St. George’s, July 4, 2012 – Public Relations Officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Arley Gill, has described a scheduled weekend NDC event as an act of appreciation for members and supporters of the party that won 11 of 15 seats in general elections in 2008.
In commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the election on July 8, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has announced that his government will be holding a rally Sunday in Gouyave, St. John. The theme is, “Producing Our Way To Prosperity’’.
“The public needs to hear from the government on its anniversary. Anything short of this would amount to disrespect for the culture and the people,’’ Thomas said Monday.
Finance Minister Nazim Burke told GBN broadcaster, Lew Smith, that the Gouyave rally would allow government to tell Grenadians “what has happened in the country under the stewardship of the NDC administration.’’
Although the NDC has also organized a commemorative event for Sunday, Gill says there is no confusion over the two activities which are carded for different times of the day.
Sunday’s event at La Tante in St. David, he said, follows a near unanimous decision of the executive of the NDC.
“The executive has no quarrel with the government,’’ Gill said Tuesday at a news conference at the NDC’s secretariat in St. George’s.
He was joined at the news conference by party executive members Valdon Paul, Stanford Simon, Devon Romain, Joseph Gilbert, Siddiqui Sylvester, Wilby Stewart and Selwyn Gilbert.
“As far as the party is concerned, there is no confusion,’’ Gill said. “The party is in St. David; the government is in Gouyave.’’
The former Culture Minister, who was removed from the senate in May and promised a new appointment by the prime minister, called his relationship with the Grenada leader “great’’ and “cordial’’.
“We speak to each other in brotherly and fatherly love,’’ said Gill, adding that he expects the prime minister and other senior NDC representatives to attend the party’s get-together that begins 10 am Sunday.
The government’s rally is an evening affair. Gill said invitations to attend it have been extended to party members, including those on the executive organizing the St. David event that will involved activities such as a cooking competition, cultural performances and sports and games.
According to Gill, the event is intended to show appreciation to NDC members, supporters and well-wishers, who were the “vehicle’’ to the party’s 2008 victory at the polls.
“It’s only reasonable that the party shows appreciation,’’ he argued. “No government goes and contests an election. The party, as the institution, that respectfully asked for the support of the Grenadian people last elections – and will do again next time around – needs to also account to the people who elected it.’’
Gill said it was suggested at the NDC’s executive that the St. David event should be adopted in the staging of a single rally of government and party officials.
The suggestion was not approved but Gill says “there is fundamentally nothing wrong with a party in power speaking to the nation, as this is one of the requirements of the Westminster-style democracy.’’
