ST. GEORGE ‘S, Grenada: The ruling New National Party has announced it will be holding a two-day convention in October which many here are already saying it may be a prelude to a short re-election campaign.

The convention being staged in rural St Andrew is on for October 18 and 19, 2003.

The Grenada Today newspaper had reported earlier this month that Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell is considering announcing the date for general elections at the end of the convention.

The convention’s schedule released Tuesday by the New National Party says the event will culminate on day two with a rally and address by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell.

The first day will feature the election of a new party executive, where there is expected to be little change as the party seeks a unity front going into the upcoming general elections.

For many months there have been widespread speculation here that the poll constitutionally due by April next year may be held before the end of 2003.

Many observers here believe the poll will be held within a month of Prime Minister Mitchell announcing the date. If this theory holds, and he names the date at the convention, a poll before the end of November may not be out of the question.

Whenever the polls are finally held, the convention will be the last such meeting of the party before Grenadians vote again.

The NNP has a good record of delivery of services but accusation of corruption and well publicized clashes with many sectors especially the trade union movement has dogged its tenure.

NNP won all 15 seats in the January 1999 poll, but now holds a 14-1 majority in parliament following the resignation of opposition leader Michael Baptiste.

Baptiste is expected to contest his St Andrew’s South West seat for the Grenada United Labor Party but faces tough contests from NNP’s newcomer Yolande Joseph and Osbert Charles of the National Democratic Congress.

NNP has already announced its full slate of 15 candidates.

Other than Joseph, another woman Ann Alexander is a newcomer in St George’s South, replacing current representative Mark Isaac, who midway during the current term fell out of grace and was relegated to the ranks of Junior Minister.

The third newcomer is Bhola who is replacing the retiring Oliver Archibald as the candidate in St Andrews North East.


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