Local News

PM Tomas pays weekend visit to Carriacou

Hillsborough,   Carriacou, September 10, 2012 – Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has returned   to Grenada after leading a team of ministers and advisors on a weekend visit   to Carriacou, where he met members and supporters of his ruling National   Democratic Congress (NDC).

The team included   Finance Minister Nazim Burke, Information Minister Glen Noel, and Chief of   Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, William Joseph.

In response to queries   about the economy and the recent late payment of salaries to public officers,   Burke explained the challenge of government in servicing the country’s   national debt and the impact on the local economy of the global economic   crisis.

Burke also defended   the leadership of Prime Minister Thomas, who has expressed confidence in the   NDC’s chances of winning a second straight general election.

The NDC, which won 11   of 15 seats in polling in 2008, has since been rocked by internal feuding and   the resignation or dismissal of four ministers from government.

Longtime NDC General   Secretary, MP Peter David, told hundreds of people at a town hall meeting in   St. George’s last Thursday that he would not be standing for office at the   party’s convention on September 30.

However, David   disclosed that he willing be seeking reelection as MP for the Town of St.   George at the next general election.

David, in the text   message on Sunday, said he wanted to “personally thank those who attended the   town hall meeting last Thursday. Your presence was greatly appreciated. I   look forward to further discussions with you on the way forward.’’

Sources say Prime   Minister Thomas has dismissed the meeting hosted by David, saying it was   attended by lots of supporters of the opposition New National Party that are   trying to make the NDC government look bad.

At the meeting, David   appealed for national unity and an end to the “poisonous language and hateful   tone of our current politics’’.

Now is the time, David   said, “to turn to each other and stop turning on each other.  The time   has come for us to cover the backs of our people rather than turn our backs   on our people.’’

David, a former   Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, said it’s imperative that the nation   progresses and moves forward – “not as NDCites or NNPites but as   Grenadians’’.

MP David said his   “development agenda knows no colour. It never did, and it never will.’’

He added, “I may have   campaigned under the banner of NDC; but I chose to represent people under the   colourless banner of unity.’’

The “old politics of   divide and rule’’ must stop, David emphasized.

“I make this special   appeal to my traditional supporters and to those who traditionally might not   have supported me. We have more in common than you think,’’ David said.

“We have more that   binds us together than keeps us a part. Look at the love inside here tonight.   Give yourselves a round of applause.’’

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