St. George’s, September 28, 2012 – Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who is also leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said that problems besetting the government and party have nothing to do with his leadership.
The NDC, in general elections held in 2008, won 11 of 15 parliamentary seats to form the government.
However, internal party strife led to the postponement of the NDC’s convention from July to Sunday, September 30.
In addition, four MPs have resigned from cabinet and one was dismissed by the Prime Minister in January. All five are now backbenchers in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Thomas, in an interview Friday with the Government Information Service, blamed the troubles on an alleged power struggle and “an attempt to take over the party’’.
The situation has “nothing to do with leadership,’’ he insisted. Had there been a team that was “cohesive and focused,’’ the government would have done much better in the four years it has been in office, the Prime Minister added.
Former Environment Minister Glynis Roberts, who resigned September 20 from government, told a meeting of her constituents that she has never questioned the Prime Minister’s character, “only his leadership choices’’.
Chairman of meeting, former Senator Arley Gill, called for parliament – which has been suspended – to be reconvened. He also criticized Finance Minister Nazim Burke for refusing to say when, and from where, the government is borrowing money to deal with the country’s fiscal challenges.
“We can’t accuse the NNP of doing hush-hush things and when we’re in government, we’re doing hush-hush things,’’ Gill said.
Prime Minister Thomas claims there is a strategy aimed at his government to “encourage people to resign,’’ and also to “create instability in the country.’’
“We have to pray for people like Arley Gill and others,’’ said Thomas, whose party heads into what he describes as a “very historic convention’’ on Sunday.
The convention, he said, will position the NDC for victory at the next general election.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Gill has said that he welcomes the prayers of Prime Minister Thomas.
“I have always kept him in my prayers,’’ Gill commented Friday. “While he’s at it, I want him to join me in saying a prayer for the country.’’