HELLO GRENADA

Astute Political Move or Naked Opportunism  Peter David’s Defection to the NNP. The Invitation to the Endorsement of Peter David came by way of a note signed by Terry Forrester- Public Relations Officer of the ruling New National Party. The said note invited the Media, party supporters and the general public to the event which took place at the Paraclete Government School situate in deep rural Grenada on May 20th 2014 Mr Forrester’s note went on to say that “This endorsement ceremony promises to be filled with excitement and jubilation as we witness the decision of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the then National Democratic Congress Government, Mr. Peter David, as he take the oath to be formerly?? (formally) endorsed as a full member of the New National Party’. The NNP was indeed jubilant as Mr David was a former General Secretary of the NDC for more than a decade. Mr. David, according to the note, answered the call for inclusion so as to make his contribution ...

                                                    Tyrell House, H.A. Blaize Street,                                                          St. George’s, Grenada.                                  Phone: 473 409 1621     E-Mail: ndclive@gmail.com Thursday, 15 May 2014 His Excellency José Miguel Insulza Salinas   Secretary General Organization of American States (OAS) 17 th   Street and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC  20006-4499 United State...

 Local historian and politician, George Brian, gave the title “Island of Conflict” to his much acclaimed book about the history of the Grenada. In that book, he traced the historic evolution of the country as a saga of rebellion and conflict. The much vaunted mass suicide of indigenous Indian population in the face of an offensive by the French is probably the most bold- faced concoction that parades as history. He then chronicled the Fedon Rebellion in the 1790’s and the 1951 struggles of rural workers led by Eric Gairy. The turbulent 1970’s with the attainment of Independence, Black Power struggles, and the rise of the New Jewel Movement added more credence to the assertion that Grenadians are by “nature” rebellious. However, since the return to office of the New National Party (NNP) in February 2013, one gets an uncanny feeling that the spirit of resistance and rebellion among the people has diminished. The process through which the Electronics Crimes Bill was enacted into ...

Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell appearance on a local talk show was heralded by a reference to him being the Chief Public Servant. Indeed, in the last 40 years of Independence, no other sitting Prime Minister has ventured to reconfigure in the minds of citizens the role and function of this office. For starters, public servants are appointed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). He is an officer of the crown and exercises his duties without partisan considerations. The rules that Public Service prohibits public officers from holding elected office in a political parties or organisations. His tenure is permanent in nature as his continuance in the service of the state is not encumbered by the results of general elections (or so it was envisaged) Section 81 (1) grants the PSC the power to appoint, discipline, transfer or remove public officers. The Prime Minister, on the other hand is appointed by the Governor General in Chapter IV Section 58(1) of the Constitution c...

On March 14th 2014, Ms Aliona Cebotari, IMF  mission Chief for Grenada issued a statement to the effect that an agreement was concluded with the Fund subject to a final approval of the Agreement by its Executive Board. Since the electoral victory of the NNP In 2013, the new administration has been in engagement with the IMF so as to mobilise support for its Home Grown’ Structural Adjustment Program. The release describes as ‘ambitious’ the program to correct the country’s imbalance and lift sustainable growth and the public financial management reforms. My curiosity was aroused with the use of that description as the track record of the NNP administration with the IMF suggests that what she really meant is that the task cannot ‘be easily done or achieved’. Grenada has been in continuous IMF supported programs since 2006.However due to non compliance and weak implementation of  agreed reforms, the country’s economic reality have in fact worsened over the period. The state...

Nicholas Steele, Grenada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Business piloted a Bill in the country’s Parliament to amend the Citizenship by Investment Act #15 of 2013. Under aegis of the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2014, the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration seeks to amend Section 14, sub-section 3 by deleting paragraph (b). The said Section 14 dictates that the Minister shall supply to the Parliament ‘prescribed information’ on applications made granted and refused under the Act. The report shall be for a six month period in each year starting on January 1st and July 1st and may be prepared within one month of the expiry of each half year period. Minister Steele, whose wife has been granted the licence of a Local Agent, seemed nervous as he piloted what can be described as an assault on the threshold of transparency provided for in the original legislation. The section to be deleted (b) reads ‘The names, addresses and nationalities of t...

Dr. Keith Mitchell, in his Independence Day address said” I again offer my hand to my political opponents. I say come let us build our nation together”. In the same vein he said to the New York based Diaspora, “I make a call today for all of us, despite our differences, let us unite. Let us unite to build our country first”. Dr Mitchell also anchored his call by making biblical reference to 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish ways” Dr Mitchell’s political career can be described as probably the greatest contributor to the post revolution saga of divisiveness and political morass. When he wrested control of the New National Party (NNP) from Herbert Blaize, many opined that it was an act of treachery as he constantly reassured Mr Blaize of his unwavering loyalty. Mr. Blaize actually believed Dr Mitchell until his rude awakening on the convention floor. Dr. Mitchell in his defence said that Mr ...