Grenada PM faces no confidence tomorrow

Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas , who is leader of the NDC, was optimistic that the motion would be defeated.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Monday May 14, 2012 – Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has said that he is not worried about the no-confidence motion filed against him by the opposition and slated to debated in parliament tomorrow (May 15).

However, pundits are warning that if the no-confidence ends this could bring an abrupt and early end to the rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The motion, if passed, will lead to dissolution of parliament and a subsequent general election and with turmoil ongoing in the NDC some have cast doubt on whether the administration would be returned to power if an election was called.

Since coming to office in 2008, the NDC government has lost several key ministers. Works Minister, Joseph Gilbert, was dismissed by Prime Minister Thomas last January and the party has had to deal with a series of resignations, starting with Attorney General Jimmy Bristol, former Environment Minister Michael Church and most recently former Tourism Minister Peter David.

It was widely rumoured last week that Karl Hood, NDC Member of Parliament for St George South-East, had resigned as external affairs minister, but he denied it and Thomas has dismissed the chances of more ministers resigning from his government.

It is unclear how MPs Church, Gilbert and David – who is also NDC general secretary – will vote when the no-confidence motion is debated in the House of Representatives tomorrow.

However, Thomas, who is leader of the NDC, was optimistic that the motion would be defeated and has been defending his government’s performance in office in the lead-up to this defining moment.

“We have been doing a fairly good job as a government,’’ said Thomas. He admitted that there are “differences’’ in the NDC, but said the party remains committed to the Grenadian people and has “not betrayed the trust they have placed in us.’’

Ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion, some parts of the capital city of St. George’s were plastered with posters featuring caricatures of Thomas and Nazim Burke, deputy leader of the NDC and Minister of Finance.

It’s still unknown who was behind the preparation and distribution of the posters that read, “Tillman and Nazim Must Go’’.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife as to the real reasons for the frictions in the NDC and government but most point toward a struggle for power at the top, with David and Burke both being named as pretenders to the throne. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)