ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada: THE considered main opposition National Democratic Congress says it is ready for s final push to power in general election it predicts will come within six months.

The Grenada opposition holds no seat in the country's parliament but believes the mood against the Keith Mitchell administration has turned so much that it has a good shot at forming the next government.

The incumbent New National Party has expressed confidence at retaining power though an on-going battle with the country's labour unions, increasing cost of living and accusations of corruption dogs the administration.

NDC held an assessment session for all of its candidates and campaign managers on the weekend, and announced that its campaign is about to switch gears following the lull in activity during the recent carnival celebrations.

“Dissatisfaction for this regime is definitely growing, given the high cost of living, the corruption, the difficult economic times and its whole anti-people behavior in recent years,” NDCs Public Relations Officer Nazim Burke said following the session.

No polls have been published here about the relative strengths of any of the parties, but there have been widespread rumours about internal polling by the ruling NNP which suggests its support has slipped.

There have been a lot of speculation here that general elections constitutionally due by the end of the second quarter next year could be held before the end of this year.

But NDC Deputy Leader George Prime said Sunday that from their intelligence “the ruling party has become so paranoid because of the slips in its popularity borne out by their own polls, that nothing (about the date) is really sure.”

“We have them running for cover, and now there is the big debate in the NNP as to when to call elections. Some are now even talking about January and February,” he said.

“In some ways that is not important anymore for us. It will be called when it is called and the good news is that we are getting more prepared each day,” he said. “They sure can run, but they can’t hide.”

Leader of the National Democratic Congress Tillman Thomas was upbeat following last Sunday’s sessions, saying his party will be using the coming period for further preparation ahead of the expected announcement.

“As it gets closer we will intensify the pace , we have to be in the field on a more regular basis, we have to be holding more meetings, we have to be engaging the people in more dialogue relating to matters concerning cost of living, creation of jobs, we want to really get people involved in the process,” he said.

The NDC will be holding a meeting in Telescope, St Andrew on Sunday that it says will set the tone for the party’s campaign.

Said Kenrick Fullerton, the NDC candidate for St Andrew’s South East: “This will be the first in a series of public meetings the party will be organizing.”

“In fact what we will be doing is really launching the actual full campaign from that meeting and we expect to have all our candidates there, the party’s plans and programs will be outlined, and the actual message the party will have for Grenada, and particularly the constituency of St Andres’s South East will be highlighted in that meeting,” he said.

From CaribUpdate.com