Without giving specifics, Political Leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP), Emmalin Pierre has identified several policy initiatives to be embarked upon if Grenadians vote her into office to replace Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell in the upcoming general election.
Addressing the annual Convention of the party last Sunday night, Pierre, the current Leader of the Opposition in Parliament said, “We will complete every single promise that we make to the people of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.”
She accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of making many promises to the electorate to win the 2022 general election but has since disappointed the people in office.
“Tonight I say we just don’t promise as a party, we deliver to the people of Grenada, Carriaocu & Petite Martinique,” she said.
The female politician identified a key policy of a new NNP government as to jealously guard the nation’s financial purse and promised to bring about Tax reductions on water and electricity in the interest of the people.
“Brothers and Sisters, a government that taxes your water is a government that has run out of ideas of how to move this country forward so their only option is to dig deeper into your pocket,” she told the packed hall of NNP members and supporters at a school in St Patrick.
“We are not only Brothers and Sisters undoing the damages that they did – we are committing to you tonight that the NNP government will not just undo but we are going to do better,” she said.
According to Pierre, a new NNP administration will revise the list of Price Controlled Goods on the island in order to further reduce the price and cost of electricity and provide additional financial relief for workers and businesses in the country.
“…We will stimulate the economy and we will put money back where it belongs – in the pockets of ordinary people in this country,” she said.
Pierre gave a commitment for an NNP regime to once again get involved in “meaningful engagement” with the Social Partners in the country like the private sector, Grenada Employers Federation (GEF), Conference of Churches and Trade Unions to address issues affecting workers.
“This approach Brothers and Sisters reflects our commitment to inclusiveness and to building a government that is truly powered by the people of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique,” she said.
The NNP political boss told supporters that her party in government will embark upon a programme “to recover your economy.”
She re-iterated that when NNP was voted out of office in 2022, the island had a surplus of half-a-billion dollars and a strong economy but the country is now “in the red and operating at a deficit.”
She charged that the Congress government “cannot pay ordinary people when the month ends” and that the country was living on “borrowed money” and way above it means.
Pierre promised that under an NNP government it will make “major investments” in agriculture, Tourism and the Manufacturing sectors in order “to boost the economy and put money in the pockets of men and women on the ground.”
“I promise you tonight that we will be shutting down reckless borrowing and reckless spending, bloated travel, runaway deficit and serious allegations of corruption will not be a thing of the New National Party government.
“That is my promise to the people of this country – you can trust us to manage your resources well.
Pierre stressed that a new NNP government will deliberately engage in a policy “to empower our youth” and accused the Congress regime of neglecting the young people of the country.
”Too many young people feel that they are forced to leave Grenada just to build a future and those who choose to stay are left unprotected when they need protection the most – we will change that,” she said.
According to the Opposition Leader, a new NNP administration will introduce a national Rent-owned Starter Home programme to address a housing shortage in the country especially among the lower strata in the society.
“We will deliver affordable Start Homes in which eligible working families can pay towards ownership rather than be trapped in rent,” she said.
Pierre’s NNP currently controls only 4 seats in Parliament and has been calling on Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to call fresh general elections in order to give the people an opportunity to decide on who should govern the island.
The Prime Minister has until 2027 to call fresh elections.