St. George’s, April 11, 2012 – The leader of Grenada’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said there is division in the party between “the forces of good and evil.’’
Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who also recently promised to fight “leftists’’ in society, has also suggested that his party is divided along ideological lines, by comparing himself with the late Maurice Bishop.
Bishop, leader of the now defunct New Jewel Movement (NJM), was Prime Minister during the socialist experiment of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG).
The PRG imploded in 1983 amidst disagreement at the top echelons of the NJM over policy issues and leadership direction.
MTV television, in an item on Tuesday evening’s newscast, referred to what it described as “two factions’’ in the NDC, including one it said hosted a meeting on April 4 at the Grand Anse R.C. School in St. George’s.
The April 4 meeting was organized by the South St. George Constituency Branch, and members endorsed sitting MP Glynis Roberts as the NDC’s candidate to run in the next general election.
According to the newscast, there is a “fight for power by the other faction’’ whose members are allegedly working to “undermine’’ Thomas as NDC leader. It provided no names of the members of the “other faction’’ said to be opposed to Thomas.
The Prime Minister, who was interviewed for the MTV news story, claimed that attempts were made to “restrict’’ Bishop by his NJM and PRG colleagues.
Thomas said there have been complaints, and also attempts to also “restrict’’ him, from interacting with the rank and file of the NDC.
This was an apparent reference by Thomas to reports of meetings he has been having with a select group that excludes most of his cabinet ministers and senior executive members of the NDC.
The NDC leader and Prime Minister said the aim of the meetings is to reinforce the “values’’ of the party such as “integrity in public life’’, respect for institutions, honesty, accountability and the “good governance agenda.’’
“Those who deviate from this, we have to take action against them,’’ he said.
Thomas said his is a “fight for good over evil,’’ adding that Grenadians would have a chance to determine who are the people that “respect institutions and who are committed to Grenada.’’