St. George’s, Grenada, July 11, 2010 – Members of the National Democratic Congress have made changes to two key positions on the executive of the party. They have elected Bernard Isaac as the NDC’s new Treasurer and Vincent Roberts as the new Public Relations Officer.
The changes took place Sunday morning at elections held during the annual convention of the NDC at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS). Outgoing Treasurer, MP Glynis Roberts, declined to stand for re-election as did Senator Arley Gill, who went in to the convention as the sitting PRO of the NDC.
Prime Minister Tillman Thomas remains as Leader of the NDC. Under the party’s constitution, no challenge can be made of the leader’s position while he is prime minister.
The NDC has done an “excellent job’’ in the two years it has been in power, Hon. Thomas told delegates at the morning’s session of the convention. However, he admitted that there is room for the NDC to become more active, the need for members to work closer, and for strengthening the link between the party and the government so that they can “work more effectively.’’
Finance Minister Nazim Burke was returned unopposed as Deputy Political Leader, as was Junior Housing Minister, Senator Glen Noel, as Chairman.
Minister of Works, Joseph Gilbert, did not seek re-election as Deputy Chairman as was replaced by Jude Cameron.
Foreign Minister Peter David was re-elected unopposed for another term as General Secretary of the NDC.
In his report to the convention, MP David said the past year has been one of “both gains and frustrations’’ for the NDC.
“The National Democratic Congress is much better organizationally than it was at this time last year,’’ he said. “But there is still a lot more work to be done. The biggest challenge we face today is how the government can inspire the party, as well as if the government will allow itself to be influenced by the party.’’
The NDC convention continued Sunday afternoon with a keynote address by Dr. Kenny Anthony, Leader the main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party.
He described the achievement of the NDC administration as “remarkable.
“What your government has been able to do in the last two years is phenomenal in the face of the global economic crisis,’’ Dr. Anthony told a rally at the SAASS playing field. “You need to feel good about yourselves and you government.’’
Dr. Anthony, a former St. Lucia Prime Minister said he admired Hon. Thomas and commended the Grenada Government for its fiscal management and political morality.
However, he warned the NDC to avoid the mistake he made of getting “the economy right but the politics wrong,’’ and losing power as he did in St. Lucia.
Dr. Anthony suggested dialoguing with people and consoling the unemployed and dispossessed.
“Politics is about people,’’ he said. “It cannot be managed remotely from behind a desk.’’
