CATEGORY:SPECIAL EVENT
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada correspondent
Monday November 27,2006


PRIME MINISTER Dr Keith Mitchell, who achieved a landmark, by turning 60 years earlier on this month, has asked the country for special birthday gift. Even though it might be belated, Dr Mitchell wants a stable country. “I want to see peace and stability prevail in this country. That will be my 60th birthday gift”, the Prime Minister said, while speaking at his birthday party at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort.

Dr Mitchell was high in praise for the people of Brizan, Happy Hill and Northwest St George, who he said provided him and other youngsters with proper guidance. He also paid tribute to the nation as a whole for the strong family ties, morale and values that were bestowed on the youths. “Our parents guided us to do the right things and to forsake the wrong”, he pointed out, showing much concern for the 21st century youth, who he says face a huge challenge.

With broken down homes and one-parent families the order of the day, Dr Mitchell says it becomes very difficult for youngsters to be set on the right path. As such he has appealed to mothers and fathers to guide not only their own, but their neighbours’ children on the straight and narrow. “All has a responsibility to help and protect the young people because of the challenge they face”, he said referring to the good old days when children were not only brought up by their parents, but also by the community.

He wants to see a return of the old days when parents and people in general looked after and cared for each other. Dr Mitchell does not only want to see a positive youth on the right track, but also a country in the hands of an astute and respectable leadership. Even though General Elections are not constitutionally due by November of 2008, Prime Minister is asking the country for a belated 60th birthday gift. After being around the blocks for more than two decades, it is not certain whether he will be after 2008.

But Dr Mitchell wants to leave the country in capable and secure hands, after being an integral part of national development. We have come a long way. There has been freedom of expression, development and hope for all”, he said. Dr Mitchell is nonetheless concerned about the future. “I worry sometimes about the gullible people who are running for government. Make sure the country is in stable hands as you look past the world cup. I want to be able to relax and watch the country prosper”, he appealed.