Tillman Thomas poor governance of the country of Grenada means that the government has reached the critical mass tittering on inefficiency and unaccountability. That weak leadership is demonstrated in the way the government has not found a way to translate their campaign promises into policy implementation.

Eleven months in, and Tillman administration is marked as unaccountable, uninformed and out of control. What is worse, the many that supported Tillman and the NDC - now view the administration with scorn and ridicule – meaning that from since the NDC took office their policies have not brought any genuine significant change to the Grenadian people.

The reality is now clear: Tillman is not a transformative figure. We had believed that Tillman was a man who would speak softly but carry a big stick. Little did we know - that he’s unable to talk to his ministers - muchless carry a stick.

Before Tillman took office, many people assumed that the disciplined style that marked his campaign would translate to the government — especially with a roster of outsized characters such as Peter David and Nazim Burke - populating his administration.

Our assumption was totally wrong! Tillman is a faltering and indecisive leader and the NDC government has no esprit de corps!

Tillman’s value system has not transformed to his close staff and Cabinet Ministers who has demonstrated that they cannot keep their egos in check. This means Tillman’s administration is plagued with ministers who have serious policy differences from him – and policy and ego tension is rampant.

Because of this colossal incompatibility, Tillman’s Prime Ministership is very slow in taking shape and looks downright amateurship.

With only eleven months in office, Tillman is already unable to retain and depend on - the national star power that swept him and his team in to office. The situation is so poor - that he had to appeal to his party supporters to call in to radio talkshows to defend him and his party and government from stinging attacks.

The reality is: Tillman is not a pragmatist muchless an ideologue. He is stumbling along hoping to get along. He does not know how to us his powers to reign in his wayward ministers like David and Church. Another way of looking at it is –Tillman is so unaware of what is taking place – that’s it now painful to what him try and defend his eleven months old weak administration.

In less than a year, Tillman and his flounder administration has managed to finally end the meager faith that the Grenadian people had in government. Tillman does not understand that Grenadians want a Prime Minister who is an affirmative force with a progressive vision. And Grenadian thought that that was going to be the “change” they had voted for.

Tillman and his administration took the seat of power with a strong head wind, but because of his weak leadership, the head winds only got stronger against his administration. Grenadian history suggests that weak leaders are doom to fail either before their five year mandate – or by internal strife. There is no need for us to lament on the experiences from the Revolution or from Herbert Blaize and Thief Mitchell – as examples of weak leadership.

We suspect that Tillman and the NDC will face the electorate soon - rather than in four years time – in the constituency of St. David’s. It will be a referendum on his government – and at that time we hope the voters send him and his cohorts a strong and definitive message.

The past eleven months has been revelatory because it tested, amongst others, Tillman’s ability to deliver on big “changes” that are not tightly tethered to economic undertakings. And he fails!

Grenadians are not responding well to Tillman and the NDC because his doings are not what he promised. The current direction of the government is completely inconsistent with what he talked about on the campaign. This is enough to suggest it will be the achilles heel of the NDC in the very near future. And it’s one we will make sure we exploit to the bone.

There is no upside to Tillman and his administration - which we can say they trumped.

As a matter of fact, due to Tillman’s poor Prime Ministership, there are now more questions: Can the country continue along the road - with weak leadership? When will the concrete plans to arrest the 30% unemployment begin? Will the “Tillmulus” plan stimulate?

A bad answer for Tillman on any of these would further harden the public’s assessment of his amorphous leadership.

Tillman is not making a genuine attempt to demonstrate to the nation; and to his wayward ministers - that’s he’s primus inter pares (first among equals) – and that it’s “his” administration.

Tillman problems come from the fact that he’s surrounded by poor advisers. His press secretary, chief policy adviser/s including his cabinet adviser/s all need to be fired; but we’ll not hold our collective breaths.

The only avenue left, in our view, is for an internal party struggle that will topple Tillman as leader. Should that to happen, we will not be surprised because many have come to believe that Burke is leader and prime Minister of Grenada. Moreover, many believe that the incompetent Peter David is eying leadership.

Tillman and the NDC have already lost the confidence of the Grenadian people. The NDC only supporters, as to date, are the turn-coats from the NNP – who are now lofting in the hope of continuing to nurse off the meager resources of the nation. The grass-roots who had toiled in the trenches for the NDC prior to their victory - have long left the party.

Tillman’s only avenue is to try a Cabinet re-shuffle, and that too might be too late.

As we see it, the horse has already left the NDC barn!!


From: A Grenadian Patriot

(The views expressed in the above article represents the views/opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of the Inside Grenada Staff)