NDC ACCEPTS INVITATIONS TO POLITICAL PARTY EVENTS IN ST. LUCIA AND ST. VINCENT

St. George's, December 2, 2008 -- Grenada's ruling National Democratic Congress is "honoured'' to be associated with sister parties in the Caribbean that share similar philosophies with the NDC, says a top Congress party official.

In the past few weeks, NDC General Secretary Peter David has been the guest speaker at events organized by the ruling St. Vincent Unity Labour Party (SVULP) and the main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP).

Mr. David, who was in St. Lucia last Sunday for the SLP's convention, described it as a "well-attended'' affair, with all of the Labour Party's leading officials present.  They included Labour Party leader and former St. Lucia Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, who delivered a stirring address.

"It was a very successful convention,'' said Mr. David, Member of Parliament for the Town of St. George.  

The MP, who also sits in government as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, said he was delighted to be the NDC's delegate and guest speaker at the SLP's convention.

 "I spoke on the theme of governance,'' said Mr. David, "and the role of an opposition in governance, our experience in opposition, and the fact that while we were in opposition, we were able to champion the cause of the Grenadian people.''

The address also highlighted issues such as regional integration, employment, and "other matters that concern all of us in the Caribbean,'' said Mr. David.

The NDC General Secretary said the National Democratic Congress, led by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, has had "very good relations'' with the SLP for many years.

"While the Labour Party was in government, we had good relations with Dr. Anthony and we had good relations with the SLP,'' Mr. David explained.  "Now that the SLP is out of government, those relations continue.''

In late November, Mr. David also travelled to St. Vincent to deliver one of the main addresses at a meeting of the governing SVULP.  Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, head of the SVULP, was the keynote speaker.

The SVULP has invited the NDC to send a representative to another important party event to be held in Kingstown shortly.

"We have relations with parties based on what we believe are parties with a common philosophy,'' said Mr. David. "Parties with a common view of view of Caribbean integration, for example, and with whom we share views with respect to social issues and so on.''

The NDC General Secretary added: "The fact that we attended the SLP convention has nothing to do with whether or not they're in government.  It was not a government-to-government activity.  It was a party-to-party activity.''