CATEGORY:POLITICS
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By Wallace J.A (Inside Grenada correspondent)

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada – The ruling New National Party (NNP) of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell is visibly upset over the defacement of one of its billboards in the south of the island and is pointing an accusing finger at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a press release from the NNP, Mrs. Claris Charles, General Secretary of the ruling party, noted that the billboard erected at the Sugar Mill Round-About was defaced with yellow paint after the NDC’s public meeting in the area on Sunday October 02, 2006. Yellow is the official color of the National Democratic Congress. The billboard was one of the major topics of discussion during the Congress’s rally.

The press release went on to state that the billboard was erected in the area several weeks ago without incident and believes that statements coming from the leadership of the NDC (at the rally) would have led their supporters to react in ‘this disgraceful manner’. Mrs. Charles urged the NDC to act more responsibly and desist from ‘this kind of divisiveness’ which rouses its supporters to commit acts which can lead to violence and social unrest.

The NNP’s General Secretary urged Grenadians to recollect that during the last general elections campaign, Mr. Nazim Burke (NDC’s PRO and shadow finance minister) warned that he would make the country ungovernable if the NNP was voted into office.

The National Security Minister, Sen. Einstein Louison, stated that the matter would be investigated and dismissed claims made by Mr. Nazim Burke that the billboard would have cost some EC$30,000.00 to be produced. Sen. Louison stated that the government intends to erect similar billboards in other parts of the country.

In responding to the allegations made against the NDC, Mr. Nazim Burke distanced his party from the incident stating that they (the leadership of the party) did not encourage their supporters to tamper with the billboard.