NDC PROBLEM WITH ITSELF
by Hamlet Mark

MAYBE the government of the National Democratic Congress can have George Worme write a book on ‘Political Suicide 101,’ because at a time of the toughest economic challenges, we’re being led down a street where we are majoring in minors.

What’s unfolding in Grenada – as evident by a newspaper’s letter and then an editorial to boot -- is a short-sighted attempt to divide and rule the government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.

And, the Prime Minister is inadvertently allowing the divide-and-rule to succeed, by his inaction in failing to defend his own government. He is allowing forces outside of his government – some whom he trusts too much, and lets them wield too much influence -- to effectively destabilize the administration.

The Prime Minister must speak up now against this external attack on his government – or forever hold the “pieces” of that government.

The NDC must sit down urgently and decide what it wants for itself.

If it is to become a one-term government, it is doing a brilliant job at it – and does not need any further advice.

If it is to satisfy the egos of a few hangers-on – so far, so good.

But if, as many hoped, it is to fundamentally affect the lives of Grenadians for the better, there is need of an urgent strategic reboot, and a more creative and vibrant approach to governance.

For while this phony, manufactured debate is going on in the St George’s media – when I get to Munich the debate and concerns are fundamentally different.

My saintly mother asks how come the miserly “pension” she got under NNP is stopped.

The boys on the Invaders Cricket team ask me how come the hope they voted for two years ago is gone.

Strangely to them, I don’t have an answer. And as far as they are concerned, I am supposed to know.

Maybe the real truth of the matter is not that I don’t have an answer; I have fought mightily not to think this through too hard. It’s my own way to escape this nightmare that’s unfolding.

Whatever my views though, we all have to be careful not to wallow in the politics of personal mischief that is very much at play now.

There are some myths that must be dispelled from the get-go.

The idea that there is some move to remove PM Thomas – something no MP has suggested nor, strangely enough, perpetuated by the opposition; its perpetuated by so-called friends and advisers to the Grenada cabinet. The idea they are pushing is not only a simplistic way of looking at the local politics, but at it's core a bunch of hogwash.

No MP has suggested that any way.

But more fundamentally, under the NDC’s own rules, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas cannot be challenged while he remains in power and as Prime Minister. The only way he can be removed is if he is convicted in a court or decides to resign.

The other line that there are factions or gangs in the NDC is also a myth. Factions suggest a level of organization and mobilization. I don’t give this party that credit for being this organized to even have factions.

For all practical purposes, the party has been abandoned since July 8, 2008 - the day the NDC won the last general election.

It’s not just dysfunctional – it’s practically non-existent.

And the new executive that was voted into office in March last year – the political leader, the deputy political leader, the general secretary, the PRO – and all the other officers – all of whom I call friends – have failed.

There needs to be an uprising from the rank and file – and some obscure person with no other ambition other than to realize the dreams of July 8 – should come forward to lead it.

Maybe -- some farmer in Munich or some teacher in La Poterie or some fisherman in Soubise.

At this stage, and at this juncture - internal revolt is not such a bad phrase anymore. For the weakness of the NDC is also its one strength.
It is the only party in Grenada that is democratic enough to withstand that kind of uprising.

NDC’s raging debate is not about power in its simplistic form. It’s about delivery.

There has been progress, but maybe not enough. And if this government was to level with people better, maybe even that too could be understandable, given the cards they have been dealt with coming in.

Another myth that is being put out there is that some members of cabinet are blocking any action against Keith Mitchell and his cronies for alleged corruption.

This is being propagated unfortunately by advisers to ministers (and I suspect with the tacit approval of their bosses); stated clearly in public by a top member of the party at a meeting with housing officers; by executive secretaries and former campaign organizers.

People who have fought against the politics of Mitchell are no doubt eager for some of the accusations to stick.

As far as I understand these things, it is the office of the DPP – which I am told has been working vigorously to see if it can collect enough evidence on a number of fronts – and to some extent the office of the Attorney General to advance on those things.

Thankfully, the work of at the office of the DPP continues independently with no interference from the political directorate.

Nothing has happened through the AG’s office though, since Jimmy Bristol was asked to resign.

In that one stroke when Bristol was sent packing – the NDC cut its nose and spoilt its face when it came to hounding Keith Mitchell.

Let the truth be told that Bristol was working aggressively on a number of fronts, even traveled to the USA in pursuit of evidence – and there was no one Mitchell feared more in this process.

All that work has effectively stopped since he left.

And this has happened not because anyone sat anywhere and said don’t bother. It is just unfortunately another manifestation of a dysfunctional system where things are not followed through on.

To suggest any cabinet official has sought to frustrate the process is at best disingenuous and at worse deliberately spiteful and wicked.

Those card-carrying NDC members and appointed cabinet officials who are publicly perpetuating that non-sense are cheap political hangers-on and high paid political mischief-makers who must be called out on it.

For NDC to save itself, it needs to go back basics – and to its base.

It needs to stop being fundamentally ungrateful to the farmer lady in Birchgrove who struggled through the years; to the youth worker in Grenville; to the young mother in LaBorie who did everything the campaign asked of her; to the rasta man in Mama Cannes who used to roam the night putting up posters; to the shopkeeper in Hermitage who paid campaign bills from his own pocket; to the calypsonian in Chantimelle who wrote protest songs; to the police officer in Central who squealed on the excesses of the last 15 years, and to the pensioner in that old campaign commercial.

These people have one thing in common – they have been forgotten.

Instead, they have been replaced by a ‘Gang of Four’ – not inside the cabinet – but outside of the cabinet.

This ‘gang’ are not members of the party (in fact they refuse to join); not cabinet officials (well actually the second cabinet as Bristol once alluded to).

Their mission is some phony ideological war that is as 70s as is bell-bottom pants and Afros.

They have orchestrated a smear campaign against targeted members of cabinet, and they are seeking to push Prime Minister Thomas to do a bunch of madness – which thankfully to his credit, he has resisted until now.

But they have successfully influenced the party to turn on itself – and hasten the day when it will allow itself to be voted out of office.

Somebody please cry help – because the madmen are now running the asylum.