by Curlan Campbell, NOW Grenada
- Nazim Burke congratulates Dr Mitchell and NNP on a resounding victory
- Burke thanks supporters and reiterates his party’s position to continue to serve the people of Grenada
- NDC will issue a more comprehensive statement after assessment of the results
Political Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Nazim Burke has sent a congratulatory message to the prime minister-elect Dr Keith Mitchell and the New National Party (NNP).
Several direct attempts to contact Dr Mitchell via telephone were unsuccessful, but speaking with NOW Grenada at his constituency office at Mt Gay yesterday, Burke said, “We wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and the members of the New National Party on what, we must admit, was a resounding victory. It was a very long and hard campaign [in] which we put forward our vision for Grenada’s development, ideas that we thought will find favour with the electorate. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and so all that we can say is that we accept the verdict of the people and congratulate the prime minister.”
By and large, NDC candidates have expressed gratitude to their supporters and extended best wishes to the NNP government. The NNP made a clean sweep, securing all 15 parliamentary seats in the 13 March General Election, duplicating the results secured during the 2013 General Election.
Burke reiterated his party’s position to continue to serve the people of Grenada and took the opportunity to thank all his supporters for their hard work during the election campaign. “This has been a very difficult campaign for us. We fought without many resources, but we relied on the will, determination and resolve of the members of the party. Fighting against the odds, we felt that we had a good chance and we are quite satisfied with the battle that we have waged. We felt the campaign was clean and honourable and, in many respects, a decent well-conducted campaign.”
He provided words of encouragement to supporters to not become despondent. “We say thank you very much to those supporters that are hurting and are badly disappointed with the result of the election. We want to say to you that this is not the end of the world. Adversity usually creates opportunities, and this may well be an opportunity to do something bigger and better for Grenada.”
The party’s chairman Vincent Roberts via the NDC’s Facebook page wrote, “As Chairman of the NDC, let me congratulate the New National Party for a resounding victory at the March 13 general elections. The people have spoken, and we now move forward to building a better nation. To all the victors, we salute you. To my Party Leader, Nazim Burke and all our candidates, our youth of the NDYM, supporters and well-wishers, don’t take it personally; our plans, programs, and ideas may have been rejected, but you were not; hold your head high and join hands with all Grenadians to build our country. Grenada needs you as much as it ever did.
To our youth, do not be daunted. Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do. Many of the most successful men this world has ever known have said that their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them. Do not give up. Stick to your values and work for the good of our country, always putting people first. We fought a good fight, now it’s time for unity and determination to see a better Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
To everyone, thanks for all that you did; the many sacrifices, sharing your time, talent and treasure and for your prayers. I thank you personally and on behalf of the party.”
Roberts indicated a more comprehensive statement would be issued by the party at a further date once they have completed their assessment of the results.
