BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, JUNE 15, 2011: After three years in office, Grenada’s Prime Minister says he is convinced that his country is the best governed state in the region, a far cry from what his party sees as 15 scandal-plagued years of its predecessor.
Hon. Tillman Thomas, who is also Leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress, told the New York Chapter of the NDC that his government has achieved significant progress in many areas, even though it has had to deal with a crippling worldwide economic recession.
Prime Minister Thomas was in New York for more than week for, among other things, to attend a United Nations conference on HIV/AIDS.
A report from Caribupdate said that on Sunday the Prime Minister brought the “good news” from home to mainly ruling party supporters at a largely fund-raising event.
“If there is one thing no one can question today is the good governance of Grenada, notwithstanding the economic problems we are facing,” Thomas said to cheers. “Grenada is the best governed country in the Caribbean, and it’s a record we can defend.”
The Grenadian leader seem to be alluding to some complains at home that the government sometimes take too long to implement ideas and projects, declaring that under his guidance things have to be done properly.
There has been a raging debate in St George’s over a multi-million dollar road construction project that has been held up because government and the construction company, Consolidated Construction Company (CCC), cannot agree on some of the preparatory costs.
A rehabilitation project, signed on to by the previous administration, for the east coast town of Grenville, has been similarly held up because of what government says has been problems with the project design.
“There are certain things, because of the way they were conceived, we have to really examine before we proceed, because we want to do things in the right way and above board,” Caribupdate quoted Prime Minister Thomas as saying.
“Anytime you come together and support our party in events like these, you are supporting the process of good governance back home,” he told hundreds gathered at the fund-raising event.
The Grenadian Prime Minister said his government has scored well, particularly in the area of agriculture. He noted that there has been a big increase in production of nutmegs and cocoa, the islands’ two main export crops.
He also said Grenada is beginning to add value to its agriculture products, pointing to a new chocolate factory being built in St Mark. The factory should be operational by year’s end, said the Grenadian Leader.
Prime Minister Thomas said his government has also been sensitive to the needs of the many Grenadians who have been struggling in the face of the worldwide recession.
He said his administration has extended its social programmes to help marginalized people. The Prime Minister noted, as an example, the distribution of stoves and gas cylinders to scores of people in St Patrick, St Andrew, St John and St Mark to help wean them off cooking with firewood.