St. George’s, May 25, 2010 – The National Democratic Congress would like to reiterate its publicly stated vision for creating a “nation that is free, a land of equal opportunity, and a land of tolerance, fair play and prosperity.’’

This is a promise our Party made in its 2008 election manifesto and we are delivering on it as a government through initiatives such as the Free School Books’ programme, housing, expansion of the Public Assistance Programme, an increase in the numbers of Grenadians who have been awarded university scholarships, and the democratisation of public institutions, including the Government Information Service (GIS).

Senator Arley Gill, Public Relations Officer of the NDC, scoffed at charges from Opposition Leader Keith Mitchell that the GIS is being used as a “propaganda machine’’ for government.

“Never before in the history of the GIS has it experienced so much autonomy as it does today with no interference from government on what the management wants to broadcast, even if it’s untruth from the opposition,’’ said Sen. Gill. “The broadening of the democratic space in the country is only possible today because in July 2008 Grenadians elected Tillman Thomas who doesn’t simply talk about democracy, but practises it.’’

The NDC PRO said Prime Minister Thomas decided it was the “right and democratic thing to do to allow the opposition prime time on GIS.’’

According to Sen. Gill, “now all the Opposition Leader and his colleagues do is bad talk the government on GIS, with not one positive comment from them for nation building.’’

PRO Gill described GIS under the former New National Party regime as the “green information service.’’ He recollected that even the birthday party of the Opposition Leader was a featured GIS programme. “GIS was a medium for campaigning for the NNP, with no distinction made between party and government,’’ he said.

PRO Gill added that the NNP is “degenerating into new lows’’ by its ongoing attempts to cast aspersions on public institutions, the Grenadian workers that keep these institutions functioning, and in trying to portray the country as beset with uncontrollable social evils such as crime and teenage prostitution.

“This is classless, unpatriotic and so untrue,’’ Sen. Gill said. “Our police force is doing a commendable job in maintaining Grenada’s status as one of the safest countries in the world. In spite of the global economic and financial crisis, our government has been able to make youth support services one of its top priorities by piloting programmes through the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Youth Empowerment.’’

The NDC reaffirms its complete confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, and in the vision and programmes for national development of government.

“The government has shown the capacity both to manage the economy and to deliver in the areas of most need for the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. We urge them to keep their focus,’’ said Sen. Gill.