Grenada: NDC voices concern over PM’s ‘election financing’

The de facto opposition party in Grenada has attacked Prime Minister Keith Mitchell for “blatantly and shamefacedly” redistributing the country’s finances to boost his party’s election chances.

And the National Democratic Congress, which has no representation in parliament but three senators in the lower house, says it is “shocked” by the decisions made by Mitchell – and what they claim is a hypocritical position.

“His newly named caretaker, Kate Lewis, who had to leave her public sector job to take up this position, will not join the ranks of the unemployed as she has been given a seat in the senate, and the high paying position of parliamentary secretary in the ministry of education,” the party said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, the operatives of the NNP [New National Party] are chanting for the resignation of senator Ray Roberts, for the stated reason that he is now a caretaker for the NDC, while the NNP will now have three caretakers in the upper house of parliament.

“Is it that this country’s resources belong to the supporters of the NNP only?”

Politicians now, pensions later?

WIC News has reached out to the government of Grenada for their comment on the NDC’s accusations. No reply has been received yet.

The promotion of Senator Brenda Hood to advisor to the tourism minister has also raised eyebrows, but it is the distribution of funds that has angered the NDC.

“This is just more jobs for the NNP boys, while the rest of the country suffers from high unemployment, stagnant wages and over taxation,” the party added.

“A cabinet reshuffle is supposed to be about improving management of the state, but what was announced by Dr Mitchell on Wednesday, was clearly about party politics, not national development.

“While Dr Mitchell announced redistribution of the country’s resources among his party faithful, he told public sector workers that he would see about their pension in about two years, so his party should be given another chance in the elections which are constitutionally due early 2018.”

Last month, NDC leader Nazim Burke criticised the New National Party administration for what he called a "cheap and vulgar ploy" to sway the Grenada general election.