An influential member in the National Democratic Congress who served as the first chief-of-staff in the Office of the Prime Minister during the Tillman Thomas administration, and was crucial in scripting its 2003 election manifesto, has resigned from the party.
William Joseph’s resignation from the party comes weeks before the members hold its first convention on 2 February 2014.
Joseph, who was also Grenada’s immediate former Ambassador to Caricom and the OECS, tendered his resignation letter to General Secretary Bernard Isaac over the weekend. He is accusing deputy political leader Nazim Burke of “serious misconduct” and contends that Burke is not fit to be the Party’s new leader.
General Secretary of the party, Bernard Isaac, confirmed the resignation and though not giving details, it is understood that in the letter of resignation, Joseph called Burke selfish and a national liability who was central to the party’s division while in power. Tillman Thomas recently announced that he will not contest the leadership of the National Democratic Congress in the upcoming 2 February convention which will most likely be held at the Westerhall Secondary School, St David. The election of a new executive is the main outcome at the convention which will conclude with a rally.
Party officials says that Burke, who is presently the deputy political leader, is seen by some as the natural new leader, but a significant number of senior and executive members are not in favour of that choice. That issue is believed to be responsible for a growing division within the party’s membership.
At its 2012 convention, growing division within the NDC resulted in the expulsion of a number of executive and senior members, including former ministers Peter David, Karl Hood, Arley Gill, and Glynnis Roberts.
In the aftermath of the devastating defeat at the 2013 polls, Thomas admitted that the infighting and the expulsion in “some ways” contributed to the outcome of the election, at which despite receiving more than 20,000 votes, failed to win a seat in the House of Representatives.
