Gda set to have parliamentary opposition first time in 6 yrs
By Rawle Titus
Grenada is set to have parliamentary
opposition for
the first time in six years
after parliamentarian (NNP)
Tobias Clement severed ties
with the ruling New National
Party last week.
Clement, who twice won
the North East constituency
on the NNP ticket, is now
considering becoming leader
of the opposition, a position
which is expected to be occupied
for the first time since
the 2013 general elections.
“Even if one must be opposition
leader one must be a
responsible opposition leader,”
Clement declared.
“This is the move that I
will make to be responsible
opposition to the government.”
Grenada was without an
official Opposition Leader
since NNP swept the polls in
the last two general elections
winning back-to-back all 15
seats in the House of Representatives
in 2013 and 2018.
Clement submitted his resignation
shortly before the
2020 budget presentation in
parliament last week, after
sharp differences with party
leader and Prime Minister
Dr. Keith Mitchell.
“The action of the political
leadership to move to take
full control of the constituencies
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Caribbean L 16 ife, Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2019
office is in itself contrary
to the legislative role
that members of parliament
play. The action of the New
National Party secretariat
to treat the constituencies
offices as party sub-offices
runs contrary to the norms
of our principles,” protested
Clement in his resignation
letter.
“These and other points
that I have been critical of.
Those criticisms were generally
ignored and my loyalty
to leadership questioned.”
Clements’ decision to quit
the party was widely expected
following well-publicized
reports of differences with
Prime Minister Mitchell over
salaries for parliamentarians
and the running of his St.
George North-East constituency
office.
Last month, the MP
snubbed Prime Minister
Mitchell by boycotting a public
meeting he organized in
his constituency and also by
refusing to attend the party’s
convention.
“Having a member of the
opposition on the other side
who is a former member
elected by the NNP it’s not a
problem. I think it is healthy
for the debate in the house.
Its healthy for our country,”
said Prime Minister Mitchell.
“The only problem is that
the opposition has been demonstrating
so much weakness
in terms of their agenda.”
Clement is now expected
to approach Governor-General
Dame Cecile La Grenade
to be appointed Leader of the
Opposition which gives him
the right to appoint three
Senators to the upper house.
Tobias Clement seen here in campaign mood. New National Party, File
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