Former Opposition Leader Michael Baptiste calls for fresh election

A former Leader of the Opposition in the Grenada Parliament believes that the delayed acceptance of new ministerial portfolio by two Cabinet members and eventual resignation of another provided the foundation for the Tillman Thomas administration to go back to the polls.

Speaking on Rennie Bishop’s weekly Carib Views â€" a live programme aired on WWRL radio in New York on Saturdays Michael Baptiste said that Grenada’s political structure is based on the Westminster system and under that design cabinet minister cannot refuse to accept portfolio when there is a reshuffle of ministerial positions.

“In the Westminster style democracy the constitution gives the Prime Minister the right to hire and fire ministers at will,” said Baptiste who feels there is need for Minister Glynnis Roberts to explain indepthly sections of a statement she read to the press following her acceptance of her new ministerial post as Labour Minister having lost Tourism to former Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David.

In that statement Roberts said that both she and Peter David wanted to ensure their shared commitment to good governance before going forward. “We believe the point we have sought to make over the last few days has been made, and that nobody lost, but democracy won,” she said.

However, Baptiste is of the opinion that the incident was not handled properly by the Prime Minister and believes that the statement by Roberts needs to be ventilated. “It was them who spoke about democracy and good governance, so I think there is need to ventilate more on this,”  said the former Agriculture Minister who served with the Keith Mitchell New National Party administration following the 1999 General Election. In that election the NNP won a landslide victory which resulted in no Opposing view in the Parliament but following a fall out with then Prime Minister Keith Mitchell Baptiste ended his parliamentary life as Leader of the Opposition in 2003.

“The Prime Minister handling of the situation was very very bad to say the least,” he added. Claiming that the rebelling Ministers put the Tillman Thomas administration in a crisis, Baptiste said their behaviour challenged the Head of Government leadership and “this is weakening the Office of the prime minister.”

Recommending that the administration seek a new mandate Baptiste said the Prime Minister must go back to the electorate. “He cannot continue with a government when two ministers rebel against his leadership; he does not have the assistance from his team and he does not have the support of his cabinet to move this country forward.”

Describing the government as “paralyze” the former Parliamentarian said that the Prime Minister is not in charge of his team. “When you in charge you take charge, you cannot take charge when your ministers are openly defying you,” said Baptiste who believe that that those who defied the Prime Minister Thomas should have resigned or be fired immediately.

Linda Straker
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473 410 3195

Source: Spiceislander.com - News & Information from Grenada