INSIDE GRENADA
THURSDAY December 13,2007
From NDC Grenada


Ingrid Jackson, the National Democratic Congress candidate who will be running against Dr. Keith Mitchell in Grenada's next general election, believes she is destined for a career in politics and is not fazed by the challenge of having to defeat the Prime Minister. "I believe that all things are possible in God,'' said Jackson,
when asked about the possibility of winning the constituency of St. George North West at the polls.
"Things that seemingly are impossible are possible. Anything is possible.''

Jackson, already with a Bachelor of Science honours degree, is soon to complete her
MBA from Andrews University in Michigan, USA. She is from a well-known Grenada sporting family of Happy Hill. They include her father, Harry "Pinhan'' Jackson, a former top bodybuilder, and uncle George "Major'' Jackson, one of the best defensive wing backs to ever suit up for Atoms and the Grenada national football team.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy, Jackson has spent most of her professional life working in Grenada and Trinidad. For over 13 years, she was employed in the hotel industry in Grenada. Jackson has also served as Program Administrator for Project Good Hope, an initiative designed to help Grenadian teenage mothers.

In Trinidad, she devoted many years to the cause of education, including a stint at the University of the Southern Caribbean. Jackson, versatile and talented, worked with other team members of the Continuing Education Department to develop creative extension programs and innovative leadership training schemes.

When not working, Jackson was volunteering in Trinidad, conscious of the importance of
helping to uplift the less fortunate of the community. "I regarded it a duty and a privilege to give back to the community,'' Jackson says. "I was happy to give back by freely offering my expertise in literacy development.'' Her experiences, says Jackson, have convinced her that she has a "calling in leadership''and a "love and a passion'' for politics.

Jackson placed her political passion and leadership skills at the disposal of the Caribbean
Institute of Women in Leadership, a non-partisan regional organization that seeks to empower women involved in politics or bidding for political office. The Institute offers support to the women and conducts electoral preparatory workshops for them on topics such as campaign funding.

As a member of the Caribbean Institute of Women in Leadership, Jackson worked with female candidates from the three major parties that contested last November's general election in Trinidad and Tobago. She says the Institute could be playing a similar role with female candidates, including herself, who will be participating in upcoming general election in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Jackson ran and lost to Dr. Mitchell in elections held in 1999. She argues, however, that after more than two decades of representation by 61-year-old Keith Mitchell, St. George North West shows a serious lack of attention in the area of people development.

"The needs of the people of St. George's North West have not been met,'' Jackson contends. "There has been some infrastructural development in terms of roads and community centre building. But there is nothing of the greater development of the
people – of the harnessing their potential.''

Jackson says as the elected Member of Parliament for St. George North West, one of the first things on which she would embark is a project of entrepreneurial development of the people.

"I want to empower people so that they can grow,'' says Jackson. "For example, there is a need for daycare centres in the community; and there are people with a love and a passion for childcare, who can take on and manage daycare centres.'' The fishing community of St. George North West has not been well served either, Jackson adds.

"The North West is also a fishing constituency,'' says Jackson, "but all we have is a fisheries unit. I would like to see a facility that will help the people develop their fishing abilities.''

Jackson says she identifies closely with the people and their issues, and is highly satisfied
with the support and encouragement she is receiving from her constituents. "First of all,'' Jackson explains, "I represent a youth population. I'm someone who can make a difference with young people; youth who possess incredible potential. As a mother, I can also identify with the women, especially single mothers.''

Jackson intends to give her all to winning St. George North West for the Tillman Thomas-led National Democratic Congress.

She says: "I have been chosen for the task; I am destined for it. I understand my purpose;
I understand who I am and where I am going. One of my callings was definitely politics. I always knew it."