St. George’s, Grenada: Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas has blasted the government for failing to adequately address the concerns of Grenadians affected by the collapse of Capital Bank.Thomas, who was addressing residents at a recent community meeting in Clozier hosted by NDC candidate Michael Church, said the Keith Mitchell administration’s continuous display of bad governance is now costing citizens.
The Opposition Leader, and head of the National Democratic Congress, is adamant that the Prime Minister must take full responsibility for Capbank’s collapse.
“The New National Party came into office in 1995. In 1996 Keith Mitchell, who was then Finance Minister, issued a license to a bank that did not meet the criteria for functioning”, Thomas quipped.
He added: “Here you have now the Prime Minister let loose on the society an institution to deprive the people of this country of their money”.
The NDC leader, emphasizing the serious implications of what has happened with Capbank, said a large majority of persons now living in the country have been severely affected by the bank’s collapse.
“Today people all over Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique who have deposited their monies in Capbank,” said Thomas, “are crying all over the place, now that the bank has collapsed”.
Thomas also expressed concerns that money earmarked for agriculture, health and education may now have to be used to compensate persons who have lost their savings.
“Is this what they (The NNP) want us to continue? We should condemn these things”, Thomas warned to thunderous applause from Clozier residents.
Clozier is part of the constituency of St. John. Church, an agricultural economist, will be contesting the seat for the NDC in the upcoming general elections.
He narrowly lost in the 2003 polls to NNP’s Claris Charles, the current Minister of Education and Labour, who is not seeking re-election.