PR – The Democratic People’s Movement plans on fielding a slate of competitive candidates in Grenada’s soon-to-be-held general election, according to Peter David, an Independent MP in the 15-seat House of Representative and who has spearheaded the formation of the DPM.
David says he expects it to be an “exciting’’ general election.
“We’re nearly at the 15 and we believe we’ll be very competitive,’’ David said in a television interview.
The upcoming national polls will be the first for the DPM, which was formally launched four months ago.
A series of nationwide community meetings has enabled The Movement to create a development platform, which will be discussed at DPM’s inaugural Congress on March 22 at the Grenada Trade Centre in Morne Rouge.
“We have been going quite well. We’ve been in the constituencies; I know people have seen the engagements we’ve been having. We’ve been having good responses,’’ David told TV hosts Byron Campbell and Christopher DeAllie.
“Our intent is to engage people and to get from them what they want the political directorate to do.’’
DPM’s Congress, and some of its plans for general election, will be discussed with reporters at a news conference scheduled for 10 am, on Monday, March 16, at the Springs-based Chrysalis Business Centre of the St George’s Baptist Church.
In 2022, under leader Dickon Mitchell, the National Democratic Congress — with promises of “transformation’’ — defeated the New National Party to form the government of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
“We’ve been picking up the vibes that people are fed up of the status quo; they want something new — a new arrangement that listens to them,’’ said David, MP for the Town of St George.
“People voted transformation; in areas that affect people, the transformation has not come. So, while there has been an agenda, that agenda has not been fulfilled.’’
David expressed optimism at DPM’s chances in the next election, and in The Movement’s role in the nation’s development.
“We believe we will make a difference. We are going to publish our platform; we are going to say what we stand for,’’ David promised. “We believe the next election will be an exciting one.’’
David, a former Grenada Foreign Minister, said The Movement is open to discussions with other political organisations “that would lead to an outcome that would benefit the country; we are open to anyone willing to talk to us about development’’.
He added: “Our platform for development will be the principle on which we engage. So, for example, the issue of how we approach agriculture — we will have to have agreement there. We will have to have agreement on how we deal with the issue of healthcare. We believe that we can build this country and we will work with anybody who wants to develop this country.’’
In the wide-ranging interview, David also was questioned about Cuba, which is under increased economic pressure from measures adopted by the United States government.
The Cuban people are dealing with food and fuel shortages, and some Caribbean countries — in response to lobbying efforts from the US — have terminated decades-long medical programmes that allowed Cuban doctors and nurses to work in their English-speaking nations.
“We, as a people, must be grateful for Cuba’s contribution to our development. I think there is much we could do and should do,’’ said David.
“Cuba, a poor country, has been good to us. It is because of Cuba that many working people’s kids have degrees in engineering, in medicine, and in other fields.’’
