Grenadian politicians must work to change the image of politics in the country.
Prime Minister Tillman Thomas made the call on Sunday, at the Grenville Car-park in St. Andrew, as he addressed a thanksgiving rally, which celebrated his government’s victory over a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister, by the Opposition Leader.
“When politicians do not live up to high standards, the people become skeptical and come to distrust politics and politicians. There should never be one standard for the politicians and a different one for the rest of society. Politics should not be viewed as a bad thing. As leaders, we should strive to change this perception,” the Prime Minister told an enthusiastic and emotional audience.
The Grenadian leader said his government will continue to work toward reducing corruption, respecting the rule of law, practice good governance, be inclusive, protect the environment and heritage of Grenada and restore Grenada’s integrity.
“Together, we must continue to build a decent society in which governance is characterized by integrity, where the interest of our people is paramount. But as Prime Minister, I am held accountable for the performance of my Government. Therefore, I am obligated to act. I took an Oath and I am not going to betray my people's mandate,” the Prime Minister said.
In commenting on Grenada’s relations with the international community, the Prime Minister, who is also Grenada’s Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the country has the scars to show for “flirting with a certain ideology”.
“I am convinced that Grenada's Foreign Policy must be based on common sense and the promotion of our national interest. We have a unique history and have paid a massive price for flirting with a certain ideology in the past. Our Grenadian people are now more aware and will not be led down the wrong road.”
“We will promote relations that are in Grenada’s best interest. That, for me , is a sensible and responsible Foreign Policy,” he added.
The Grenadian leader committed to promoting and protecting the shared interest within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and CARICOM and to seek to develop and strengthen bilateral ties with the countries of Latin America.
gabe and littleboy,i agree with most of your comments.but why as pastor garraway said,he wait 5 months to tell the party about the money?let us all stay away from the name calling and discuss the issue at hand.tillman is our prime minister and as such he has to be held in high standards.why wait to tell your party about the money?and i have to say guys that pastor garraway made some interesting points,backed up by dates and names.something ent right here fellas.
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By: stallion 6/8/2012 6:10:28 PM
Brother Gabe, Gilbert was a DUD, he could never be a stud, HE DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO RULE ANYWHERE IN GDA. Look at Peter David, he is all for himself, he does not even think about whats best for Grenada, he is too selfish and is only thinking of himself, look at Church, he went away with Antoine in Europe, this is the PHD clown who tried to sell us out with the Governor General to Hamilton for the best piece of real estate in Gda for what the Judas Mitchel said was exposure. How much money you think was exposed to his bank account. We dont even know and they will never tell us. Look at the other lunatic the so called Preacher from St Georges. Gabe I'm a LaBay boy and I dont have any trust in these savory characters. Another lunatic is Helen Grenade. You can bet she is in this for something. She has nothing to give, she aint bright, nothing in her head, cant even write something truthfully but lies, lies and more lies and these jokers think we are the fools. We have to let them know at the polls. We are the biggest Parish in Grenada and we will send dem townboys a message. Peace my brother
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By: Littleboy 6/7/2012 5:14:07 PM
Bro Littleboy can i say how much you have touch on the subject matter re the Ghost man Gilbert from st patrick who is supposed to be the MP for that parish ,and what i say is this that here in grenada some of these politicians has no morals or unity in terms of party unity for many of them gets into politics so that they can advance their own political agenda as is the case of thoes ministers(FRIENDS OF THE NNP) who has betrayed their oath taken to served under the banner of the now government the NDC and i pray that come the next election our people will rise up against these political prospecters the next time they come knocking on our doors asking for our votes we shall not forget them for what they are trying to do to our PM for they are the ones who are corrupt,they are the ones who took an oath to serve our people in truth and justice yet some of them is behaving like MARK ANTHONY and Bernard Coard and are hell bent on destroying our country reputation for their own greedy political gains ,yes we shall not forget
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By: gabe 6/7/2012 11:20:11 AM
I think Gilbert is in the right place fired. He just went against the party. You do not do something like that unless it has been discussed and agreed on by the party. He is like SATAN the opposer. We doe want him around anymore.
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By: Littleboy 6/6/2012 8:20:23 PM
Gabe and Stallion, Pastor Garraway the false Preacher is a fool. That old goat has no sense whatsoever. He reminds of a donkey we used to have years ago, just sit dey and bray in the hot sun all day. You know he look just like dat Jack Donkey too. There are no laws in Grenada about Campaign Financing yet, but Tillman should do something about it now while he has the chance too and the public wants it, however he Tillman does not have to report to the public if someone gave $50,000.00 to the NDC as a political campaign. Its nobody's business but the NDC. How many of us have donated to the NDC and nothing has been reported. And I think the one in the BAnk who reported this should be fired. Mitchel is such a liar, remember what I said EVIDENCE my brother, EVIDENCE.
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By: Littleboy 6/6/2012 8:17:19 PM
Hi Gabe, what you are failing to come to grips with and not you only but many others like you who put Hon. Tillman Thomas on this high throne of honesty and integrity-he cannot do wrong, he is is just the same as the ministers within his party he is fighting against. Well he peddled a lie against Dr Mitchell but this is no lie he accepted money in his private account for the party but five months later the party has not received the money yet. Look at this Gabe from the NDC party see how you could defend this. NDC member says party should look into US$50,000 donation
St. George’s, June 4, 2012 – An executive member of the National Democratic Congress wants the party to “act with expediency in treating’’ the matter of the US$50,000 that Hon. Tillman Thomas admits receiving in his personal bank account on behalf of the NDC.
MP for St. Patrick West, Hon. Joseph Gilbert, is the first NDC executive member to comment on last week’s statement from the Prime Minister’s Press secretary that “a friend of Grenada, who does not wish to be publicly identified, and whose place of corporate residence is the British Virgin Islands,’’ made the donation to the leader of the National Democratic Congress.
“At every stage, it was the understanding and belief of Prime Minister Thomas, that these funds were intended to assist the NDC and for no other purpose,’’ the statement said.
“In my opinion,’’ said Gilbert, “this is a matter that the party ought to look into.’’
The former Works’ Minister questioned, “how is it a person receives money for his party and fails to make the disclosure to that party five months and numerous meetings thereafter?’’
Gilbert told reporters that when certain financial challenges were raised regarding the hosting of the March 25 NDC General Council in Carriacou, the party leader and Prime Minister sat at that executive meeting, but never disclosed that he was holding monies in his personal account for the party.
“Some constituencies that couldn't afford to pay their way to Carriacou for the General Council were forced to stay back on the mainland,’’ Gilbert noted.
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By: pastor Garraway 6/6/2012 6:07:26 PM
Good morning Bro Stallion and Bro Littleboy greetings to you both,Bro Stallion re the Tillman/money /accountability/trasnparency stories hatched up by the opposition ,well brothers i have read and listen to PM Tillman account and i truly believe that what he said and the reasons given are quite within the realms of the culture of private persons when giving donations to political parties as long as the receivers of these monies make open their audit books for Government inspection within the freedon of information act as is stated by the PM. My Brothers this is the way political donations are made and accounted for as is done in other democratic countries but sad to say that was not the way the then Government of the opposition handled the Money in the briefcase and all the other monies that was coming into grenada for the purpose of developing our country but alas some went astray with no transparency or accountablity and even today they the opposition is still keeping quiet about their behaviour when they were in goverment so in my view all the opposition is doing is setting up smoke screens and putting out non factual information the sole purpose is to make our people believe that the PM is bent and is no different to the leader of the opposition when in fact they the NNP knows better by attempting to paint the PM as a corrupt man ,shame on them, shame on them and their dirt dealing scaremongers within their party.
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By: gabe 6/6/2012 7:58:02 AM
littleboy,i hear you.but i still have a question or two.if as tillman said that the government has transparency and accountability,how come it is the opposition that find out about the money?how come the rest of the population were not aware of the money transfer?i am not saying what happened was illegal,but we already had the problem with keith and the briefcase money.why would the prime minister put himself in that position?littleboy,something smells here.if it looks like a duck,talk like a duck,move like a duck,it is probably a duck.
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