NNP CONCERNED ABOUT NDC STATEMENTS REGARDING ELECTION RIGGING

St. George, April 1, 2008 -- “The New National Party (NNP) is the custodian of fairplay and has never been engaged in any attempt to manipulate the course of legislated functions at the Parliamentary Elections Office.” This is contained in a statement from the New National Party responding to NDC claims that it is attempting to rig the next General Elections.

The New National Party noted that the pronouncements by NDC Deputy Political Leader, George Prime on the organization’s radio programme on WEE-FM on Sunday 30th March, 2008, are totally unfounded, erroneous, irresponsible and directed to create mass confusion and a lack of public confidence in the electoral system.

Over the past months, the NDC has been campaigning around the country attacking the Parliamentary Elections Office claiming that it is working in favour of the NNP, an accusation that is far from the truth. NNP General Secretary, Hon. Claris Charles refutes all these allegations noting that the NDC’s utterances are acts of a political organization desperate to gather public sympathy on its side by maligning the NNP to such an extent as to say that it is interfering in the Parliamentary elections process.

She is disappointed that Senator Prime would assist his organization in knowingly repeating allegations that he should know are untrue. She hinted that the NDC is continuing to find that the NNP is no walkover and the people of Grenada are beginning to understand where and how the NDC’s plans at mischief are being hatched, in view of its consistent pattern of operation.

“The NDC doesn’t like, and is not accustomed to fairplay because in fairplay there are rules. They have been attacking the electoral system over the past months, and as we know, this has been a long term strategy of theirs to make it appear as if NNP is cheating against them. Like they did after October 19, 1983, they are now campaigning all over the place to gain public sympathy hoping to get people to give them a chance to misgovern the country,” noted the NNP General Secretary. “If you look at this pattern you will notice one thing, that it is the work of trained propagandists in the pursuit of one objective -- and that is to gain power, even if it is at the detriment and destruction of a nation. That is the length to which the NDC will go.”

Minister Claris Charles, in charge of the country’s portfolio of Education, Labour and Legal Affairs, categorically stated that NNP has nothing to do with the electoral process and the NDC seems to be the ones who are being prevented from interfering and therefore crying wolf. She further outlined that NNP is doing its political work within the ambit of the laws, regulations and guidelines and that is what the NNP stands for.

“When we scrutinize the voters’ list and we see discrepanicies and in our observation, maybe irregularities, we bring it to the attention of the Parliamentary Elections Office, as it is allowed by law. There are procedures to follow, especially in the case where there are objections. We do not bring these to the attention of the public.” said Claris Charles.

Minister Charles said the Electoral Office has its work to do and in the course of that function, if political organizations have claims and objections as it relates the voters list, the law provides that the political organizations and persons can draw them to the attention of the Electoral Office so that they can be rectified.  She is of the view that to do otherwise is defeating the purpose for which the system was set up in the administration of the electoral process, good governance and democracy.

She went on to say that the NNP has raised objections likewise about certain problems especially with the voters’ list where it was found that several of its supporters were disenfranchised.

Mrs. Charles further stated that it was brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Office that there were allegations that certain members of the NDC were encouraging persons to register in other Constituencies, thereby padding their support from one area they believe they have strength to areas where they believe they are weak to help bolster the vote.

“These were pointed out and we have been scrutinizing the voters’ list likewise to ensure that all is well and when there are objections we refer them to the Parliamentary Elections Office, as the law allows. In view of all that, the NNP has never gone public to accuse the NDC of voter padding to create political tribalism or engineer mass disturbance as the NDC appears to be doing now. Their statements will only serve to disturb the minds of the electorate to salvage political advantage.  NNP is a disciplined organization and goes according to the rules. We are not into the habit of beating up the umpire, referee or the police,” said Mrs. Charles.

According to her it is rather funny that the NDC is complaining about problems at the electoral Office and when the Government is successful in getting the OAS officials to come here to rectify the situation, they still keep on complaining, still showing that they don’t even have faith in the OAS, which is an independent body.

“We know the plan and one could see it unfolding here.  They would have hoped to be in a position to continue their attacks on the NNP to see how people respond to their accusations and how much support they could get in the interim but to my mind this is being politically slimy or obviously futile.”

The OAS Officials are to arrive in Grenada during the first week of April, a move solicited by Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, from the onset. The NNP General Secretary indicated that there is a clear indication that while NDC executives have been blowing their trumpet all along, they are beginning to realize that the support the NNP has going for it into the next general election is that it is the party of change and thus the right choice. The entire NNP executive is totally against the NDC plan of creating confusion in the minds of the electorate and destabilizing the country…an action that is definitely not good for our democracy and for our development.

Mrs. Charles has confirmed that the NNP will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure that the country’s democracy remains strong, and that peace and stability continue.  And like all other elections the NNP will remain the custodians of fairplay.