St. George’s, May 16, 2012 – Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas survived a test of his leadership Tuesday, but faced stinging criticism of his stewardship of the country during a sitting of the House of Representatives.

Thomas, who became Prime Minister in 2008 after the general election victory of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, is suffering from “political psychosis’’ and is the “chief architect’’ of a “weak and vindictive government,’’ opposition leader Dr. Keith Mitchell charged.

Mitchell made the remark while tabling a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister, claiming that Thomas had “encouraged internal division and strife within the government’’ and that “the leadership of the government is now in crisis.’’

Despite pleas from Mitchell for all MPs to support the motion by voting according to their conscience, a majority of NDC parliamentarians in the 15-seat lower house did not heed his call.

“Let’s end it,’’ said Mitchell as he urged support for the motion that possibly could have led to further attempts to remove Thomas as prime Minister.

However, only former Environment Minister Michael Church, who resigned from government in 2010, voted with the four MPs of the opposition New National Party.

Foreign Minister Karl Hood abstained and Labour Minister Glynis Roberts, who is mourning the loss of her husband who was buried Monday, was absent during the vote.

The motion was defeated by eight votes from NDC MPs, including Prime Minister Thomas who is parliamentary representative for St. Patrick East. It’s said to be the first no-confidence motion to reach the floor of the house in modern Grenada politics.

In his presentation on the motion, Church accused the prime minister of “autocratic’’ and “feudal’’ leadership, saying Thomas “has not made any serious efforts at encouraging collegiality among his cabinet.’’

Peter David, who resigned April 30 as Tourism Minister, said while he has difficulty with “the management style of the Honorable Prime Minister,’’ he could not support the opposition’s no-confidence motion.

“I have been vilified by some in my own party for speaking frankly to the issue of my leader’s reluctance to embrace differing ideas and opinions, both from within and outside the National Democratic Congress,’’ David said.

But, he added, “if a review of that leadership is to be initiated and made, it ought to be done by the membership of the party that voted for, and endorsed, the ascension of that leader. That is the proper and correct thing to do.’’

Thomas, firmly backed by Finance Minister Nazim Burke and Sports Minister Patrick Simmons, dismissed all criticisms of his leadership style, including allegations of being a dictator.

“There is absolutely no evidence to support this,’’ the prime minister asserted. “It is not my nature.’’

He said he was compelled to reject the motion “in its totality.’’

Thomas, who was also attacked on his government’s record on tackling high unemployment in the country, retorted that his administration “has been doing a lot,’’ and has been “managing fairly well.’’

Grenada, since 2008, has had more “authentic governance’’ than it had in the previous 20 years, said Thomas.

“We have been given a mandate and we have been carrying out that mandate,’’ he said.