My purpose in life is to serve humanity.
Those were the words uttered by Opposition Member of Parliament for the rural St Andrew North-west constituency Delma Thomas as she reiterated her commitment to co-operate with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of new Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell despite reservations from her political leader, ex-Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.
Addressing a Grenada independence celebration event in New York last weekend, the former Minister of Social Development in the NNP administration of 2018 to 2022 reassured nationals living in the Diaspora that she will continue to embrace the government side in the interest of national development.
“Our strength must continue to lie in unity and co-operation, understanding always that whatever perceived differences we seem to may have, we are all part of this one-Grenadian family,” she told hundreds of Grenadians living in New York.
MP Thomas said that as Grenada moves into the next year to mark its 50th anniversary of independence “we as the leaders of our country cannot continue to divide our people and therefore I urge all of us let us work together for the people of our tri-island State of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.”
“As one of the leaders of Grenada, tonight in New York among you … I pledge my 13 years commitment to the people of St Andrew North-west first because they are the ones who elected me …. but together Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique I am here committing myself to you the people and so we should never continue to allow party to divide us.”
“When we have an election we will compete – election is over and therefore we must pledge our united effort as we celebrate 50 years next year, we cannot continue with division and therefore I pledge to continue to work and to work with the government as a member of the opposition working together for the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” said the female politician.
Grenada has been bitterly divided politically among supporters of the “Green Machine” of former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and Congress which is a breakaway faction of the original NNP that was formed after the collapse of the 1979-83 Grenada Revolution.
Dr. Mitchell, the longest serving Prime Minister on the land has often been accused by political opponents of trying to create a one-party state in Grenada.
MP Delma Thomas also referred specifically to the invitation extended to her by the Diaspora to travel to New York for the 49th independence gala alongside two Congress government ministers – Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Andall and Minister responsible for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation, Andy Williams.
She said: “I am happy to serve with my brother Andy, my brother Andall and the entire government. We will work to promote unity among our people.
“I look forward to continue working for the next four-and-a-half years for Grenada and …. for that four-and-a-half years you can count on me working for the people of Grenada.
‘I shall continue to serve as I believe… my purpose in life is to serve humanity and so I will continue to serve.”
Since the change of government following the June 23, 2022 general election, MP Thomas has been engaged in regular visits throughout the constituency with Minister of State for Social Development Gloria Thomas whom she defeated in the battle to represent the constituency.
The defeated Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has not taken too kindly to MP Thomas’ flirtation with the NDC regime and has publicly expressed reservations.