NNP opposed to stadium funeral for Jericho

NNP opposed to stadium funeral for Jericho

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Details: Parent Category: Nov 2011; Category: Week ending Nov 26th, 2011; Published on Tuesday, 29 November 2011 18:23; Hits: 1152

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell has openly criticised the actions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for allowing the memorial service for late Broadcaster, Anthony “Jericho” Greenidge to take place at the National Stadium at Queen’s Park.

While not naming the individual in his speech during a public rally in St Patrick on Sunday, the former Prime Minister ridiculed the Congress administration for the manner in which the national stadium was being utilised. According to Dr. Mitchell, his administration had a vision when they decided to construct an athletic and cricket stadium because they wanted to utilise the potential of young people but instead the facility is being used to stage parties, fetes, meetings, hosting a school and funeral for NDC supporters.

“Anytime you have a funeral of a NDC supporter is in the stadium”, he joked, adding that LA Qua Funeral Agency should better get ready since his business might soon be offered the stadium as a funeral home. The late “Jericho” who was laid to rest last week Monday at the St George’s Centre Cemetery, was the first person to have received a funeral service at the stadium.

The Cricket section of the stadium was used for the event, which saw a turnout of thousands of nationals. Family, friends and admirers of the broadcaster turned out to the largest funeral service in the country’s history in recent years to pay their last respect to the man who controlled the local airwaves on mornings.

Jericho” passed away at the age of 50 on November 3 in the United States while receiving treatment for a medical condition. His death came as a surprise to many, plunging Grenadians and nationals in the Diaspora into mourning.

“D Duke”, as he was also popularly called was suspected of being a supporter of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas as most members of government were in attendance at the funeral service. The absence of members of the Opposition New National Party (NNP) and in particular Dr. Mitchell was quite noticeable.

In his address to party supporters on Sunday night, the former Prime minister expressed confidence that his party will soon reposition itself to remove Congress from power and once again use the stadium for its intended purpose. He hinted that there might be a role for the party’s newly installed Caretaker for St. David’s, Gabriel Henry who was recently elected to head the Grenada Cricket Association.