With the date for the next general elections in Grenada due to be announced later this month, political debate in the country is heating up in anticipation of a polling day in March.

Pointing to the lack of innovation on agriculture and the significant trade imbalance between Grenada and its trade partners, local talk-show host Kem Jones in a Facebook Live broadcast stated that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell is visionless and lacks the ideas and energy to take on the challenges of Grenada for another full term.

Citing the lack of grown in agriculture, wasted opportunities in manufacturing and weakening trade opportunities, Jones suggested that it is now time to move forward with new leadership and away from Mitchell, who has served over 17 years in two terms as prime minister of Grenada.

Also citing allegations with regard to the monopolization of the export of nutmeg, Jones also claimed that Mitchell may have more information with regard to a preference for Russian investors over that of local Grenada farmers, something which he indicated is a reason why the weakening of the trade imbalance harms Grenada significantly.

As reported by the World Bank in 2015, Grenada exported $34.9 million and imported $174 million, resulting in a negative trade balance of $139 million.

Also reported by the World Bank, the top exports of Grenada are nutmeg ($8.6 million), non-filet fresh fish ($5.66 million), cocoa beans ($3.6 million), refined copper ($2.66 million) and wheat flours ($1.98 million), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification. Grenada’s top imports are poultry meat ($9.4 million), industrial fatty acids, oils and alcohols ($7.18 million), cars ($7.16 million), wheat ($4.68 million) and packaged medicaments ($3.16 million).

Mitchell is expected to lead the governing New National Party (NNP) into the next general elections against National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader and leader of the opposition, Senator Nazim Burke.

The NNP won all 15 elected seats in Parliament at the last general elections in February 2013.

Source: Caribbean News Now