Mitchell out…‘Uncle Tilly’ and NDC take it 11-4!!
By L. K. Hewlett
Editor – SKNVibes.com
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Prime Minister elect for Grenada Tillman Thomas
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ST. GEORGES, Grenada – PRIME MINISTER and leader of the New National Party (NNP) Dr. Keith Mitchell has been ousted as Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique’s leader after suffering a crushing defeat at the polls yesterday.
The Tillman Thomas-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) managed to unseat the incumbent NNP which had led the territory for 13 years with a resounding 11-4 sweep at the polls.
It was reported in their local media that Mitchell was “gracious in defeat” but surprised at the poll results.
“I would wish to congratulate Tillman Thomas and his team and wish him the best. I think it was very clear that the people were voting for change… [and it] worked out,” the defeated Mitchell was quoted as saying. ~~Adz:Right~~
Political watchdogs had predicted an NDC win since the then opposition had lost the 2003 election by the narrow margin of one seat.
Following the NDC victory, its leader and Prime Minister Designate was quoted as saying, “We were well organised; we got our message over to the people and we had a very good programme for developing the country.”
A 38-member observer team from the Organisation of American States (OAS) had descended on the island to ensure a nonviolent environment for voters to cast their ballots.
OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, who headed the team of observers, said the election saw a higher than normal turnout to the polls of about 85 percent of the territory’s registered voters.
Grenada’s election upset follows the recent regional trend in election results which have seen a change in governments – Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia and Belize have all experienced the ‘winds of change’.
Grenada News