ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: The ruling New National Party is being forced to scale back what it was hoped to be a lavish celebration on October 19th, following criticisms that its plan for the day could be irreverent to those who died on that date 20 years ago.

October 19th is the anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others back in 1983.

Party sources say the talked-about reggae concert featuring Beres Hammond is being scrapped, and the idea now is to have only local entertainment.

The issue has been hotly debated by the party’s leadership after indications that many Grenadians were concerned that the ruling party may come across as insensitive by planning a major concert on that day.

Prime Minister Mitchell has already announced his intention to call general elections on that date.

The opposition Grenada United Labour Party is expected to announce Tuesday that it plans a dress-in-white motorcade and prayer session for that day for “the healing of the nation.”

The National Democratic Congress, another political party here, is considering suspending all political activities and inviting members to join in any observances families have planned, out of a mark of respect.

NNP strategist has been struck by the negative response its original plan had received, and has been forced to re-work the plans for that date.

The party now plans a minute of silence and a prayer session during its convention for those who died.

Among those was Norris Bain, a one-time Minister of Health who is the father of NNP candidate Yolande Joseph.

In an interview with the Grenadian Voice, Joseph refused to say what her plans are for that day, even though family members are organizing an alternative prayer vigil.

There are some indications as well that Jamaica’s Prime Minister P J Patterson will not be attending the NNP convention after all.

The NDC had written to both Patterson and Owen Arthur of Barbados asking them not to allow the Keith Mitchell administration drag them into the politics of the island.

On Sunday Prime Minister Mitchell defended the invitations in saying that Arthur will indeed been here. He called him a personal friend since their days in university at Cave Hill.

However he made no mention about Patterson.

In each of his last three public speeches, Prime Minister Mitchell said Arthur will be there without saying anything about Patterson.

“Prime Minister Arthur always stands up for regional integration,” he said recently at Grand Anse, as if to suggest that other leaders were being cooed into not attending.

Feelers had also gone out to Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago but he also opted out saying it is appropriate for a regional leader to attending a party political function in a country at the time of general elections campaigning.


SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM