the thousands of voters who vote every five years to maintain a government in power...”
Prime Minister Douglas ended by noting that if, in Archibald’s opinion, people should begin their day listening to “abuse and rhetoric...as part of his campaign against me personally, let him continue. God, I believe, is in the midst of this and He’s watching over us. That’s all I have to say.”
