The case of the two horses is a political issue that the main opposition New National Party (NNP) is trying to use against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
THE NEW TODAY is doubtful that any of the high-profile lawyers who are members of NNP – former Anguilla Attorney-General Dwight Horsford or newly elected General Secretary Dylan Charles – will be associated with the lawsuit filed by the individual known as “Horseman”.
The lawsuit served on the government would most likely have been the work of some lawyer on the island who is looking for something “special” if the NNP happens to win the next general election.
This attorney-at-law might have eyes set on the top position of Attorney-General or to place his/her law practice in the frontline to benefit from State work in the event of a change of government.
The evidence points to “The Horseman” being deeply involved with the Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre who is also the Political Leader of NNP and looking for issues to help bolster her standing in the upcoming general election.
The individual is from the Mardi Gras, St Paul’s area and could be a voter in one of three constituencies – St George North-east, St George South-east or even St David where the NNP did poorly in the 2022 poll.
The background information is that Emmalin Pierre had forged a close relationship with “The Horseman” many years ago as a new member of the NNP administration due to his troublesome past.
He is known to tell people in the area that the Opposition Leader is “his aunt” and will do anything for her.
Many of the villagers describe him as “very disrespectful” and one who has “anger issues”.
The “Horseman” is also well-known to members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) given his character and questionable background.
Is this the kind of person that the NNP would like to put in the forefront of their battle to unseat Congress from power?
The Opposition Leader is fully aware that what her party needs to do is real and serious organised political work on the ground in order to get back into office.
The “Horseman” issue will not generate the kind of groundswell that the NNP needs at this point in time as the country is virtually into the final 12 months before a general election is held.
Old wounds would be re-opened on the issue of the Two Horses.
Under a previous NNP government of Keith Mitchell, a very high-handed approach was used against a senior public officer who did not give approval to a major hotel chain in the south of the island to import soil into the country.
The Head of the Pest Management Unit, Paul Graham was opposed to the request for the soil importation on the grounds that he feared that insects unknown to Grenada could be brought into the island.
Graham was over-ruled and humiliated by Keith Mitchell who reminded him rather rudely that “the bucks stop with him” and he would give the go-ahead for the hotel to bring in the soil.
There is no scientific evidence available but many Grenadians blame the soil for bringing into the country the red millipede that was detected around the international airport shortly afterwards and soon spread throughout the south of the island.
The NNP might just be using “The Horseman” to try and score some cheap political points in the run-up to the upcoming general election.
However, the State has enough ammunition at its disposal to lay criminal charges against the individual.
It cannot be denied that “The Horseman” flouted the law as he brought two diseased horses into the country without having in his possession the necessary permit.
The attorney representing him will have a task on hand to convince a law Court that the individual is entitled to some kind of compensation given the nature of the case.
Is this a classical example of politicians once again using persons to achieve their own ends and objectives?
Time will tell where “The Horseman” case will go.