St. George’s, January 24, 2013 – A local newspaper wants the leaders of the two major parties to set aside politics for at least one day next month. February 7 is Grenada’s 39th anniversary of independence.
The National Democratic Congress and the New National Party are the main contenders in a campaign leading to general elections on February 19.
“Our dream is that when February 7 rolls in, the leadership of the major political parties will somehow find a way to at least – for a day – come together to help showcase the many things that unite us as a nation,’’ Caribupdate Weekly says in an editorial.
The paper, in this week’s edition, says that the “usual awareness and hype’’ associated with the annual independence celebrations, have given way to the “unfolding drama’’ of the election campaign.
However, the newspaper is urging Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of the NDC and NNP’s Keith Mitchell to avoid politicking on Independence Day and celebrate together.
“The picture of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell standing side-by-side in the midst of a political campaign will send a strong signal to the wider nation. It will bolster any hope of some bipartisanship that will be needed from February 20,’’ Caribupdate Weekly said.