The considered main opposition National Democratic Congress holds its annual convention Sunday (Jan. 26) more determined to make a statement about its viability than electing an executive.

All major positions are up for election at the one-day convention in rural St Patrick's, but no major changes are expected.

NDC thinks this will be the party's last convention before general elections are called, and it is eager to show that its revitalization is complete following its unprecedented drubbing in the 1999 general elections.

Many analysts here say the party has been a rebound for the last year and a half, and it pulled off an impressive convention last year.

This year's meeting takes place in the constituency of its leader Tillman Thomas who has not won the seat for 20 years.

But many think he has the best chance since he last won it in 1984, and the convention there is an aim to boost his standings in the constituency.

Thomas will deliver the feature address at the end of the convention on Sunday which will also be addressed by a Guyana-born new York state Senator.

NDC is one of three opposition parties in Grenada seeking to unseat the ruling New National party which controls 14 of the 15 seats in parliament.

While NNP is still considered as the favorite to win a next poll, it is believed that its support has slipped, with NDC likely to be the main beneficiary.

NDC's convention comes a week before another struggling opposition party -- Grenada United Labor Party -- holds a convention of its own.

GULP is expected to elect Gloria Payne-Banfield as its new leader at its meeting in a hopes to revive the fading fortunes of the party of late former Prime Minister Sir Eric Gairy.



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