ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA: Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and fringe opposition leader Francis Alexis now find themselves united in their need for political survival. For over a decade, no two Grenadian politicians openly disliked each other as Mitchell and Alexis did. Just before the 1995 general elections, Dr Mitchell declared that he can swallow his pride and work with any politician in Grenada, except Alexis. A week later, Dr Alexis, then Attorney General, told a public meeting in Grenada, that the feeling is mutual, and he would never work with him either. Mitchell was convinced that the lawyer’s role was not to defeat him politically, but destroy him and his family personally. He once suggested that unfounded allegations of drug dealings might have then been engineered by Alexis. But that was 10 years ago. Since last November’s general elections, in which both were severely wounded, their undeclared “cold war” has ended. The two even met soon after the poll, and Prime Minister Mitchell seriously considered offer him the post of Attorney General. Today Prime Minister Mitchell is fighting for his political survival amidst accusations of corruption and bribery and slipping public support. Alexis is fighting to revive his political relevance at the head of a party that has almost no following. Alexis was the man who always wanted to be prime minister. A one-time deputy leader of the National Democratic Congress, he left the party after its 1995 loss to form a series of small political parties – the latest incarnation being the People’s Labor Movement. PLM barely received a thousand votes in last year’s general elections, and Alexis watched as he was turned to an also-ran in the St George’s South West constituency, which he once represented for 10 years in parliament. Up until last year, Alexis’ full time effort was to ensure that Mitchell, his long-time nemesis and arch-enemy, lose his job as Prime Minister. Now it has come full circle. Alexis wants to ensure that Mitchell stays in power – at least for the foreseeable future. In the raging debate on the conduct of Prime Minister Mitchell, Alexis has been loudly silent – unusual for a man who through the years was the first to jump at every perceived misstep of the Grenadian leader. In the early days of the controversy, Alexis, through his party, issued a short press statement saying that any collection of money should be made through the national treasury. He has not said anything publicly on the issue since then, staying clear away from calls for the Prime Minister to resign or the calls for an investigation. Recently he turned town an invitation by a legal colleague, who offered to pay for the broadcasts, for him to speak on the issue in a national address. According to officials of his party, Alexis does think there is anything for him to gain politically by pushing Mitchell out of office. Under investigation reveals that both Mitchell and Alexis are inadvertently united in their approach to the current crisis -- lie low and hope the storm blows away. Under the heavy influence of another former NDC minister Kenny Lalsingh and his party chairman Terrence Marryshow, the current unannounced policy of PLM is to ensure that the NDC does not get into office – if it means sticking with the status quo. Lalsingh from the same St Patrick’s area as NDC leader Tillman Thomas has not forgiven the opposition leader for backing his removal from an earlier NDC cabinet. Thomas had called Lalsingh corrupt, and his dealings unethical. Marryshow, who once led the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement, is opposed to any NDC ascendancy because of what he sees as the perceived influenced of the so-called hardliners from the Grenada revolution on the party. Alexis being on a Mitchell legal advisory team, should the talk about investigation into his conduct gets underway, is not as far fetched as that might have been a year ago. It is an idea that has already been floated in some circles, though no formal approach has been made. In turning down the invitation to publicly address the scandal, Alexis reportedly rhetorically asked: “If we push to move Mitchell from power now, who do we replace him with? Those NDC boys?” For the PLM’s top brass the man to defeat is Thomas, not Mitchell. “The Prime Minister is wounded, and time will take care of that. It is Tillman and NDC in most people’s view that are on the rise,” was how one person, who provided technical advice to the PLM during the last elections, explained it to CARIBUPDATE. The unofficial PLM policy of what one party insider called “the NNP appeasement” is not universally supported by the entire executive. The likes of Dorset Charles, who has won a million dollar suit against the Mitchell administration, is eager to see the back of this administration. The view -- it is more an attitude that has developed, influenced by Alexis, Marryshow and Lalsingh, rather than a formal policy. SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM