PM Thomas: “I am a great asset to the party”

PM Thomas: “I am a great asset to the party”

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Details: Parent Category: Dec 2011; Category: Week ending Dec 17th, 2011; Published on Tuesday, 20 December 2011 16:01; Hits: 659

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is not bothered about reports of a poll conducted by Caribbean Pollster Peter Wickham that suggest he will be a liability leading his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the poll at the next General Elections that are constitutionally due in 2013.

In an exclusive interview with THE NEW TODAY Newspaper on Tuesday, Prime Minister Thomas denied having any knowledge about the poll. “I don’t know about this poll. I don’t know if any poll was done about the leadership of (the) party in Grenada. I am not aware of it, so I can’t really comment on that poll,” he said.

However, the NDC Leader quickly interjected that on the contrary he can be considered as the greatest asset to his political party in any forthcoming national poll. “I wouldn’t accept that (I am a liability). That is far from the truth. As far as what NDC stands for and what the people support, I think I am a great asset to the National Democratic Congress,” he said.

When asked what would be his reaction if he were asked by members of his party to step down, Prime Minister Thomas feels quite confident that this would not happen. “The party wouldn’t do this. As I said, I am the greatest asset to the party. There may be other elements who have other agenda but for what we stand for as the National Democratic Congress, I am a great asset to the party.

“There may be other liabilities in the party, not me at the leadership level. There may be other liabilities at the party, but as far as Grenada is concerned and the National Democratic Congress, I am about the greatest asset to the National Democratic Congress,” he added.

Speculation is rife that a rebel wing in Congress is supportive of General Secretary and Minister of tourism, Peter David. Among those said to be loyalists of David are Labour Minister Glynis Roberts and Minister of Foreign Trade, Joseph Gilbert. Just over a year ago, David and Roberts openly resented a move by Prime Minister Thomas to reassign them to new portfolios.

Prime Minister Thomas and his Barbadian counterpart, Fruendel Stuart were identified as two regional Prime Ministers regarded as liabilities to lead their respective political parties to General Elections in their countries. In the case of Barbados, the person being touted as a likely replacement for Prime Minister Start is his Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler.

It is not clear whether the so-called Wickham poll had identified a clear person to take over the NDC from Prime Minister Thomas and lead the party successfully to the poll. Prior to the last general election, a poll conducted by Wickham did not predict a victory for Congress over the then ruling New National Party (NNP) of Dr. Keith Mitchell.

Prime Minister Thomas said he is not concerned at the moment about General Elections since his government has to get the work going, and at the same time as Political Leader of the NDC he has to get it organised. He said his government, in its three years in Office has done a lot in Grenada which he believes could be defended based on what they have achieved in maintaining the ship of State and providing opportunities for the people of Grenada.

Prime Minister Thomas stated that based on the economic atmosphere in which they are operating, he is satisfied with his government’s stewardship. Former Prime Minister Mitchell has been telling close aides that he is confident of returning to head the government with a landslide sweep of seats in the next general elections.

Agricultural economist, Dr. Patrick Antoine who served as Strategic Policy Advisor to the last NNP administration is said to be playing a key role in helping to recruit persons to put together position papers for the party in the lead up to the poll.