Former school principal Nigel DeGale has confirmed that he is seeking a spot on the list of 15 candidates to contest the upcoming general election for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
DeGale told THE NEW TODAY on Thursday that he is offering himself up for the St George North-west constituency held in Parliament since 1984 by former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell who is not seeking re-election for another term.
The former head teacher at St George’s Anglican Primary school known as ‘Hindsey” reportedly appeared this week before the NDC Screening Committee.
DeGale is the brother of the controversial former Superintendent of Police Anthony DeGale who had a close relationship with the ex-Prime Minister in his capacity as Head of the Special Branch of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
Anthony DeGale was embroiled in the spygate incident in the buildup to the 2008 general election when one of his officers was arrested by Congress officials using a device to secretly tape record an executive meeting of the party on Lucas Street.
Anthony DeGale was also at the centre of another controversy when he formed a human shield with members of the Police Force to prevent a Bailiff of the Court from serving papers on Keith Mitchell arising from allegations that he collected US$500, 000.00 in bribery payment in a briefcase from imprisoned fraudster Eric Resteiner in Switzerland in June 2000.
Nigel DeGale has often told close aides that he had never supported NNP and was aligned to Congress.
His name had also surfaced in the 2022 general election as a potential candidate as replacement for current Attorney-General Senator Claudette Joseph.
The other person said to be interested in getting the nod by Congress to contest the seat is the Chairman of the NDC St George North-west constituency branch, Dr Malachy Dottin.
DeGale said he had fully recovered from a stroke that he suffered about two years ago which resulted in him seeking medical care in the United States.
He spoke of being fully fit and ready for the task ahead and has returned to normal activities including being a tutor at Karate classes.
According to a well-placed party official, he is surprised that Dr Dottin is now offering himself at this late stage to get the nod as the candidate for the seat in the upcoming general election.
He said that the Cuban-educated Dottin has been attending executive meetings of the party as Chairman of the branch and never indicated before that he had interest in being selected as the NDC candidate in St George North-west.
Dottin has been serving as the Caretaker for the party in the constituency after Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell fired Senator Jonathan LaCrette from the Cabinet almost three years ago.
La Crette failed in his bid to unseat Keith Mitchell in the 2022 national poll.
The NNP has selected former Chief of Protocol Adrian Joseph as Dr Mitchell’s replacement for the next election.
Congress has three outstanding constituencies to identify candidates – St Patrick East, St John and St George North-west.