National holiday declared in Grenada

Prime Minister-elect of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell
Prime Minister-elect of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell

Prime Minister-elect of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, has declared Friday a national holiday after his party’s clean sweep at Tuesday’s general elections.

Several political observers were predicting a close election but Mitchell’s New National Party (NNP) defied all by winning decisive victories in virtually all 15 constituencies on the island.

From the beginning of the campaign Mitchell had indicated that the two major pillars which would determine the outcome of the poll were the economy and leadership.

In a brief post-election interview, outgoing Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas expressed his willingness to continue serving his party and Grenada, but made it clear that he did not have to be the political leader in order to so do.

The Political leader of another party in the elections, the National United Front, Glynis Roberts congratulated the NNP on its election victory. She thanked all supports of her party for their efforts during the campaign and said she accepts the outcome of the election.

Meanwhile in a speech filled with emotions Mitchel appealed to a mammoth crowd of jubilant supporters and to the churches to pray for his Government, admitting the task ahead will not be easy.

“I cried a couple tears tonight when I listened to the results. As I watched your faces through the campaign … I am even more deeply committed that all of us must be a united family,” he said. “I have accepted the awesome responsibility that you have placed on my shoulders, me and my team.

He continued, “I have asked Almighty God what have I done to deserve this, insisting ‘this is not a Keith Mitchell victory, it is your victory.'”

Mitchell said he will boost cricket in the Caribbean and ensure Grenada play a more prominent role in CARICOM. “Grenada will play its rightful role in the leadership of CARICOM; we will reclaim our place in the community of nations for the Caribbean,” he promised.

This is the  second time in his political career that Mitchell has led the NNP to sweeping victories in elections in Grenada. Back in 1999, under his leadership, the NNP won all 15 seats but in the 2003 general election was reduced to a one-seat majority.

The NNP was defeated in the general election of 8 July 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), winning only four seats.

Mitchell was first elected as a member of parliament in 1984 and elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989.

He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and doctorate from American University.

In 2001 the US State Department, at Mitchell’s request, determined that he had relinquished his naturalized US citizenship by becoming Prime Minister in 1995.

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65 Comments

  1. egbert vigille
    February 21, 2013

    I lived in the UK for over thirty five years and voted every time without an id card. A card is sent to you with your name and address of the polling station plus the voting time. You then present the card they then check to see that the name and address is the same you then go to the polling booth and cast your vote.England has 65,000000 people. NO ID CARDS WASTE OF MONEY

  2. WHO VEX VEX
    February 21, 2013

    I never have a problem with people coming from abroad and vote, but on there pockets not on the party’s pocket.
    Cause if I’m overseas and my kids are in Dominica and I’m working hard to take care of them, send barrels, money, etc… and the prices to remove the barrels from customs are ridiculous of-course i will come and vote cause its my money spending.

    I know of UWP supporters that came and vote last election, DLP had more money so the had more supporters come down.

    Eddo having his supporters like DONKEYS, protesting and losing a days work for nothing.
    That’s why i say Eddo doh care about the people but him self, look he want to boycott election just because he would not get in office, if you want to help us in Dominica lets go and protest in front the port cause is there the problem be, that is why the cost of living is so high in Dominica.

    I a DLP supporter would be stupid not to support you 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

  3. Just Saying
    February 21, 2013

    Dominica is so hungry for a new political party right now, new leaders,People with intellegence, and integrity. Calling on the bright minded Dominica to take up the challenge to help move Dominica forward.

  4. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    I can’t forsee uwp winning general election in DA in the near future,those who are making all the noise are a small minority they have Dominicans who live away coming home to vote for them also.we all contribute to the development of DA in one way or the other,many of us who live out of DA contribute more to the development of DA than a lot of the Emty barrels.

  5. Ifone and Androids
    February 20, 2013

    All islands having fair and free elections except us….Skerrit will never introduce electoral reform caus ehe know dat he will never win a fair and free election…but thoe hungry labourites will never see it so…..they put party before country….stopid set of people…..freating skerrit like GOD….Allu go get allu punishment jus now….GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD!!!!

    • Anonymous
      February 20, 2013

      Eat Ur heart

    • dayandnightvision
      February 21, 2013

      Ifone and Androids

      YOU SOUND SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK IT’S NOT FUNNY

  6. LoL
    February 20, 2013

    LOL. Someone said Dominica has over 65,000 voters. Ok maybe you should have asked yourself a couple questions first. How much Dominicans in the Diaspora are registered to vote? And where in the world did you get this figure? Even if Dominica has 70,000 people living here how many of us live over seas? Gosh. Do some fact finding. And for the folks who are dreaming that the UWP fortunes will be the same as Dr Keith Mitchell, hmmm. Dream on. DLP all the way. At least Dr Michelle was an active member of the opposition with good ideas which the people bought. This UWP opposition is virtually non existent, has no solid foundation or ideas, will continue to tell us to go online to look for their manifesto and will still continue to rue the day they defied God by going to worship the sunrise.
    Hint hint. God don’t like ugly.

    • Nac Vibes
      February 20, 2013

      If you are so confident of your cause, then implore your king to introduce voter ID card and electoral reforms, give the opposition free access to the state radio, in other words a level playing field then let us see. But we know that will never happen, i’m not saying that the opposition would have a landslide, but your king would have a few more sleepless nights.

    • 4u2c
      February 20, 2013

      Pack of ignorant talk here!! What Mitchell offer Grenadians is no different from what UWP offering Dominicans. The difference here is you cannot buy Grenadians with a gill of rum. The government of Grenada made sure they followed the constitution and clean their electoral list and gave its voters ID cards. The same the opposition been asking for. If only Skerro can follow rules, things will be different …. tell him to do it!

    • Potance
      February 21, 2013

      10000 chinese soon to invade portsmouth gracias a los vendedores de passapotes los abogados.
      So next elections were may have 75,000 voters and who knows before that more land and passports will have been sold by these money grabbing passport agents.
      I hope when the tables turn and a revolutionary wing of our party comes all who are citizens from passport sales will have to be deported and ask Skerrit et Al to refund dem all those passport agents we will conficate their properties no ifs no buts nor maybes.Let it be written let it be done .Idi Amin was sucessful in 1971 in expulsing al asians from Uganda.

  7. legit
    February 20, 2013

    Dominica is not ready for change the opposition will have to wait longer besides the talk show hosts dem more annoying crude vulgar rude insultive etc.Alu expect people to vote for that…19-2 next election

  8. LATITUDED810
    February 20, 2013

    the one lesson to learn from all of this,politicians make not show arrogance aginst the people who put them there. with that said

    the opposition must take a cue from dr.keith mitchel and owen auther of barbados, they never disrespected the president office,the police commissioners, officer the church and the office of prime minister. they must concede defeat like gentlemen only then will they ever make it back in office

    • Choice - X
      February 20, 2013

      Man u talking rubbish. Deal everything on its own merit. In Grenada they don’t have any illegally elected officials, further more Grenada doesn’t have a president but a governor general who answers to the queen of England, so do your research !

      • Vero Don
        February 21, 2013

        The Governor General does not answer to the Queen of England. You need to do your research.

  9. LATITUDED810
    February 20, 2013

    CONGRATES TO THE DR

  10. ????????????
    February 20, 2013

    The change came because of two major pillars: THE ECONOMY and LEADERSHIP. This is a mature society indeed! Both these issues are lacking here in Dominica.
    Never in our history have we had a leader embroiled in so many roro, commess,and controversies pertaining to leadership of the land. The economy of our country is probably one of the poorest in the Caribbean. Politicians are answering to the ordinary man when he shows dissent, and have no time to do the states duties.Shame on all liars, thieves,and arrogant scamps.The people need to kick them out and make them account for their destruction of this once beautiful island.

  11. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    look around i p o in your dreams can u see the hand writing is on the wall, the ship is sinking, god is not like u or me

  12. Lougaoo Mem
    February 20, 2013

    For those who forget and those who don’t know, I must remind you that we are the largest with the richest soil in the Windward Islands, but have the smallest population.
    Our siter nations, St. Lucia, 238sq miles has a pop of 174,000+/- (2010), followed by Grenada 233sq miles with a pop:104,890+/- and St.Vincent & the Grenadines, 233sq miles with 100,000+/-. Also, I do remember when our pop of 81,00 in the late 60s was larger than St. Lucia’s.
    Unless the situation changes drastically, starting with good governance

    • Lougaoo Mem
      February 20, 2013

      Our island nation will continue to be last in good governance.

      I’m happy to know that we do have progressives who are willing to make the bold change for the good of the nation. It must start with electoral reform to include cleaning-up the voters’ list.

      How on earth can D/ca with a pop of 70,000, has a total of 65,000 voters? Because the people permit such. Do you understand why other nations think terribly of our people? Where else in the region would this allow to happen in 2013? Only in “THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA”

      • IPO
        February 20, 2013

        How on earth can D/ca with a pop of 70,000, has a total of 65,000 voters?…do you really want to know now.

        When the Census is done, the over 40,000 to 50,000 that in all the countries such as Guadeloupe, SXM, Antigua, St Thomas, USA, Canada, Europe are more than likely not counted in…and you know that.

        Now among the 40,000 to 50,000 there are registered Domincan Voters you can’t take off the electorial list, because guess what, they are still Dominicans…

        So you and your idiotic Q95 callers and uwp can rant and rage all day about voters list, but the day you start removing voters you wish you want to take off for your stupid reason, you will create a democratic and constitutional nightmare

        So please report back to your base and tell them that I just schooled you, so you want to educate them too.

      • Anonymous
        February 20, 2013

        Grenada tried something by introducing a new voter’s id card and registration system in an effort to combat that problem. Dominica should also step up to that plate before election comes around. Give people enough time to register. That registration in Grenada was started around the time of the national census as well.

    • IPO
      February 21, 2013

      Why did they leave in droves in the 80s and 90s????

  13. happyrrr
    February 20, 2013

    skerro taking 21 next election……all of dem blu vexxxxxxxxxx

    • A joke dat man
      February 21, 2013

      u can say dat again

  14. Soon Come
    February 20, 2013

    The labour party is the original party and the truth is beginning to set the people free and the whole caribbean has come to understand that.
    We are working together to bring back the milk and honey.
    (Long live the labour party).

  15. wassey
    February 20, 2013

    if wishes were horses workers would ride,workers dominica is not grenada

  16. Channel 1
    February 20, 2013

    Very clever move by Keith Mitchell do declare Friday and not today Wednesday as the public holiday.

    That is a sign of forward thinking right there. On Friday in Grenada, the West Indies will be starting their home series against Zimbabwe with the 1st ODI. So by creating a holiday for that day, Mitchell has enabled much more people to be able to attend that game thereby boosting the financial earnings from the game and also enabling a jam-packed Grenada cricket stadium crowd to send a positive tourism image of their country to the wider world via the cricket TV broadcasters who will be beaming the game internationally.

  17. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    labour party taking over d whole caribbean region next is barbados

    • Anonymous
      February 20, 2013

      Don’t confuse BLP with DLP. I voting BLP but would never voted DLP

      • Former NDC Employee
        February 21, 2013

        democratic labour party is affiliated to dominica labour party

        barbados labour party is affiliated to dominica freedom party :wink:
        two different kind of labour

    • ........
      February 20, 2013

      It is not a labour party but the New National party. READ!!! You wish.

      • IPO
        February 20, 2013

        It is still Labour

    • February 20, 2013

      I would suggest that you read or listen to the News carefully Dr. Keith Mitchell is the newly elected Prime Minister of Grenada and he belonged to the ” New National Party (NNP) next time get the facts correct, Hunter said bring back the good old days well Grenadians did just that.
      Now what are Dominicans will to do for themselves and the Country.

      • Anonymous
        February 20, 2013

        The good old days are already here.

    • %
      February 20, 2013

      @Anonymous It’s People as ignorant as you are that’s Dominicas biggest hindrance to progress.

  18. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    that is what happens to politicians who are arrogant,self centered,and do not listen to the people.

    the opposition on the other hand should take a clue because politics is big man thing, you never herad the oppostion in grenada or barbados bringing down the president,the church,the commissioner of police, or the prime ministers office. you all have far to go to get that win in dominica

    • Choice - X
      February 20, 2013

      U made the same point already under another name. If u are so convinced why do u keep changing your handle to appear numerous?

    • Anonymous
      February 20, 2013

      Yes he did, plus Grenada does not have a President, they have a Governor General

    • Doc. Love
      February 21, 2013

      Grenada and Barbados does not have an illegal President and Prime Minister.

  19. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    that is what happens to politicians who are arrogant,do not listen and think that they are above the poeple.

    however the opposition should take a clue there was hardly any violence what happened in grenada and what will happen in barbados they took it like big men and concide defeat.there was no bringing down of what makes their contry proud like the president,the prime ministers office,the church, and police commissioneer. who all need to grow up, that will not be the case in dominica.

  20. TO SELENA
    February 20, 2013

    Really Selena ?????? Is your name still supposed to be on the register to vote ????? It is people like you tha that have Dominica where it is right now. People with their head in the sand. If Dominica is so great why don’t you go back home and liv eunder the regime. Selfish !

  21. Corrupt_Bastards
    February 20, 2013

    Mitchel u again, well i can expect more of the same, imagine if Edison James came back in Dominica Geez!

    • T
      February 20, 2013

      Your name suits you so well.You must be one of the lazy ones begging for a dollar from hardworking people. No wonder the country is so back to front, inside out. It’s because of people like you.

  22. What next?
    February 20, 2013

    I hope Dominicans take a page from Grenada and get rid of that DLP that has crippled our economy, sports, leadership, and our good name abroad. Welcome back Mr. Mitchell because as a cricket lover, we in the windwards and west indies missed leaders like you, Eddo, and Lester Bird who really helped the sport in the region. Since your depature, our cricket has fallen significantly under the likes of Mr. Skeritte, Mr. Thomas and others who never had a vision to develo the sport. As a matter of fact, when you last served in Grenada, Dominica was a force to recon with both with our senior and U19 cricketers. Since Mr. Skeritte became over, I will say nothing other than invite nationals to follow the record of both senior and U19 teams and furthermore, take a drive through the villages on Sunday and you will see what Skerrit and his team did to local sports. Congrats to you sir!

    • IPO
      February 20, 2013

      This man is concerned about cricket….lol

      • budman
        February 20, 2013

        lol. mitchell is responsible for Dominica U19 performance. lol!

    • Thomas
      February 20, 2013

      You idiot

  23. Anonymous
    February 20, 2013

    Congratulations Dr. Mitchell hope you and your team can take Grenada where it needs to be. Congratulations to Grenadians for letting their voices be heard loud and clear. We need to do the same here. We need to demand that people IN Dominica are the ones who vote in the next elections not people out of Dominica. They are trying to do it in a more discreet way next election. Why does he need to do this to win an election ???????????? Why can’t the people living in Dominica decide who they want in government. I don’t live in Dominica anymore and I will not vote in any election unless I am living there. Time to wake up people, wake up.

    • Selena
      February 20, 2013

      I don’t live in Dominica. But my parents are still as well as my other family and I am registered to vote there. As long as I am able to I will vote for a government that will make Dominica a place where my parents and family can live comfortably, a government that will continue to make Dominica a safe place for me to come and visit and definitely a government that can develop the country enough to make it financially worthwhile for me to return permanently. This is what i desire in my heart because I am Dominican. Just because you don’t live in Dominica doesn’t mean you can’t have a say in what goes on.

      • Love Dominica
        February 20, 2013

        And I hope you and I will return to vote pm skerrit the only one at this time who can take Dominica forward , I said at this time cause there is no other real political party in Dominica

      • awa wi
        February 21, 2013

        awa wi selena! i have no problems with the diasopra dominicans voting PROVIDED that they pay their own ticket to return and do so. a party cannot be actively purchasing tickets and charter flights to bring in voters and basically hijack locals. we thank you for all your contributions but we must also consider that most diaspora voter will do so based on hearsay or who pay the ticket for dem. also they are not feeling the economic squeeze of the average dominican you returning home might say ‘boy dat road nice and since when that build nuh?” but the day to day struggles you do not experience. honestly as a dominican at home who has family abroad its not no grudge ting or dont want people to vote we just tired of politicians abusing the gullibility of the people. so while u take elections like a vacation ting to come to dominica sewo a bit,meet friends and family and then put an x for your sponsor, to us who feel the pinch its very serious since its us that face the aftermath of your decisions since you will be back in the green pastures while we face the barren earth.

    • All for One
      February 20, 2013

      Really! Really! So we are Dominicans on certain conditions only, let’s see we are Dominicans to come down for carnival, Creole Festival, to send barrels, to send money for our relatives, save money in the banks and credit unions. Dominicans to support all bands went they come to the diaspora, to buy their music on Numuzik zone, to raise funds for charitable causes in DA. Many of us travel yes to DA on A Dominica PASSPORT validating our citizenship but yet still our place of birth has no significance until we come back and reside in Da for 3 months then and only then are we a citizen again. It is so sad that people would still have this primitive thought process in denying it citizens their birth right in a time when world is becoming a global village and change is happening all around us. Take a look at Afghanistan and Iraq just recently got their right to vote and they have absentee ballots but certain people in Da because of their political affiliation will campaign to prevent another citizen their right to vote. People die in other countries just to get the right to vote why we deny any Dominican their right to exercise their franchise no matter where they live.

    • Reader
      February 20, 2013

      Idiot! It’s the thought of folks like you voting that makes me cringe.

      Listen here Simpleton, do you realize that American citizens all over the world have the right to vote in US elections via absentee ballots? It is their right as Americans. Similarly, as a Dominican residing overseas, who sends hundreds of US dollars home each month, does the required Christmas barrel and visit an average of once per year, it is my right to vote in elections. Just who do you think you are to want that right taken away from me? The nerve

      • Realist
        February 20, 2013

        Dominica’s political system and the US system is completely different. Lets just examine a few differences:
        1. USA has an executive President – Dominica has a prime minister
        2. The US president serves for four year – Dominica is five.
        3. The US president can serve max of 2 terms – Dominica pm can literally serve until death.
        4.The legislature in the USA is bicameral and Dominica is Unicameral.
        5.There are a multitude of checks and balances in the US system like the senate and the US supreme court which prevents the president or other unscrupulous politicians from usurping power abusively.
        6.The American political system steadfastly respects and concede to their constitution as the highest law. Dominica regards the constitution as a political washrag.

        There are thousands of striking differences so it is really SIMPLISTIC on YOUR part to compare the political system of a mature political democracy like the USA

      • awa wi
        February 21, 2013

        do americans ever relinquish their citizenship like we do for the opportunities? u all go an sell alllyu heritage then allyu even getting vex like is people dat tell allyu to go nowhere?lol
        if you visit home every year you are not even in the discussion so why u taking it for yourself? guilty conscience? would you allow a relative that is not living at your home to enter and make decisions for you? we love allyu enno but we got to save ourself lol

  24. Time will tell
    February 20, 2013

    When will Dominica be like that dammmmmmmmmmmmm. Time to blow out Labour Party

    • IPO
      February 20, 2013

      The DLP will win 21 next election

      • Channel 1
        February 20, 2013

        @IPO – I am hoping you are correct. I am hoping that the Dominica’s most backward thinking government ever ie the DLP “wins” just about 21 votes in some constituencies in the next election which I hear some people say is soon.

      • Sweet Pea
        February 20, 2013

        Good luck with that. I guess you vote for corruption!!

      • Love Dominica
        February 20, 2013

        For sure

      • IPO
        February 20, 2013

        Are you being stupid or dumb? If I am dumb I will maybe vote for Hector John. If I am stupid I will vote for UWP. And if I am not corrupt I will vote for any perfect man who has never lied, cheated on his wife, had premarital infidellity, a man who has never sinned.

        Take that back to your base and tell them you were just schooled by IPO and now you want to educate them and change the discussion…..

        This corruption stuff is getting drowned by lennox and matt..blessings

      • IPO
        February 20, 2013

        Lol…what the spoon is premarital infidelity….lol

    • Rachel
      February 20, 2013

      And replace it with WHAT???????

    • .
      February 20, 2013

      @ Time Will Tell
      They will even win your soul.

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