ST.GEORGE'S Grenada, October 17th, 2011 -- The New National Party (NNP) Women’s Arm has held their election of officers to serve for the coming year. The election took place during the NNP Women’s Convention at the St. Mark Secondary School on Sunday 16th October 2011. Hundreds of women of all ages attended the activity which was held under the theme: “NNP Women – Organized and Ready for a Better Tomorrow”
Mrs. Yolande Bain Horsford, former Minister of Social Services spoke of the work done under the New National Party Administration in Social Development and explained the NNP’s position on several of the issues which are today affecting Grenadians. The former Minister stated that the NNP Administration had a proud record of achievement with many programs which have disappeared.
Mrs. Horsford stated that the many problems now facing Grenada are touching all sectors of the Grenadian society. Speaking of the many programs and projects developed under her stewardship Mrs. Horsford made mention of programs such as the milk program, the setting up of district offices under her ministry as well as child development centers and the Domestic Violence Unit. She called on the women of the New National Party to continue to stand firm in the house of the NNP.
The former Minister of Youth Development in the NNP Administration Mrs. Emmalin Pierre made a passionate presentation on the state of youth affairs in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Mrs. Pierre spoke of the challenges which women particularly young women face in present day Grenada. She stated that all the women of Grenada are under pressure no matter the age.
The St. Andrew South East Team Leader spoke of the many programs development with and for youth under the NNP Administration such as the Parenting Program, Grenada Training and Employment Program, IMANI Program among others. She lamented the lack of training for youth in Leadership Skills, Personal Development, Skills Training and Community Development stating that the removal of these programs had nothing to do with the present economic crisis but solely the lack of vision of the NDC government.
The former Youth Minister called on the women of Grenada not to see prostitution or drugs and alcohol as means of dealing with the frustration of the present economic situation. She called on the women of Grenada to hold on, fight on and not to give up regardless of the situation.
Mrs. Delma Thomas Team Leader for St Andrew North West called on the women of the NNP to help in the job of securing the future of the nation’s children. She stated that there can be no genuine development in Grenada without that development being centered on the people.
Mrs. Thomas a former teacher bemoaned the state of the School Feeding Program with schools being unable to receive subventions for months at a time causing a delay in payments and as such the inability of the program to operate properly if at all.
She also called on the government to be consistent in its approach to program by ensuring that in the same way students are profiled for school feeding the same be done for the school book program. She also mentioned the rise in tuition fees at the TAMCC and a lack of supplies in schools around the nation.
NNP newcomer Mrs. Alexandra Otway Noel made a presentation on the Tourism sector. Mrs. Noel spoke of the lack of vision and a lack of action by the NDC Administration as reasons Grenada has been seeing a decline in the Tourism sector. She praised various Private Sector initiatives and called for government support to ensure the success of these initiatives.
Mrs. Noel NNP Shadow Minister of Tourism stated that Grenada has missed the boat on Tourism as the present NDC Administration was aware in 2010 that cruise ships which normally call in Grenada were not scheduled for 2011 and attempted no remedial actions. She also took the time to welcome the new Board of Tourism and sent her best wishes to the new Chairman of the Board.
Guest Speaker Mrs. Jeannine Compton Antoine who is the daughter of the late John Compton former Prime Minister of St. Lucia and presently an independent Member of Parliament in St. Lucia representing Micaud North rallied the women to action. She spoke of the importance of women to the work of a political organization and gave a background to women in representational politics.
Mrs. Compton is the sole female in the lower house of the St. Lucia Parliament and stated that she was most please to see that the New National Party has no less than five (5) potential candidates for the upcoming elections. She nevertheless called on the women present to continue to play an active role in national development as equal partners with the men while embracing all the challenges that may present themselves.
Political Leader of the New National Party and former Prime Minister Dr. the Right Honorable Keith Mitchell spoke of the lack of care and vision by the NDC Administration. He spoke of the many stalled projects that should have been contribution to economic activity in Grenada and the unwillingness of the NDC to start these projects.
Dr Mitchell reaffirmed the NNP’s commitment to the women of Grenada and their empowerment. During the last election campaign the party put forward six females out of fifteen candidates. Presently five Team Leaders of the party are female.
Audio from the Convention is available for download at the following URL http://www.sendspace.com/file/c3481m
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