To hear former Minister Joan Purcell speak about the upcoming general elections in Grenada, is to listen to someone who thinks the crucial poll is more divine than political.

Purcell, like quite a few in Grenada’s main opposition National Democratic Congress feels the current Keith Mitchell administration is so “tainted and compromise by corruption” that it is intrinsically evil.

During a public meeting here this week Purcell used the term “crusade of change”, certain in her mind that liberation is both political and spiritual.

In a surprise move Purcell has insisted and finally won the approval of her party for her to contest the general elections by coming up directly against incumbent Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell in St George’s North West.

Mitchell’s seat is considered the safest for the NNP, with many pundits more occupying their time figuring out what the margin of victory will be the next time around.

Purcell is unlikely to be in the next parliament of Grenada – but don’t tell that to her. She thinks her decision is more a spiritual calling than a political decision.

Purcell has already been in parliament twice as the representative for Town of St George and Carriacou, but this is her toughest political assignment.

Dissatisfied with the tone and taste of Grenadian politics, and uncomfortable with the infighting in her own party which she briefly lead, Purcell appeared to have turned her back on Grenada politics after a disappointing defeat, when many had expected her to win, in 1999.

She returned to social work, gave lectures and appeared to have found her new connection with her God, leading prayer meetings and speaking of his amazing grace.

Then she said he received that calling to return.

It was the time of the renaissance of the NDC two years ago.

Handed a mauling in the 1999 general election, NDC emerged leaderless and given up for dead. It was almost reduced to a fringe movement in the face of ruthless, glitzy and expensive campaign by the New National Party.

But five years is a long time in politics – especially Grenadian politics.

In two years, NDC has emerged from the list of political have-beens to be the main challenger to the incumbent NNP.

“The fact that NDC is being considered as a competitive party after it was so badly beaten and the NNP had won, for the first time in history, all the seats, is itself a triumph,” the party’s general secretary Peter David told CARIBUPDATE when we sat down with him this week.

“These are surely better days from those times of 1999 and 2000,” he confidently stated. “But we believe the best days are still ahead of us.”

Prime Minister Mitchell has dismissed all the talk of an opposition revival as unnecessary political banter. While not giving the details, he as dismissed as “figment of the imagination” reports that suggest that his party may win only three seats from its current 15.

He did not give the figures, but said what he has in his folder suggests the opposition will even do worse than the last time.

“Don’t take seriously these juicy stories in the press,” he recently told a press conference. He laughed and said another 15 are on the cards, though privately the party is working on the assumption it can really count on 10.

But for many observers here, the truth is somewhere between the claims of both sides.

The incumbent has been wounded by charges of corruption, wastage, patronage and “recklessly” increasing the national debt. But it has delivered on many services.

The advantage of incumbency and the party’s ability and willingness to use state funds in its reelection bid gives the NNP a clear advantage. But there are many active variables at play that makes this an awkward time for Dr Mitchell, who is now mulling over the date for elections.

It is constitutionally due next year. But the one thing all the political parties seem to agree on is that it will be held this year.

“As it stands now, it is possible that the NNP can win all 15 seats again, or lose 12 of them. That is how fluid the situation is,” was the declaration in an analysis which was posted here in February.

Many of the details have changed since then, but the net position still remains the same in April.

The next eight weeks are likely to be the crucial time when either party will deliver crucial body blows.

Some suggest that the poll might be called by the end of June. If even it isn’t – someone would have won it and lost it by then.


PROVIDED BY CARIBUPDATE.COM