Political activist Kennedy Budhlall has said that Sunday’s mass rally by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which attracted an estimated 7,000 to 10, 000 persons would create fear in opponents like the New National Party (NNP) and his own Democratic People’s Movement (DPM).
Budhlall told the host of the Ridealong social media programme, Junior George on Monday night that those who labelled the NDC as “a one-term party” in the past should rethink their position as they will have a battle on their hands to remove Congress from power in the upcoming national poll due in 2027 for the latest.
“This crowd (Sunday) will send a chilling, chilling down the spine of the NNP …. I don’t know if they slept good (Sunday) night,” he said.
Budhlall stated that he did not foresee NNP’s Keith Mitchell, the former Prime Minister and his successor Emmalin Pierre, the former Education Minister enjoying “a good night’s rest” on Sunday given the massive “sea of yellow” seen at the Mega Rally held at the Morne Rouge playing field.
He believes that the NNP leaders will now have to go back on the drawing board and re-strategise because their own narrative pushed over the years had been defeated that NDC was only a “One-term” government whenever they get elected into office.
NDC was first voted into office in 1990 but was voted out five years later in 1995 amidst infighting in its leadership and again in 2008 but five years later it lost the 2013 general election as the party was affected by protracted leadership feuding.
The electorate returned Congress to power in 2022 with a 9-6 victory over NNP and current Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has not been challenged by anyone for leadership of the party and country.
Budhlall who served with NNP for several years as a member noted that the position adopted by the party over the years is that “NDC is a weak party, they have inexperienced politicians, they cannot govern effectively and them is a one-term government.”
“I think Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and the NDC put that to rest (Sunday) evening – I am convinced,” he said.
The St. Andrew-based political activist acknowledged that the NDC massive showing on Sunday night also surpassed the impressive display put on by DPM at its launch a few months ago at the nearby Trade Centre at Morne Rouge.
Budhall acknowledged that what he witnessed first-hand at the NDC self-styled Mega Rally in the South of the island was “beyond the people’s expectations – they were really, really good”.
“Every opposition party must face the reality that NDC is not a walk over come next election,” he said.
The DPM member pointed out that he was paying keen interest at the different strata of the Grenadian society in attendance at the rally and was very impressed as “there were a lot of youth involvement” given the fact that 65% of the population of Grenada is 35 years and under.
Budhall also said he detected that Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell was “very comfortable” and looked to be at ease with himself to the point where “he wasn’t afraid to say that my election will be later on in the year.”
“That is the kind of confidence he has in his party and in his belief that the Opposition is no match to him,” he said.
“I am really, really pleased and satisfied with the Prime Minister’s disposition – the way he handles things ….,” he added.
Budhlall told the programme host that he left the rally convinced that PM Dickon Mitchell “is not a coward at all” as he was bold in telling NDC’ites in the open the kind of timeframe he has in mind to set the date for the next general election.
He also said that with the election not being held anytime soon and most likely in 2027 that is good for the recently formed DPM as it will now have more time on its hands to build up its organisational structure and to better prepare for the upcoming poll.
The NNP has already launched its full slate of 15 candidates for the election while DPM has announced about 10 candidates.