The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as “baseless” statements made by the Prime Minister and Political Leader of the ruling New National Party (NNP), Dr. Keith Mitchell, against both parties hosting political events on the same day leading up to the highly anticipated general election.
Addressing party supporters during a political meeting at the Sauteurs Bus Terminus in St. Patrick on Sunday, Prime Minister Mitchell called out Congress for holding events in the same constituency, and on the same day as his ruling party, describing it as “a dangerous thing,” that can lead to confrontation, and called for “peaceful elections.”
“In an election, people sometimes, they can lose their cool, and therefore, we as leaders must do everything possible not to do anything that can encourage confrontation (and) I am calling on the National Democratic Congress, if there are leaders in that party, to desist from that type of behaviour, and let us work together to ensure that next election, when it is called, will be peaceful, and its conclusion will be conclusive in the interest of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique,” he said.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the NDC, Orlando Romain, in a video released on social media on Tuesday, dismissed the PM Mitchell’s “less than favourable” utterances, as being “baseless, and can stir and incite acrimony, tension, and violence when there is no need for such.”
Romain charged that the Prime Minister’s statements are “not surprising” as “it is known that such words are used to stir up confrontation and ‘mawet’ politics.”
Romain reiterated the NDC’s commitment to a conflict-free, clean, and fair election,” stating the NDC’s expectation that “the NNP will do likewise.”
In a prepared statement, the NDC PRO said: “The comments made by Dr. Mitchell in Sauteurs last Sunday, suggesting that the NDC should not be having events when the NNP has events is baseless and can possibly stir and incite acrimony, tension and violence when there is no need for such.
This is particularly so in view of the fact that representatives from both parties met last Wednesday with the Royal Grenada Police Force to discuss and agree upon a protocol for the hosting of events.
The protocol put forward was fully embraced by the NDC and all parties shook hands having endorsed the recommendation of the RGPF. Therefore, these utterances which can potentially stir up discord and tension are very disheartening. However, it is not surprising.
It is known that such words are normally used to stir up confrontational and ‘mawet’ politics. The NDC rejects such ‘tabay’ and ‘bacchanal’ and will not be drawn into this.
“We are disappointed that the Prime Minister views the discipline and conduct of Grenadians with such low esteem and suggests the worst of our people. We do not believe the Grenadian people will so easily descend into chaos and violence, and we rebuke any such suggestions.
Rather than be distracted by this “bacchanal” type politics, let us focus on the issues that are really affecting the nation such as a high unemployment, the poverty that is visible all around Grenada, skyrocketing cost of living, poor health care and an economy that is battered and dying.
So let me state for the record that the NDC does not have any intention of mimicking the politics of the NNP as there isn’t much there to emulate. Once more, the NDC has demonstrated its commitment to a conflict-free, clean and fair election and we hope that the NNP will do likewise.
We believe in the democratic process, and we have confidence in the resolve and civility of the Grenadian people”.
During Sunday’s political meeting, Prime Minister Mitchell used the occasion to speak highly of the two (2) candidates selected by the NNP to contest the upcoming general election – the current MP for the St. Patrick East constituency and Government Minister Pamela Moses, and Government Senator Victor Phillip for St. Patrick West.
He also used the opportunity to gauge the potential of Moses and Phillip against the NDC’s pick to contest the St. Patrick’s area, a former high-ranking officer in the Ministry of Finance Dennis Cornwall for St. Patrick’s East and, a former Deputy Political Leader of the NDC Joseph Andall for the St. Patrick’s West, who also held an event on Sunday in the village of Chantimelle.
Prime Minister Mitchell contended that “the combination in St. Patrick’s of Pamela Moses and Victor Phillip will be a devastating combination of political work against the service that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and their representative would even think of bringing to St. Patrick’s.
“They represent the best of St. Patrick’s, and sisters, and brothers I expect you to give them your full support,” PM Mitchell told party supporters during Sunday’s official candidate launch.
Earlier in the month, the Prime Minister had alluded to two factions within the NNP in St Patrick West, with one known to be anti the candidacy of Phillip, a former Lecturer at the T.A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC).
Speculation is rife that these elements are aligned with outgoing Member of Parliament, Anthony Boatswain and were fearful that they would lose financial and other benefits in the constituency as the new candidate would seek to surround himself with a new team of persons.