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Former Grenada Minister does not rule out run for party leadership

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ST GEORGE’S, GRENADA (CARIBUPDATE) – Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress Franka Bernadine has left the door opened for a potential run as leader of the party.

Bernadine, told a radio interview here Sunday that she is “still carefully evaluating,” when asked directly if she will run for leader of the party at its February 2 convention.

The former Education Minister said she will “guided by the will of the executive,” without further explaining what it means.

Party sources have told CARIBUPDATE NEWS that a section of the executive is pushing Bernadine to contest for the top position.

Up until now there has been a broad assumption here that Deputy Leader Nazim Burke will be up for the position uncontested after Tillman Thomas announced that he was stepping down.

The New Today newspaper, which has been promoting the party, in an editorial this week warned against “electing the wrong person” that will affect the party in its “rebranding.”

In the last few weeks, the newspaper has published hints that it does not view Burke as the best choice for leader at this stage.

Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, William Joseph who recently resigned from the party said a possible Burke leadership will affect the revival of the party.

In a television interview last week, Burke had dismissed all the talk as “mischief.”

Burke told the radio interview Sunday that “whatever the will of the party membership, we will go with it.”

In an interview with CARIBUPDATE, outgoing leader Tillman Thomas stop short of endorsing any one as leader, declaring that “it’s a democratic process.”

Asked “are you endorsing anybody?” he replied: “Not really. It’s a democratic process. The convention will decide who will be the leader of the party.”

Speaking on Joseph’s resignation, he said that happens in political parties “from time to time.”

The NDC has faced an open bitter week of debate following Joseph’s complain about what he sees as a likely negative effect on the party should Burke be elected.

This has led to what Joseph called an “online assassination” by some key party activists, who have questioned his motive.

Bernadine came to his defense afterwards by asking members in an online post to stay away from the “unnecessary comments.”

“To speculate on his reasons, and then condemn him or his decision, is to act irresponsibly and unreasonably and could only cause unnecessary stress to all parties concerned,” she wrote.

“I appeal to all party members and others, to stop these irresponsible actions and unnecessary comments and allow people to feel free to do as they see fit with their lives,” Bernadine added.

One executive member claimed that Bernadine is the “sentimental choice” of the body, but acknowledged that Burke’s team “is doing more work among the potential delegates.”

Based on some analysis, Burke is likely to have more votes among like delegates than Bernadine has at this time.

“I will personally like her to run. I think she will be the best for building and reuniting the party at this stage, but I am not sure that she will. She won’t if she thinks it will cause division,” the former candidate said without wanting to be directly identified.

“I am certainly a team player,” Bernadine said on the interview Sunday, also holding up the possibility that she could contest other positions other than leader.

Former youth minster Patrick Simmons announced Sunday he will contest the position of General Secretary, making him an immediate favorite to replace Bernard Isaac.

The current General Secretary has been a close ally of Burke. However, the party sources say Burke is not supporting Isaac, after some “internal criticisms about the work of Isaac.”

The slate being drawn-up by Burke’s supporters, include Joseph Andall for Deputy Leader and George Vincent as Chairman, in a document seen by CARIBUPDATE and widely believed to be an authentic note coming from a recent strategy meeting.

Simmons has said reuniting the party and “dealing with any perception of disunity,” is key to going forward.

He has reportedly advocated outreaching to “some former key organisers of the party” who were sidelined following the breakup of 2012.

“I will not dismiss the perception of the people when they say the NDC is dysfunctional party,” Simmons said. “We must take it on board and we have to make sure that we change that perception.”

The former minister added: “In going forward we must use the history of the party to build what we want to build.”

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