ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – 65-year-old Keith Claudius Mitchell entered into the history of Caribbean politics when he led his New National Party (NNP) to a clean sweep of the 15 seats at stake in Tuesday’s general election, becoming the first political leader here to achieve the feat, having previously done so in 1999. Mitchell, whose NNP had been booted out of office in 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of outgoing prime minister Tillman Thomas, said, however, he hoped to leave a legacy of having united the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Grenada
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenadians were voting Tuesday to elect a new government after a six week campaign in which both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New National party (NNP) told voters they were best suited to deal with the socio-economic problems of the Spice Isle.
Long lines formed outside some of the 239 polling stations scattered across the island that opened at 6.00 am (local time) and will close 11 hours later. There are 45 candidates contesting the elections.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - THIS week, as Jamaicans brace themselves for severe belt-tightening because of the accord to be signed between the Government and the IMF, two incumbent parties in the Eastern Caribbean will be struggling to avoid becoming one-term administrations. The governments facing this survival "political cliff" — while Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's ruling People's National Party (PNP) struggles against its very challenging "fiscal cliff" — are those of Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart in Barbados and of his Grenadian counterpart Tillman Thomas.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s two major political parties were entering the final 24 hours of their campaign for Tuesday’s general election, buoyed by the large turnout of supporters Sunday and predicting a win that allow them to govern this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country for the next five years.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - FINALLY, AND within a day of each other, the respective manifestoes for the February 21 general election will be available to the public from the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP). Therefore, as has often happened elsewhere within our Caribbean Community, the Barbadian electorate have a week to read, compare and determine which of these two traditional contestants for control of state power deserve to be victorious.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has expressed appreciation to the Organization of American States (OAS) for the mission’s “speedy response” to his request to provide technical support to validate and verify the integrity of the new voter registration system.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Observer teams from the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have arrived here to monitor the February 19 general elections. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a seven member team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping is expected here on Wednesday. “The Commonwealth is pleased to lend its support to the people of Grenada as they exercise their democratic franchise in electing their leaders.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Less than a week before Grenadians go to the polls to elect a new government, four minority political parties have been told they would not be able to have their advertised symbols placed on the ballot paper. The parties – The Movement for Independent Candidates (MIC), National United Front (NUF), the People United Labour Party (PULP) and the Grenada United Patriotic Movement (GUPM) – say they have been told that this is due to the fact that the symbols had not been officially gazetted.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Former foreign affairs minister Karl Hood has publicly endorsed the main opposition New National Party (NNP) as Grenadians prepare to elect a new government on February 19.
Hood, who resigned from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, last year, was the surprise guest speaker at a rally of the NNP here on Sunday.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada Thursday celebrated 39 years of political independence from Britain with Prime Minister Tillman Thomas telling citizens of the “significant strides” made and having “accomplished much in every sphere of life as a nation”. In an address delivered during the traditional Independence Rally at the National Stadium, Thomas, who is facing a general election on February 19, said despite the global economic crisis, Grenada has been able to withstand the shocks because of the policies of his administration over the past four years.