Politics on the boil in Grenada

Politics in the Eastern Caribbean tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is on the boil again. A little over three years after it was rejected by the electorate in general election in 2008 after 13 years in power, the main opposition centre-right New National Party (NNP) of Dr Keith Mitchell is enjoying a surprising resurgence in popularity.

This has led it to turn up the heat on the left-of-centre ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of Tillman Thomas by staging popular all-island mass meetings and protest action, signalling its intention to regain power when the next general election is called in 2013.

The resurgence of protest action in the politics of the Caribbean's 'island of conflict' is linked to increasing levels of social dislocation and deprivation experienced by countless Grenadians since 2008, as a result of what the government says is the unintended consequences of the 'global economic crisis'; but which ordinary Grenadians regard as promise without fulfilment on the part of a fractious and disunited government. In light of this, Keith Mitchell boasts that he and his party can do a better job of both managing the economy and governing the country.

credible personality

Many Grenadians believe him, even while admitting that they voted him and his party out of power in 2008. Comparing its performance to the last time the NDC administration held power from 1990-1995, the NNP claims that it turned in a more credible performance in its handling of the economy when it last formed the government between 1995-2008. The party did this, says Dr Mitchell, even while having to deal with the severely devastating consequences of hurricanes Ivan and Emily, where the former hurricane alone claimed the lives of 35 Grenadians and led to losses of some 200 per cent in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the world's leading nutmeg-producing island, valued at some US$800 million.

In addition, the first 11 years of its management of the economy produced an average growth rate of 4.2 per cent compared to 2.0 per cent recorded during the entire period of the NDC administration. And up to the end of the 1990s, the NNP borrowed less and produced three times the amount of development in a shorter time than the NDC government of 1990-1995. International rating and lending agencies at the time concluded that despite the negative setback, the Mitchell-led government grew the economy overall by some 5.2 per cent.

But conditions in the country are radically different now. The Tillman Thomas-NDC brand is losing momentum. It is like an allergy. Grenadians are watching, fearfully, developments under the NDC, and many disappointed voters of 2008 are defecting to Mitchell's revitalised NNP.

failed promises

This was inevitable given the ruling party's failure to deliver on its promise of providing "real jobs". It had staked its credibility to govern on what it said would have been "... policies and programmes ... designed to liberate and develop the creative energies of the people of Grenada ...". The party was taken at its word. But the visitor to Grenada today will quickly observe that neither jobs nor development is anywhere in sight. And while debates rage in the councils of the NDC as to the cause(s) of the crisis, the economy continues to shrink given the lack of foreign direct investment to boost economic activity in the country.

The upshot of this has been a shattering of the island's social peace and stability. Incidents of crime and violence are on the increase, at the same time as the health sector underperforms given the pressure of inadequate resources, and local business interests complain loudly of falling on hard times.

To make matters worse, the sitting prime minister is seen by Grenadians as the least charismatic in comparison to his seven predecessors, even while he fails to offer the confidence needed that the economy is placed to withstand the threat of external factors to its falling momentum. Significant factions in his party also feel increasingly alienated by him, leading to at least three Cabinet ministers publicly challenging his constitutional authority to reassign their ministerial portfolios. Some local political observers feel that if the economic decline continues, a breakaway faction in the ruling party is likely to emerge to contest the next general election.

Described as a 'nice' person by most Grenadians, Thomas is all too aware that unfolding political events in the country could decide his political future, and that Keith Mitchell - a trained mathematician - is by contrast, a formidable charismatic, political tactician. He led Grenada for 13 years with self-assurance and, should his party win the next general election, plans to do the same in the future. This is as good a reason as any to keep an eye on politics in Grenada.

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