Opposition Leader Tilman Thomas has dismissed as "classic Keith Mitchell propaganda" the published findings of a poll commissioned by Grenada's governing New National Party (NNP), led by Prime Minister Mitchell.

Reports from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) stated that the NNP poll, which was released this week, in fact shows that seven out of every ten Grenadians do not support the ruling party.

The NDC said, based on its own findings, and given the five percent margin of error, the poll suggests that the NDC and the NNP are in a statistical dead heat.

According to Thomas, the real story was more the events leading up to the commissioning of the poll than the actual published findings, which he charged were "filtered and pruned" by Mitchell.

"The poll was commissioned against the backdrop of considerable doubt within the ranks of the NNP as to the suitability of Mitchell to lead the party into general elections, given his less than 'squeaky clean' image when it comes to honesty and integrity in public life. It sends a message to his detractors in the NNP that he is willing to go to all lengths to hold on to power, even if it means cooking a poll in his favour," Thomas insisted.

According to the opposition party, the NNP did not release the results for each constituency, which shows that if an election is called today, the National Democratic Congress will win more seats that the NNP.

As the NDC put it, what is even more worrying for the NNP regime is that 33 percent of the 900 questioned said they don't know or won't tell who they support.

According to the statement from the NDC, the NNP’s own poll showed most of the people blaming the NNP regime for the high cost of living.

"Anyone with a modicum of understanding of statistics will understand that this government in is trouble, and fighting desperately for it survival.

"The last time they made a claim, one of their pollsters W R Agostini said NNP were winning 14 seats. Instead they just saved their skins by six votes."

The leader of the NDC maintained that, while not casting aspersions on the integrity of the pollsters, it is interesting that no mention was made of the overall desire for change in the country or the perception persons had of the leaders of both major parties in relation to honesty, decency and integrity.

"This is a classic case of 'he who pays the fiddler, calling the tune'. Mitchell asked the specific questions that he wanted answers to, and he published components of the answers that made him unassailable in the battle for leadership of the NNP going into the election.

"My position in relation to this public relations exercise is simple: If Mitchell believes his own propaganda, he should call elections within the next 21 days and put Grenada out of its misery. In 2002, Mitchell published polls, which showed he was winning 14 out of 15 seats. All of what his polls are saying now, they said back then and I came within six votes of taking the government from him. I am today calling his bluff! If he believes the nonsense that he is having published, then I dare him to dissolve Parliament and call an election right away," the NDC leader declared.

He insisted also that there was a fundamental difference between persons believing that the Commission of Enquiry was a waste of time and money and their believing that there was something wrong that needed investigating.

"Technically, what the people are saying is that a government-convened commission, conducted in a government-determined manner under the guidance of a government-appointed commissioner was not a reliable way of getting at the truth."

The NDC leader said his party was not fazed by the propagandistic effort of the NNP, as his candidates were on the ground in their respective constituencies and in touch with voters on a daily basis.

"We know what the people out there are saying. We hear their cries and feel their pain. We know their sense of betrayal and their outrage over repeated incidents of corruption and malfeasance in public office by this NNP administration.

"I agree with the majority of voters who did not declare their hand. The message that they too are sending to Mitchell is that if he wants to know where they stand, he should call the election now".

Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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