March 16, 2009 - The grassroots of the National Democratic Congress ought to be commended for the frank, blunt and open manner in which they discussed the operations of the Party and Government when the NDC held its National Convention on March 1. The membership criticized the Party’s leadership where they felt criticism was warranted; and they voted for change on the Party’s Executive, confident that the changes would lead to the operational and structural adjustments required for a better functioning Party.

Now, in the aftermath of the Convention, the NDC grassroot has a responsibility for maintaining and strengthening the bottom up democratic structure of the Party. The survival of the NDC depends on an active – in fact, a pro-active – grassroot, with a strong working class base.

Party members who attended the Convention, and the thousands more who did not and could not be there, must keep in touch with the leaders of the Party and Government. Call them, visit them and scold them when there are good grounds for doing so. But, also importantly, share with them your own ideas and plans for moving the Party forward and improving the service of Government.

Our motto should be participatory democracy, flowing from bottom up. We are the Party and the Party is us. An injury to one is an injury to all, and no one should give comfort to the enemy. Keith Mitchell and the NNP were liars before the last general election. They were exposed as liars during the election campaign, even while spending millions of dollars – including tens of thousands from the government coffers, and abusing the resources of the Government Information Service. And no matter how much more they are now spending, and whether the mouthpiece is Terry Forrester, Allan Campbell or Keith Mitchell himself, NNP still remains infested with liars with links to convicted, imprisoned and fugitive characters.

Dr. Mitchell’s desperate attempts, from behind the scene, to launch a bid to return to government are motivated by one thing: revenge. His last political wish is to seek a final opportunity to avenge his 2008 party’s electoral defeat and to settle scores with old rivals like the media, the trade union movement, police officers, political opponents such as Peter David and Nazim Burke, and even with members of the private sector who have withdrawn support for him and his party.

Keith Mitchell is cognizant of the fact that the longer the NDC remains in power, the more evidence they will gather on him and his cronies on their corrupt practices during their 13-year reign in office. He knows there are skeletons all over the closet and the legal noose is tightening around his political neck. The government’s lawyers will leave no loopholes for him to escape. They are building their case as surely and as steadily as the United States government did with Bernie Madoff and Allen Standard.

The U.S. government, with its vast resource of investigators and money, took more than 10 years to uncover all the schemes and shady deals of Mr. Madoff and Mr. Stanford and to lay charges against them. Mr. Madoff is currently staring as much as 150 years in jail. The wheels of justice often turn slowly but they do turn indeed. Keith Mitchell is fully aware of that.

The NNP has tried, but thankfully because of the good sense of the Grenadian people, has failed to diminish the success of the free barrels of food program that the NDC government implemented last Christmas season. The free schools’ book program was successfully launched just months after the NDC formed the government, despite fierce attack on the program form the NNP.

The NDC, within the last eight months, has kept its election promise to repeal the National Reconstruction Levy (NRL). It has also made good on a pledge by starting a Food Security Program and investing in initiatives to revive the agricultural sector. In addition, the National Democratic Congress is moving ahead with its plans to set up local government in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and negotiations are ongoing with airlines and potential investors who are interested in doing business in our tourism sector.

Here are some other positive things the NDC has done in less than one year:


* Kept an election manifesto promise on “educational reform and lifelong learning’’ by launch the Grenada Youth Upliftment Program, which provides certified training for young people. The Ministry of Education will also be implementing a new schools’ curriculum starting in September.



* Opened talks with the aim of concluding the maritime boundary with Trinidad & Tobago.



* Upgraded, professionalized and depoliticized the Government Information Service.



* Delivered on a promise to strength the Royal Grenada Police Force, and bring equity and fairness to the Force.



* Strengthened relations with the private sector and other stakeholders with the re-establishment of multilateral committees to discuss pressing national issues, such the economy.



* Invested in housing with the restructuring of the Grenada Housing Authority, which has begun building new houses of high quality.



* Taken a new and more aggressive approach to promoting Grenada’s culture with the reintroduction of the Independence Calypso Competition, and with plans to bring into force a copyright law to protect the intellect property of all artistes.



Reprinted from ndcgrenada.org