INSIDE GRENADA
JANUARY 26, 2008
from the National Democratic Congress (NDC)


ST GEORGE 'S, Grenada: The man, whose announcement a few months ago that he is reentering politics caused a firestorm of debates here, is now getting ready to officially launch his candidacy this weekend.

Reverend Ignatius Karl Hood, who is also the Pastor of the People's Church in St. Paul’s, will be officially presented as the National Democratic Congress' candidate for St George South East at a public rally Sunday.

The launch will take place at La Borie in St. Paul's from 5 p.m. When Hood announced his intention to return to politics a few months ago, it created a national debate about the role of the church in politics.

But Pastor Hood said three months after that initial discussion, he is now even clearer that he made the right decision. "I heard several persons say they had given up on politicians and had promised never to vote again but now that I have returned to politics they will be voting in the upcoming election,” Hood said.

Hood added that he prays his candidacy will bring new hope that politics can be better and can indeed work for real people. "Politics and Christianity are very similar, it's about loving and caring for people and being honest and straightforward", he said this week as he prepared for Sunday's launch.

Hood is not a first-time politician, having contested the St George's North West seat in 1990 in a no-hope race. Between then and now, Pastor Hood has studied extensively and built a strong congregation as Pastor in St Paul’s.

He is returning to politics stronger in faith – and importantly in a seat that analysts gives him a real chance at winning. "I didn't think I could win that seat but I needed to make a statement because I wasn't pleased with the way in which he (Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell) was treating the people", he said of his first run 17 years ago.

Second time around, Hood will be up against the NNP's Gregory Bowen, whose power base has shown signs of serious erosion since the last general elections. "The general reception has been very good, I haven't had much opposition and I am very confident I can get the votes to make a difference," Hood said of his new campaign. "The times have changed and people are looking for meaningful change, and that is what our campaign is offering," he said.

He added: "People have become frustrated with the system and this frustration is fuelling the need for change." "Politics is not corrupt it is the people who are in it that are corrupt and what I am going to bring back is the social consciousness which is missing", he emphasized.

Pastor Hood said there are many things in St George South East that we would like to change if given the opportunity. He specially mentioned the case of a lack of a pre-school in the La Borie area. "Since hurricane Ivan damaged their facilities, children at the pre-school and day-care center in La Borie have been using the community center. How could that environment be good for them?" he questioned.

The top brass of the NDC including leader Tillman Thomas and south St George MP Glynis Roberts are expected to be among those to address Sunday's launch, which will be carried live on the Voice of Grenada. "We are excited about the candidacy of Hood. We believe that he has brought a new dimension to the politics," Roberts said. "We look forward to him gracing our parliament within the next year, but the work to get him there starts now," she added. "With everybody's hard work and prayers, a genuine caring heart will beat again in St George's South East."