St. George’s, July 2, 2012 – The relationship between government and party – an unresolved issue ever since Grenada’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) won general election in 2008 – is no closer to being settled on the eve of the election anniversary.
The latest furor over the matter has arisen over how July 8 – the fourth anniversary of the NDC’s election victory – should be commemorated.
NDC Public Relations Officer, Arley Gill, said that it’s the “near unanimous decision of the executive, the overwhelming will of the majority of chairpersons of all constituencies, and the request of our many field workers’’ of the National Democratic Congress to hold a fun day in the parish of St. David on Sunday.
“Having been sanctioned by all major bodies of the party – and given the historic and significant nature of the date – we have to move forward to preserve the integrity and solidity of the party,’’ Gill said in a statement Sunday.
Gill said the expectation is that NDC leader and Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas, will be “joining his cabinet colleagues, his party leadership, the rank and file members of the party and the general Grenadian community in a non-divisive event of joy and celebration at La Tante Beach on July 8. It is an opportunity to reconnect with our team and our people.’’
However, Thomas told journalists Monday that he would not attend the event in St. David and intends to go ahead with his own government rally in Gouyave, St. John, also on Sunday.
“The Government will have a major presentation in Gouyave on Sunday, under the theme, ‘Producing Our Way to Prosperity,’ ’’ Thomas said at a media briefing. “Our call is to serve the people. Our duty is to be obedient to that call. Our task is to build a better Grenada for all.’’
Thomas described Gill’s NDC statement as “inconsistent, intriguing, dishonest and lacking in good sense and sound judgment,’’ adding that it was issued without his “knowledge and approval’’ as party leader.
The Grenada prime minister also sought to explain the thorny issue of government-party relations.
“While it is true that political parties contest elections and that victory enables a party to form a Government,’’ he said, “the provisions of the Constitution of Grenada are supreme in every respect. Accordingly, once a government has been formed, that government owes a duty of accountability to the electorate and the public. The party has no such obligation.’’
Further, said Thomas, the NDC’s constitution “does not allow for the government to be directed or instructed by the party in its decision-making. The obligation is to give consideration to proposal made by the party.’’
Thomas said he is “advancing the agenda of the NDC’’ and that the government’s rally in St. John will be financed by the party.
In his statement on Sunday, Gill said the NDC is “committed’’ to having its event Sunday in St. David.
“We are still hoping,’’ he said, “that the prime minister and our political leader will reconsider his unilateral stance at having a competing event on the day; and that he will listen instead to the advice of his own party and not that of non-party advisers.’’
