The above caption is meant to be a continuation of my September 3rd 2021 article – captioned “The Grenada Movement (TGM)” – and this is so, in a deliberate attempt to extend and explore the making of a coalition – a coming together of all opposition political parties to offer Grenada what it is crying out for: a (political) rescue mission to redeem and restore poor Grenada from a corrupt and incompetent government – “as we aspire, build and grow” into “a people in more than name”.
The call is direct and appealing to all opposition parties, as “where there’s a will there’s a way” to arrive at a working formula – a pragmatic solution to accommodate the various factions in the interest of Grenada’s democratic survival for our present, and more especially for future generations yet unborn.
To avoid ambiguity, the existing parties are named as key actors in the unfolding scenario as follows: The National Democratic Congress (NDC), The Grenada Movement (TGM), the revival of GULP via political guru– Michael Baptiste, Washington Edward’s party, Mr. Maitland’s party and any other political party unmentioned or in the making – NOW IS THE TIME FOR GENUINE PATRIOTISM and not personal ambition to be Prime Minister, in the cry for national survival and the restoration of our sovereignty which has been bartered away in exchange for unsavoury secret deals with so-called CBI foreign investors and other would-be benefactors, as Grenadians become 2nd class citizens in their own country.
On September 7, 2021 while preparing this October 2021 article, my attention was drawn to the morning GBN programme – “To the Point”, when the person being interviewed was Mr. Phillip Alexander of the NDC, who commented on the present state of Grenada’s underdevelopment in general, but more specifically about its failing infrastructure islandwide, and the proposed purchase by GRENLEC of inadequate capacity generators, together with the effect of the pandemic which would be a significant factor in the developmental equation in a post-pandemic Grenada.
Mr. Alexander’s expose’ was very insightful and in depth, and enquired whether GRENLEC would be going back to the 1980’s when the Worrell Report highlighted the incompetence of the then actors, who are the same two persons that negotiated the repurchase in 2020 of the company from WRB for EC$200 million – with the promise of an enhanced service at lower (electricity) consumer rates, which is yet to happen almost a year on.
As a matter of fact the opposite (higher rates) have now become the order of the day.
Mr. Alexander was of the view, as most thinking Grenadians, and those that were too young to experience the blackouts and load-shedding of the 1980’s – that Grenadians in 2021 and beyond should never return to those dark and dreary days under the guise of “ownership” – while the service and public demand (requirements) – degenerate under a Board, whose loyalty is to the NNP and not to the Grenadian consumer and taxpayer who owns the facility and must pay the bills, even as decisions are made which are inimical to the public’s long-term interest, thus relegating our country to a persistent “ideology” of underdevelopment .
That said, we must now return to the meat of the matter – that is the replacement of an egocentric government – whose members are not in “cinque” with the Grenadian beat of the 21st century. Echoes of the poor presentation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the recent United Nations General Assembly in Washington D.C.
To achieve this objective, in my view – and with the blowing of the current wind of change, a coalition of all opposition parties in a “free and fair” election is the sine qua non (essential component) to this achievement as “where there’s a will there’s a way”, which would require a vigorous and robust response by all opposition parties, at regulating the election process as required by our constitution, that is – with no interference by the Prime Minister in order to obtain the will of the Grenadian people in the governance of our country.
In this regard I must agree with the sentiment expressed by J.K. Roberts in his August 25, 2021 policy paper when he stated inter alia that: “The fact though is that all efforts for winning would be futile …. When it should be clear and certain that the process for “free and fair” elections is the core of democracy and is the gateway to governance”; and as a regional politician once said – elections are not won by seeking redress in a court of law after the polls have been cast, but on the conduct of the election process before and on constant vigilance with appropriate and timely election day, which the opposition parties (the coalition) must ensure is free and fair (not rigged) by action.
In conclusion the writer must compliment the NDC through the excellent presentation by Mr. Alexander.
This approach should be a regular feature of the party in order to regain its position as the official opposition – and a government-in-waiting up to election call in 2023, while Grenadians are waiting with baited breath on the outcome of its convention later this month, and to wish the party God’s speed.
And this is why the call has become urgent – that WE THE PEOPLE and more especially the youth – must come to the rescue of our country, by initiating the PASSING PARADE, in order to usher in a new dispensation which empowers our people in an equitable, prosperous and just society (Paradise Regained).
Norris Mitchell