By Demion McTair. Updated 11:58 a.m., Friday, October 9, 2020, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Kingstown, St. Vincent (ONE NEWS SVG) – Anesia Baptiste, founder and leader of the Democratic Republican Party – DRP, has ended her role as leader of the organization.
In a video statement published on YouTube on October 9, 2020, Baptiste said she will not participate in the 2020 general election slated for November 5.
She said “at this time in the Earth’s history, I have decided to take up a new full-time focus of advancing the preaching the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, globally, in view of his second coming, which the unfolding of prophetic events clearly reveal is imminent”.
Baptiste thanked persons who supported her and the DRP over the years and for their stance on protecting inalienable and God-given rights.
Her resignation announcement comes a day after former opposition leader and former President of the New Democratic Party – NDP, Arnhim Eustace retired from competitive politics.
In 2012, Mr. Eustace fired Baptise as an opposition senator in the House of Assembly.
Baptiste played a key role in the NDP’s campaign against constitutional change in the 2009 referendum which the ULP government lost.
But, by 2012, Baptiste and the NDP parted ways over differences. On August 23rd, 2012, she formed the DRP.
The DRP unsuccessfully contested the 2015 general elections, only garnering 154 votes, or 0.2 percent of the overall votes cast.
Her resignation is expected to leave the November 5, 2020 race up to the two main political parties – the incumbent Unity Labour Party, and the opposition New Democratic Party.
The SVG Green Party is also expected to contest in the poll.
One News SVG 