St. George’s, Grenada (June 20, 2008) Election candidate Glynis Roberts, who has been an outspoken advocate on social issues, has again expressed consternation about the incidence of violence in Grenada.
“Violence among our people is cause for severe concern,’’ said Roberts, the NDC incumbent for St. George South. “To date the number of violent deaths for the year is close to 15. This is just too much for a small developing nation.’’
The latest murder occurred Wednesday, June 18, in the parish of St. John, with the stabbing death of 25-year-old Dominic James. NDC candidate for St. John, Michael Church, visited James’ family to express his condolences.
At the height of a spate of murders earlier this year, Roberts helped to organize an International Women’s Day gospel concert in St. John dedicated to peace and family togetherness.
Roberts, who is expected to be appointed to a cabinet position in a government of the National Democratic Congress after the July 8 general election, says an NDC administration will give utmost respect to the sanctity of life.
“The sun must set on violence, poverty, high unemployment, economic instability and lack of progress,’’ said Roberts. “We, the NDC, symbolize the golden sunrise with a glowing heart of justice, equity, peace and hope.’’
Roberts, Treasurer of the NDC, said the party wants an equal place – complete with rights and privileges – for all the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
“We love you too much to have anyone grace our stage to disrespect you with indecency in body and spoken language,’’ Roberts said.
“That is not our chosen way. That is not what we want for our children. We do not want to cheapen life or to encourage violence and disobedience.’’
Meanwhile, NDC officials are using their nightly constituency meetings to recommit to a clean and an issues-based campaign, while urging supporters to avoid confrontation with other party supporters.
Arley Gill, who spoke briefly at a Thursday night meeting in River Road of the National Democratic Congress candidate Peter David, said that one supporter of the New National Party had become so irate at remarks that were being made in Hermitage about NDC leader Tillman Thomas, that he stripped himself of his green NNP T-shirt and burnt it.
Gill also alleged that at another meeting in St. John, NNP candidate and former Police Commissioner, Fitzroy Bedeau, slapped a schoolgirl during an altercation..
