Canadian-based Grenadian researcher Dr. Justine Pierre has sent out a strong warning to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
In a letter sent to the party’s General Secretary Learrie Barry, Pierre reminds Congress that it was only able to win the 2022 general election on the issue of paying Pension to retired public officers and the Transformational Agenda for the country.
On a recent visit to the island, he said: “We could not find 50 persons whose lives have been transformed over the last two years as a result of this transformation agenda.”
“…I am asking you and your Political Party (NDC) to urgently address this burning issue among voters, especially NNP voters who had made the switch to NDC,” he told Barry.
Following is the full text of the letter:-
Dear Mr. Barry,
How are you?
As General Secretary of the NDC I want to inform you that I was in Grenada last week and had a series of meetings with a cross section of the voting population, including employees from both the public and private sectors in Grenada.
Many persons who voted for the NDC did so due to the Pensions payments and the Transformation agenda. (TA).
68% of persons who receive pension payment had once supported the NNP as compared to the NDC.
The greatest challenge the NDC has is the Transformation agenda, which has never been operationalise even though it was one of the most important election promises.
From the 3,541 NNP supporters who voted for NDC, 80% (81.6%) of them stated that their decision to vote for the NDC was due to the pension payments and the Transformation agenda.
The pension payments were made. However, the transformation agenda is yet to materialize. The NDC has a smaller voter base of approximately 22, 800 persons, as compared to NNP, 30,000 people (data from 2022 elections).
Sir, you must urgently address this issue!!!
I inquired with seven of the ministries. However, none of them had any transformation plan.
We could not find 50 persons whose lives have been transformed over the last two years as a result of this transformation agenda.
As a citizen and a researcher, I am asking you and your Political Party (NDC) to urgently address this burning issue among voters, especially NNP voters who had made the switch to NDC.
This Transformation agenda must be a part of the government and party agenda moving forward, as a certain cross section of the voting public is very unhappy about this preserved failed initiatives.
Our margin of error was 4.93%.
Another issue is that there is a lady on social media who constantly criticizes the government, she has over 40,000 followers. You have to do something about that.
Your organisation also needs to conduct a survey among your members.
We are getting ready to conduct a survey early next year, with or without the assistance of both parties.
Best regards
Dr. Justine Pierre
Citizen of Grenada,
Labour Market and Migration Consultant