Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has called on supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a meeting Sunday night in Café in the rural St Andrew South-east constituency to prepare for the next general election.
The Prime Minister who stood alongside the party’s candidate for the upcoming national poll, Education Minister Senator David Andrew urged NDC’ites to begin mobilising voters by knocking on doors to ensure that people are registered and to assist them to identify their polling divisions.
“So, when we leave here tonight…it is boots, boots, boots,” PM Mitchell said, adding, “Thank you very much. I love you, and remember, get ready. The conch shell will blow.”
Sen. Andrew is seeking to overthrow the incumbent, Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre who is also the Political Leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP).
Pierre has been telling a number of Constituents that she will win the seat again in the election for NNP to become the first female Prime Minister in the country.
The Opposition Leader has won St Andrew South-east in the 2013, 2018 and 2022 general election.
Prior to the Grenadian leader delivering his address, Senator Quinc Britton, the former NDC Candidate for St Mark in the 2022 general election, was called onto the stage to blow “a conch shell” a few times amidst an outpouring of cheers from the gathering.
The Prime Minister urged him to continue practicing with “the Conch Shell” as the date for the national poll will be announced “soon”.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, who led NDC to victory in the June 2022 general election, told supporters it was “clear you’re ready” and suggested the party was moving closer to election mode.
“Once you’re ready, and I’m ready, and we are ready, then it’s you, me, us ready,” he said.
Congress is expected to select its final 15th candidate this week at a meeting to be held in the rural St Andrew North-east seat held by opposition member Kate Lewis of the New National Party (NNP).
There are reports that about six persons have expressed interest in being selected for the final spot – a former Trade Union leader with the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), a current Senator in the Upper House of Parliament, a Nurse, as well as a businessman who failed to win the seat on two previous occasions for Congress.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that his party could make gains along Grenada’s west coast, telling supporters in St. Mark and St. George North West that “deliverance day is coming.”
“Proper representation is coming. And we want to show you that when we say we will deliver, we deliver,” he said.
The NDC is confident of winning the St Mark Constituency for the first time in 42 years with its candidate, former Secondary School Principal Caris DeGannes who will be coming up against another newcomer Dr Myanna Charles of the NNP.
Congress is said to be planning a massive rally in St Mark around October 4 as a show of support for DeGannes, widely considered as its best candidate for years in the Constituency considered as a garrison of the opposition.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell also used the “mini-rally” to highlight his administration’s record in the past four-and-a-half years, pointing to pension payments to public servants, twice-monthly salary payments and the introduction of a national minimum wage.
He also highlighted Grenada’s falling unemployment rate, which declined from 16.6 percent in the second quarter of 2021 to 7.5 percent by October 2025, according to government figures.
Youth unemployment also fell from 42 percent to 20.2 percent over the same period.
“So, when people are working, when the minimum wage is rising, poverty is going to crumble,” Mitchell said. “Poverty will decline. Dignity, respect, and economic growth will take place.”
PM Dickon Mitchell also said that unemployment had fallen among several demographic groups, including young women, who have historically recorded some of the country’s highest unemployment rates.
The upcoming national poll is expected to be a two-way fight involving Congress and NNP with the other party – the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) not expected to have any significant impact among the Electorate.