Ladies and gentlemen, brother and sisters….

 As Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition and Leader of the New National Party, I want to extend to the entire Grenadian nation, and to people of all walks and persuasions best wishes for the New Year. 

We look forward with faith and hope to the New Year, having learnt from all the challenges and setbacks of the old one.  

Now that the festivities of the holiday season are behind us, the task is ours together to rededicate ourselves to nation building with urgency and purpose. 

Indeed 2013 promises to be a defining moment in our history. 

It is a historic opportunity, if seized properly, that can lay the foundation of a long overdue Grenadian renaissance. 

Our nation stands at the cross roads, where our collective decisions will determine whether we either slip further, or we halt the slide and return to building on the gains of the last two decades. 

It has been well documented that 2012 was a challenging year — no matter what yardstick we use to measure it. 

While we may debate on the reasons for it, the basic facts are clear, and the current realities unacceptable. 

With negative economic growth, widening poverty, growing unemployment against the backdrop of a politics steeped in bitterness and division — it all contributed to a lost poisonous year. 

Therefore 2013 is the year we must begin to turn those tides around, and taking the right steps that could lead to the return of prosperity.

The malaise of the last year must give way to a rekindled hope. We have to find ways to attract new investment in the economy that will allow it to grow and expand, thus creating new avenues for wealth. As a people, we have to make more sacrifices — working longer, harder and smarter. 

The progress we all yearn for won’t come easy; nor are they straight forward solutions. But we must begin to lay the foundations for a recovery.

This year is expected to be an election year, and the party which I lead once again offers itself to be at the vanguard of  the progress for which I speak. 

We have assembled a team whose charge is to seek to represent people through humility, respect and discipline.

We all must personally set ourselves higher standards. 

But even as we build each other up, we will not tolerate wanton acts of arrogance and ill discipline.  

This is an era of a new dispensation and an improved NNP.  

Our New National Party has recommitted itself to higher standards of governance, which mixed with its rich tradition of innovation, drive and putting people first, could provide Grenada with its best chance for a renewal this year. 

The wider nation is emerging from a difficult period, but in many ways I have never been more hopeful that in 2013 we will begin to put things right. 

It is our dream this year to change the tone of the politics.

We are clear in our mind, that it is not just good politics, but the best nation building strategy.

We cannot lead a poisonous campaign and hope to inherit a society in perfect harmony. 

It is our dream this year to lead a politics of inclusion. 

Therefore I hereby declare the New National Party, indeed the only GENUINE NATIONAL PARTY in Grenada, and the movement of genuine inclusion. 

It must be remembered that the New National Party was born out of a period of similar national political uncertainty where the need for national healing and coming together was as urgent as now. 

It is that rich legacy which we invoke in this hour of need.

It must be clear that in this crucial time, nation building cannot be undertaken by excluding nearly half of the population. 

The foundation of a long and sustainable recovery can be undermined by division and spite.

As we move forward to build what I call Project Grenada, we must not judge anyone by their political alignment, but give everyone a chance based on their ability to contribute to the task of nation building. 

It is a philosophy that our very supporters must understand and embrace.

We are conscious of the many sacrifices that hundreds of our supporters have made especially during the last four years. 

I have been heartened and encouraged by the selfless dedication and the commitment. 

They have been unmatched and unheralded. 

Many of our supporters have worked tireless to rebuild and sustain our movement through many odds. 

It might even be human to feel that given that experience it is your time now. 

We have to look at the bigger picture and come to embrace the reality that it is not anybody’s time now — but Grenada’s time now. 

Grenada must heal and Grenada must come together. 

We are  clear that we must all learn from the lessons of the past. 

We are advocating for a real, genuine change — not just a replacement of the politics of spite.

That change has already started — first within our party — and which we hope to extend to the nation.

As I said my in Christmas message, we have strengthened our organs and refreshed our leadership. We are now prepared more than ever to lead.

Every day we are attracting new supporters and contributors — many of whom we have even had some political battles with in the past. 

But we are becoming united by the single understanding that in politics — just like in life — there is a time and season for everything. 

And as Grenada sits on the edge we all must understand what’s at stake. 

That’s why we call for a realignment and a new alignment. 

There are thousands of people who campaigned against us this time nearly five years ago, who have the nation’s best interest at heart. 

The historic opportunity they sought for a change they genuinely  believed in has been squandered. 

People from all walks of life, and community leaders in the churches, trade unions, NGOs and among community groups have all drank from a well of disappointment. 

Many of them have become skeptical, and understandably so. 

Our team on the other hand has been chastened by four and a half years in opposition, and have learnt from the defeat of 2008.

We have taken onboard the message that the people spoke then.

So 2013 is about taking the best parts of the successful NNP years and merging it with the genuine outpouring for even greater things that came out of the last campaign. 

We understand that we cannot demand change on the wider society, if we ourselves are not prepared to change. 

That’s why tonight, I appeal not just to our traditional supporters, but to the wider family of the Grenadian nation, that understanding the task ahead is to understand that there are more things that unite us than divide us. 

We can either survive this economic challenge we face as a united nation, or we can continue to slide separately. 

But I remain hopeful that this year that we will all understand what’s at stake and in the end do the right thing. For  no matter what are the political stripes of our neighbors — we all yearn for the same thing — betterment for ourselves and our children. 

We are satisfied that given the growth in our party, and given our new mandate of inclusion, that the New National Party is this country’s best hope for unity going forward. 

Thirteen years as Prime Minister and five years as opposition leader have personally taught me many lessons. 

I would like to think that I am a better person because of all those lessons, and I am prepared to accept with all humility the challenge of playing my part in a Grenadian revival that our children deserve. 

I have resisted the temptation to come here tonight to lament about the four and half wasted years of this current government.

Firstly, you have lived through it and need no reminders.

Secondly, I want us to look forward — on what’s possible – and the great things we can achieve — TOGETHER! 

That’s why what I extend is an open hand. We’ve got to march forward together. 

Our generation must define its own legacy; and the choices we make today must give the next generation a better chance. 

To do that, we must deliver.

And our solemn pledge going forward is that we will deliver on our commitment to return Grenada to a sustainable economic path.

We will deliver on our plans to expand the economy, grow opportunities and empower people. 

We will deliver on the stated economic policies that will ensure a reduction in unemployment, support for small businesses and the expansion of training opportunities for our youths. 

We will deliver on the plans we will talk about on during this upcoming campaign to enhance the tourism sector and reinvest in the agriculture sector. 

We will deliver on a new thrust to use sports and culture not merely as means of artistic expression and enjoyment, but as a tool of economic empowerment. 

Let’s pray for each other, and let’s lift each other up. 

I thank you very much.