Dear Sir:
Dr Keith C. Mitchell represents those whose love of country, of neighbour and principles makes them criticize the system and demand change. Rather than merely speaking of justice and liberty, Grenadians demand that the system lives up to the ideals it proclaims so loudly. In order to be good citizens and good Grenadians, we need to be courageous enough to protest injustices whenever they occur. However, as time passes the people of Grenada will gradually regain their composure. Their enthusiasm will be replaced by a growing recognition of the need for rehabilitating the country from years of almost continuous turmoil, and the phase of reconstruction and rebirth under the New National Party.
It is good to see a consciousness of the need to defend our political as well as our economic independence arising within our society. We must make a thorough, sincere study of our national consciousness, impelling our people to contribute to the national development as long as we Grenadians believe that economic development is not an end in itself but a necessary and essential condition to attaining the national ideals. We shall strive to preserve and enhance our political sovereignty through the popular will.
Much of Mitchell’s two previous terms was cast as a struggle for the soul of democratic reforms. He is a great and well deserving man and politician. Mitchell and his NNP supporters will virtually sweep all elective offices when the next upcoming general elections are held in Grenada. It is a fact in Grenada that the Grenadians place their hope in one-party government and strong-man leaders to fulfill their rising expectation. Their solution to disappointment when progress is not forthcoming is to get rid of that leadership, as we are seeing in Grenada and elsewhere.
Worsening inflation and lack of progress are leading to growing dissatisfaction with the government. There are calls for Thomas’s replacement; his authority has dwindled to the point where people are asking, “Is he still there?”
Mitchell is making personal visits to every corner of the country, meeting with his people and giving them encouragement to work diligently for a better day. The composed and quiet manner of the ruler of the New National Party as he makes these tours, and at ease among the people, is serving to transform the negative image that some people have of him. Instead engendering in the hearts of the people a deep and affectionate attachment to him and the New National Party.
Mitchell is not an unknown; he is a figure of national importance. Grenadians are rallying to the support of his candidature. He considers the bible as “an ideal to try to live up to”. He has quickly made a name for himself as a passionate nationalist and an uncompromising defender of the Grenadian people.
Dr Mitchell spoke about Oscar Bartholomew, who was brutally beaten while in police custody, which led to his untimely death. Looking both at signs of promise and areas of concern, he said, “Human dignity, truth and justice demand government safeguards all human life. The excess and abuse of power, the disregard of the sacredness of human life has to stop. Unless the minds of people are remolded, infused with comprehension of and compassion for those who are innocent and those suffering in our midst, there will be no progress.”
We as Grenadians have to give a voice to the powerless, the invisible among us. We have the power to change. Any kind of violence must be condemned. The time has come for us to renew our faith in ourselves and in Grenada. In recent weeks that faith has been challenged. Nothing can bring Oscar back, but those responsible for his untimely death must be held accountable.
We are not a nation of murderers; we are a loving nation devoted to peace. Our police officers should be held in the highest esteem, they should be looked at as heroes. They put their life on the line on a daily basis for our protection and deserve our respect. But when laws are broken by those who are supposed to uphold it, then, problem arises. Police brutality will not be tolerated. It has to stop now. There is no room for it in our society. We as Grenadians have to stop it from ever happening again. There should be a poignancy to this moment.
“Grenada’s policemen and women are hardworking, with deep sensibilities who have set out to create a new kind of civilized society dedicated to restoring values for all Grenadians. They should have one widely accepted set of values. If each individual devoted himself or herself totally to doing his best at his particular job, the entire force would prosper. The people of Grenada do not want an egocentric and fragmented society,” says Dr the Honorable Keith C. Mitchell.
Rights are always accompanied by duties; choices by responsibilities. A truly civilized country as ours recognizes the dignity of man and is based on freedom and democracy. We should not judge the entire police force in Grenada as criminals because of the stupidity and ignorance of a few.
Dr Mitchell’s talents, necessary in the existing circumstances, lay in his ability to promote compromise and conciliations. It appears that Grenadians are prepared to accept the New National Party and its leader as reliable. The veteran politician is making himself available for whatever services he could perform in the search for renewal in Grenada.
Mitchell believes in crisis of general concern such as this in Grenada, where an absence of confidence and of contact prevail, only a common commitment to all Grenadians will open the way even to begin discussion of conditions for ending the unemployment and inflation that has paralyzed the country, due to the current economic hardship that we are facing. The middle and hardworking classes are facing the reality of living paycheck-to-paycheck, that is, if they have the luxury of having a job in the first place. The strong are allowed to fend for themselves because they have the resources to be able to do so.
Dr Keith Mitchell is masterminding the country’s recovery. Mitchell is fighting to have Grenada returned to the honoured place it used to be in the Caribbean community of nations. He is laying the solid foundation for the economic miracle to come. Mitchell is calling on his New National Party political candidates to work hard for change for the betterment of all Grenadians.
Mitchell will be presenting his candidates running for political office throughout Grenada very soon and their intentions to work for the people, their commitment to create a better Grenada, and to deal with the pressing problems of poverty and unemployment. The New National party will succeed in improving economic conditions and in creating a spirit of national unity.
Mitchell surrounds himself with the people whom he’s sure can get the job done, and not about ego and self-aggrandizement, but men and women who are focused on what’s best for all Grenadians. He is absolutely sure the people will see that. Let us harness the essential ideals of the Grenadian people, the essential optimism of the Grenadian people, to inspire one another to try to do better in the world.
Mitchell wants the people to know what the New National Party candidates are about. He’s confident in their organizing ability and feels his political party could carry any undertaking with close unity, however difficult and painstaking it might be. With strong traditional nationalism and positive popular support, the NNP are seeing themselves as standard-bearers who would guide the people of Grenada towards the attainment of their long-cherished hope. Thus we would march forward resolutely to carry out our democratic undertaking, because they are passionate expressions of the people’s desire to live better.
Mitchell has continued to speak up for Grenada and to make known his opinion on matters of state to those who now govern the nation he served so unstintingly and well. Grenada was destined, before it was shut down by the NDC government to see unprecedented political economic and social advances. Grenadians are eager to demonstrate both the will and the capacity to meet the new challenge awaiting them.
The majority of Grenadians believe that the country should return to NNP rule, since the National Democratic Congress administration has proved itself incapable of taking a firm stand in the face of strong Grenadian pressures, thus the political and economic situation within our country is fluctuating violently. Dr Mitchell is most strongly favoured to succeed Thomas as prime minister because the latter is under strong attack for deficient leadership in the face of national difficulties
With prices rising at an unprecedented pace and earnings held down by statutory restraints, it is not surprising that opinion polls are showing a deep decline in support of the NDC. The difficulties of these last years are confirming Mitchell’s personal qualities of determination and fixity of purposes in battling through favorable political weather. His political consistency is demonstrated by his unwavering belief that Grenada can and will come out of this mess we’re experiencing.
It is my country’s good fortune that it has a man of great vision and leadership available to supervise the implementation of new policies. His ceaseless devotion to the task of nurturing Grenada’s economy stems directly from his contacts with conditions at home. Mitchell wants to turn his attention to the development of Grenada’s industries and the extension of public facilities.
To be successfully accomplished to repair the damage done by the present government, and fix the economy, requires not only a farsighted leader, but the mobilization of the entire nation and, in that matter, the leader of the New National Party is displaying a capacity to focus all his attention, and all the national energies and will on the achievement of a single task which is to revamp the economy and put people back to work.
His plan is to analyze programs designed to help overcome the inadequate economic and social opportunities, and to develop further policies for tackling the problems of unemployment, poverty and the economy. It’s bringing into the centre of the public stage a man with remarkable qualifications for the job and one largely known to the general public. His personal style is spectacular, his intellectual grip and relaxed, humorous lucidity reinforced his reputation. An ambitious and competent politician who is proving himself a dynamic and effective leader and is gaining a reputation as a versatile technocrat and has emerged as one of the most influential political figures in Grenada and the Caribbean.
Creative reforms increases our national wealth, it puts money into people’s pockets. Money we should devote to meeting our urgent problems. “To achieve the goals I have described, the Grenadian people must understand them,” says Mitchell.
Our economy has continued to suffer from the impact of bad government which is undermining confidence in the country. The NNP has always presented themselves as the party of “national unity”, which all fair-minded Grenadians could support.
The New National Party has to rise above this pessimism to rehabilitate the country. They have to destroy, once and for all, the vicious circle of poverty and economic stagnation. Only by rehabilitating the economic structure could we lay the foundation for decent living standards. To do all this, and to fulfill our responsibilities in the national economy, would take courage and cooperation. I am aware that economic development requires a stable political situation and competent administrators such as the NNP.
The state of the economy and the people are the primary concerns of the New National Party and nothing would overshadow that. Grenada is undergoing fundamental change. The success of the New National Party plans for economic growth and stabilizing the economy depends on breaking out of the inflationary spiral of rising wages and rising prices. If unemployment and poverty continue to weaken the people, they would face national collapse. Food comes before politics; only with a full stomach can one enjoy social developments.
Grenada, with an impressive potential, particularly for agriculture, appears to be held back by the need for agrarian reform. The New National Party continues to be concerned with raising the country’s agricultural output. There are plans to modernize and diversify agriculture. There is no doubt that the country could meet the pressing need for food.
Accumulated political blunders and misguided economic policy have utterly disarranged Grenada’s economy, which is now in disorder. The government has failed to improve the situation, because of faltering leadership. The climate for economic investment in both government and private sector has taken a turn for the worse. In short, the economy is faced with collapse.
The economic stagnation is aggravating poverty and unemployment. The underdeveloped agricultural system is unable to meet the demand for food; we are forced to rely on farm products imported from other countries. The whole economy is afflicted by inexperience, inefficient and wasteful management, and a lack of desire for economic development.
Only by rehabilitating the economic structure could we lay the foundation for decent living standards. To do all this, and to fulfill our responsibilities in the national and international economy, would take courage and cooperation.
The key to improving a backward economy is the way one uses human resources, for economic developments is a human undertaking, impossible without combining the people’s potential into a dynamic driving force. The task requires not only strong national will power, but the ability to translate willpower into achievement. If people have a sympathetic understanding of a task, they will voluntarily participate in it.
The New National Party is composed of men and women with fresh political ideas. The people of Grenada want to see a political party and a parliament of politicians who can do this; and we know they will accomplish their purpose.
Mitchell declares that the purposes of his administration would be to build up Grenada, to keep our economy growing to open for every Grenadian the opportunity for success, and to improve the quality for all. Grenada’s affair will continue to call upon our energy and courage; today we have begun to turn our increased effort and attention to the character of Grenadian life.
The notable exception to this generally encouraging outlook is the promises of the New National Party. Grenada has become an economic wasteland, because of bad management by the NDC administration. Although its potential is good, Grenada nevertheless has a long way to go.
Helen Grenade
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