ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - The main opposition New National Party (NNP) Sunday launched its “Better Grenada” rally ahead of the November 5 general election with party leader Emmalin Pierre telling supporters that they should remain focus on winning the general election that has been called almost a year ahead of the constitutional deadline.
NNP leader Emmalin Pierre speaking at the “Better Grenada” rally at the National Stadium on Sunday night (CMC Photo“”Don’t mind the bribery and propaganda, I say one thing to you, stay focus and mind your business until 6.00 pm (local time) on the fifth of November when Grenada will see a new government, when Grenada will see a party and a government that is formed among the people of this country,” Pierre told the rally held at the National Stadium on the outskirts of the capital, St. George’s.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell last week announced the date for the general election indicating that he was confident that his National Democratic Congress (NDC) that won the June 23, 2022 would be victorious again.
In the last Parliament, the NDC enjoyed a 9-6 majority with the NNP being the only party in Grenada’s political history to have won all the seats on three occasions in the past.
Apart from the NNP, the ruling party is also expected to face a challenge from the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) headed by former foreign affairs minister Peter David that was launched on November 16 last year.
But Prime Minister Mitchell has dismissed suggestion here of the possibility of a hung parliament, saying “while anything is possible, I don’t think we will have a hung parliament at all”.
While he did not rule out the need to win all 15 seats, Mitchell said “for me I am just interested in winning. What matters is eight seats and once you have eight seats you will be able to for the government and if the population votes and the swing is we get all15 seats we will manage that when the time comes, but from my experience and observation of Grenadian politics there is no discernable advantage in having all 15 seats”.
Mitchell and attorney said “well let’s put it this way, those who had it did not seem to put it into good use”.
Former prime minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, 80, who was among those on the NNP platform on Sunday night, promised Grenadians that the “NNP is bringing Pierre pressure” to the campaign.
Pierre as she addressed supporters promised to cut corporate tax from 28 to 25 per cent, provide free transportation for students who need assistance, and expand night and weekend bus services.
She said that the business tax reduction would give companies an opportunity to expand their operations, stimulate the economy and create employment.
“We want to be a partner with our business community,” she said, pledging cooperation towards national and economic development.
Pierre, the first woman to lead the NNP into a general election since its formation in August 1984, is promising students free tuition, plus transportation, meal, and uniform assistance, adding that tuition relief alone was insufficient when children could not afford to get to school.
“We’re going to work with the Bus Association, and we are going to find a formula together so that we can run a proper pilot project for free transportation for students who need that support,” Pierre said.
Pierre is also promising to strengthen “safe, reliable, and dependable transportation at nights and on weekends,” noting that inadequate services should not prevent rural residents from accepting hotel jobs in the capital.
Other proposals included a medical card providing free doctor visits and basic prescription medication, solar farms across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and a dedicated fund to assist farmers affected by praedial larceny.
The NNP is also promising elder citizens that it will work with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to allow workers retire between 60 and 65.
“We’re not going to force them to stay up to 65,” she said.
Pierre said that an NNP government will invest aggressively in solar farms across the country to bring down electricity costs and ease the burden on Grenadian families as well as adjusting the increase in the monthly personal income tax threshold from EC3,000toEC6,000, removal of value added tax (VAT) on electricity and sugar, abolition of the water levy and tax exemptions for tips, gratuities and bonuses.
“When we launch the manifesto, we will tell you how we intend to fund the Better Grenada plan,” she told supports, pledged also to accelerate oil and gas exploration and development, saying the sector should deliver benefits throughout the country.
