The National Democratic Congress is committed to an election campaign that will debate pressing issues such as reviving agriculture, improving the healthcare and education systems, and tacking youth problems, says a senior NDC official.
General Secretary Peter David says the looming general election in Grenada is critical and promises that his party will stay on its message, which includes more island scholarships from students and enhancing the quality of care at health facilities, including those outside of St. George’s.
“We believe that we should be addressing the critical issues facing our country,” David told Grenadians Sunday at the formal launch of the NDC Support Group in Montreal. “We are not going to be slandering anybody or abusing anybody in the election campaign. We’ll continue to commit to an election that debates issues.”
In a demonstration of its commitment to an issues-based campaign, the NDC has agreed to sign and follow a code of political conduct drafted by the Inter-Agency Group of Development Organisation for parties contesting the upcoming poll. The ruling New National Party says it will not sign or adhere to the code of conduct.
David, who will be seeking re-election as the Member of Parliament for the Town of St. George, outlined in details NDC plans for agriculture and for various other sectors.
He also gave candid responses, both as a politician and a lawyer, to questions from the Montreal audience about the Capital Bank fiasco, on rising crime in Grenada, and on safeguarding the nation’s coastline against boats arriving in the island without custom and immigration checks.
“Many of the problems facing Grenada must be placed at the doorsteps of the NNP,” David said. “The government has been reckless in dealing with the people’s resources.”
As an example of “reckless” government action, David pointed to unemployment among youth, which is estimated to be at 30 percent.
However, instead of investing in youth, the NNP is “trying to pull the wool over the eyes of young people” by spending hundreds of thousands of American dollars on free concerts with performers such reggae entertainers Beenieman and Mr. Vegas, said David.
“We believe that our young people, Brothers and Sisters, deserve better,” the NDC General Secretary contended. “We believe our young people deserve better than Beenieman. Our young people deserve better than Mr. Vegas. Our young people deserve a brighter future.”
The opposition MP urged the continued involvement of Grenadians overseas in assisting relatives and friend at home, saying many of won’t be able to survive without the help from abroad. He commended Grenadians in Montreal for the tremendous outpouring of aid provided to Grenada in the aftermath of the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The hurricane hit less than a year after general elections in which the NNP won by picking up eight of 15 seats in parliament. The NDC grabbed the remaining seven, and lost four other seats by less than 60 votes.
“We are in a much better position than we were in 2003,” David said. “NDC is ready and capable of governing Grenada and you, in the Diaspora, have critical role to play. Let history record that you Grenadians, at home and abroad, stood up and was found in the struggle to save our homeland.”.
