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ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who is also leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said that problems besetting the government and party have nothing to do with his leadership.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas

The NDC, in general elections held in 2008, won 11 of 15 parliamentary seats to form the government.

However, internal party strife led to the postponement of the NDC’s convention from July to Sunday, September 30.

In addition, four MPs have resigned from cabinet and one was dismissed by the prime minister in January. All five are now backbenchers in the House of Representatives.

Thomas, in an interview on Friday with the Government Information Service, blamed the troubles on an alleged power struggle and “an attempt to take over the party”.

The situation has “nothing to do with leadership,” he insisted. Had there been a team that was “cohesive and focused,” the government would have done much better in the four years it has been in office, the prime minister added.

Former Environment Minister Glynis Roberts, who resigned September 20 from government, told a meeting of her constituents that she has never questioned the prime minister’s character, “only his leadership choices”.

Chairman of the meeting, former Senator Arley Gill, called for parliament – which has been suspended – to be reconvened. He also criticized Finance Minister Nazim Burke for refusing to say when, and from where, the government is borrowing money to deal with the country’s fiscal challenges.

“We can’t accuse the NNP of doing hush-hush things and when we’re in government, we’re doing hush-hush things,” Gill said.

Thomas claims there is a strategy aimed at his government to “encourage people to resign,” and also to “create instability in the country.”

“We have to pray for people like Arley Gill and others,” said Thomas, whose party heads into what he describes as a “very historic convention” on Sunday.

The convention, he said, will position the NDC for victory at the next general election.

Meanwhile, Gill has said that he welcomes the prayers of Thomas.

“I have always kept him in my prayers,” Gill commented on Friday. “While he’s at it, I want him to join me in saying a prayer for the country.”

In the meantime, the latest action by the government to sell its shares in GRENLEC to pay public workers salaries and wages is being described by former finance minister Anthony Boatswain as a desperate and reckless act by a financially bankrupt government -- one that has neither the administrative skills nor the vision and foresight to manage the economy.

According to Boatswain, the government has reached the point of bankruptcy and is taking irresponsible actions with the people’s assets. These actions can have negative consequences for the future of the nation.

This behaviour, said Boatswain, reveals a very troubling pattern of behaviour by the NDC government. He added that with this kind of hasty action, there is absolutely no way that the government will get the best price for its shares in the company

Boatswain also wanted the Grenadian public to know as that the government is now giving up representation on the board of directors of GRENLEC and will no longer have any say in the decisions regarding the electricity company. This, he says, is a development that can haunt the Grenadian people in the future, as rates are already very high.

Boatswain warned that Grenadians must never forget that it was the same NDC government that sold GRENLEC for a very low price prior to the 1995 general elections. Many business and homeowners are now struggling as a result.

With the recent decision by the prime minister to prorogue parliament, the government will become even more desperate to meet its basic operational expenses and this kind of desperate action may continue, he said.

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hey, hey, hey, Ian you really crack me up. Keith Mitchel and his crooks were in there for 3 terms, did nothing and not only drew their hugh salaries, but stole ravenously from Grenada and all, so I cant understand what you mean by: Why was Parliament prorogued, elected and appointed officials laid off but drawing their hefty salaries. This goverment has been trying hard to clean up that man's mess and what a mess it was. Nah we doe want Keith Mitchel nor anyone associated with him stealing from Grenada anymore. I still have a picture of the treasury burning down. Do you know how that got started and all that evidence burned down too? Thomas will come back with fresh new people. Its over for the 5 traitors. I imagine Glenis Roberts the idiot, Karl Hood the dummy and Church the circus clown will have to make it on their own without any brains, the others are educated some lawyers and engineers and will find jobs or open their own businesses. You and Helen Grenade are also out too my friend. Time out. Lets see what happens Sunday

Ian Francis:

Prime Miniater Thomas interview is interesting.

In my view and to many others who watch Grenada closely, everyone has agreed the political melee is dut to Weak Leadership. Thomas and his many Ministers have persistently demonstrated weakness, policy planning stupidity and too much ALL FOOL'S JOKES.

However, now that Thomas has spoken,his convention will be out of the way Sunday, he needs ro reason with the Grenadian voters on three key issues.

1. Why was Parliament prorogued, elected and appointed officials laid off but drawing their hefty salaries. When will Parliament be RECONVENED?

2. Does the NDC command a parliamentary majority? If yes, how was this answer arrived at. If no,what are his intended actions and how soon?

3. Why should Grenadian voters be subjected to this level of NDC lawlessness in Grenada? Why has Thomas and his inner circle fail to recognize that the only solution to the current impasse is a fair and free GENERAL ELECTIONS.

In my view, Thomas has made a very grave mistake and he needs to pack it in.

He cannot win St.Patricks East; the decay of the Grenada Economy continues to be in rapid decline; crime and violence is increasing; corruption and mismanagement in the government is growing.

Grenadians are clamouring for change. THEY WANT BACK THE OLD BUS DRIVER.

TIME THE NDC SHOULD CONSIDER AN EARLY DEPARTURE.

Ian Francis:

hey, hey, hey, Ian you really crack me up. Keith Mitchel and his crooks were in there for 3 terms,

Yes, the New National Party headed by Dr.Mitchell was re-electe for three consecutive terms. I suspect that Grenadian voters were satisfied and they accorded his party the opportunity to be re-elected.

Well, are you saying that Grenadian voters knew the government of Dr.Mitchell was doing nothing but still re-elected him three times.

did nothing and not only drew their hugh salaries,

Well to the contrary, Grenadian voters were very pleased with Dr.Mitchell.Public Servants and pensioners were paid on time; a new hospital was constructed; the land reclamation on melville street was very successful; fishing complex were established in many parishes for fishers; a new bus terminal was constructed; new government complex was built in the botanical gardens; the youth imani project created many jobs; crime and lawlessness was contained.

but stole ravenously from Grenada and all, so I cant understand what you mean by:

Well the interesting thing of this DUMB and REPETIIVE NATURE which you seem delighted to be engaged in for the last few years are things that you continue to to spew on this forum. Therefore, if the Prime Minister and his government were engaged in such ugly behavior, then your NDC Junta had all the mechanism to investigate, indict and bring the wrongdoers to Justice. Therefore, why has the NDC JUNTA fail to act.It is VERY PUZZLING THAT A MAN WHO HAS COMMITTED SO MANY WRONG THINGS ARE STILL LOOSE AND ABOUT TO BE RE_ELECTED AS PRIME MINISTER.SOME THING IS NOT ADDING RIGHT. I MUST ALSO TELL YOU FOR THE LAST TIME THAT THIS UNPROVEN FILTH BY YOU AND YOUR NDC JUNTA IS NOT SEEN AS PRIMA FACIE BY GRENADIAN VOTERS.MAY BE YOU SHOULD STOP IT. IT HAS BECOME REPETIVE, ITS SOUNDS LIKE A GRAMOPHONE RECORD. ATTACK THE NNP ON SOMETHING ELSE.

Why was Parliament prorogued, elected and appointed officials laid off but drawing their hefty salaries.

Well to Grenadians and regional political commentators, no one has to climb the KILAMANJERO Mountains to understand the NDC JUNTA selfish, Undemocrartic ans Conniving conduct to the Grenadian voters.There is no reason to spend much time answering this. SUFFICE TO SAY, IT IS THE NDC JUNTA LAST STRATEGY TO HANG ON TO STATE POWER.

This goverment has been trying hard to clean up that man's mess and what a mess it was.

Well, the NDC JUNTA was elected in 2008. It is now 2012 and they still in MOP UP MODE.WHEN WILL THEY FINISH?

So I assume that this gives the old rejected excuse of not paying suppliers, being unable to give their diplomatic and consular missions their monthly allocations in a timely manner, late payment to public servants; using St.Vincent ECCB reserve to patch up re-current expenditures; selling the last remaining shares in GRENLEC and continuing to BLAME NNP for their KNOWN FAILURE AND REJECTED POLICIES.

Nah we doe want Keith Mitchel nor anyone associated with him stealing from Grenada anymore.

ANOTHER DUMB,STUPIDAND ILLOGICAL COMMENT that should not be accorded a response. Fortunately, the NNP under Dr.Mitchell is poised to be re-elected when the NDC JUNTA decide to respect the wishes of Grenadian viters.

I still have a picture of the treasury burning down. Do you know how that got started and all that evidence burned down too? Thomas will come back with fresh new people.

I do not have a picture of the Treasury Fire.

I do not know how it got started.

I do not know what was lost in the Fire.

SINCE YOU RAISED IT, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE SAVED WITH RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. FURTHER,YOU SEEM TO IMPLY THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME FORM OF CRIMINALITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TREASURY FIRE. IF this is the case, then you should work the authorities to address and bring the situation to a CLIMAX. If you can't, I would suggest that you refrain from such nonsencical pronouncement as people are reading your response and TAKING A GOOD LAUGH.

Its over for the 5 traitors. I imagine Glenis Roberts the idiot, Karl Hood the dummy and Church the circus clown will have to make it on their own without any brains, the others are educated some lawyers and engineers and will find jobs or open their own businesses.

You are entitled to express your personal opinion about people. I do not intend to join you with such descriptive and deragatory conduct to which you should be deeply shame and embarassed.

You and Helen Grenade are also out too my friend. Time out. Lets see what happens Sunday

The above is not comprehensible. Therefore, I am not in a position to respond.