St George’s Grenada February 13th 2012: The recent announcement by Mr. Rodney George, Chairman of the Grenada Airport Authority that scheduled and chartered air carriers that fly into the Maurice Bishop international Airport are now paying their landing dues directly into an escrow account of the Exim Bank of Taiwan. The New National Party (NNP) wishes to express its deepest concern on this worrying development and once again call upon the Thomas administration to bring about a resolution that would ease the pain and infliction on Grenadians.
Within the last few weeks, the Tillman Thomas administration has been greeted with several governing deficiencies that have received attention both locally and within the region. Recently, The Prime Minister greeted the electorate with news about the firing of his former Environment Minister, Mr. Joseph Gilbert, Member of Parliament for St.Patricks West. While various stories and denials continue to swirl around the Gilbert firing, it is very clear to the electorate that if PM Thomas and his government had an effective governing mechanism, much of the embarrassment facing his administration could have been avoided.
Following the Gilbert issue and as the electorate returned to their normal course of business, another scandal of alleged financial impropriety erupted involving Mr. Kenrick Fullerton, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and adviser in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Sports. In response to this situation, Thomas acknowledged that he was aware of the alleged improprieties and confirmed that a criminal investigation was underway.
There are other disturbing concerns emanating from the Botanical Gardens as Thomas prepares to depart from Grenada for Toronto shortly to attend the 38th Independence Anniversary celebrations. While in Toronto, it is expected that Thomas and Fullerton will hold discussions to plan an exit strategy from the NDC that will minimize further embarrassment of the NDC.
The NNP has expressed its concerns about the Exim Bank situation and is at a great loss to understand why the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General has ignored constructive suggestions from the NNP about resolving this matter. At a time when Grenadians continue to struggle with the deteriorating economic situation, poor fiscal and economic management, unemployment, increased crime and lawlessness and the inability of the government to attract foreign investment, Grenada sinks further into economic decay and infighting within the Thomas administration.
The New National Party call on the Government to speedily find a solution to the above impasse and to address the pains and suffering of the Grenadian people.
