by Linda Straker
- Dr Mitchell did not attend first regular sitting of Lower House
- Described as grandfather of Lower House due to length of service since 1984
- Current situation with elected opposition brings true meaning to practice of democracy
Joseph Andall, Member of Parliament for St Patrick West, said he expects Dr Keith Mitchell, who is the Leader of the Opposition, to be a guiding light in the Lower House of Parliament for all the members who are on their first term.
Dr Mitchell, who was unable to attend the first regular sitting of the Lower House on Thursday, 29 September 2022 since a new government was voted into office on 23 June, was described by Andall as the grandfather of the Lower House because of his years of service, beginning in 1984.
“I am a bit regretful that the honourable member for St George NorthWest, the father, some may even say the grandfather of the Parliament, is not here to hear this, but I expect him, given his longevity and his experience to be the guiding figure in this house,” said Andall.
“I expect him to serve the example of decency, dignity, and decorum in this House so that the young member from St John can have an example to emulate, so that the young member from Carriacou and Petite Martinique can say this is what I want to be like when I am serving my 9th term,” Andall continued.
There was no elected opposition following the 2013 and 2018 General Elections because the New National Party (NNP) candidates won all the constituency seats. Andall told the House that the current situation in which there is an elected opposition brings true meaning to the practice of democracy. “For the first time in many years, we have what is almost an ideal situation when it comes to the practice of democracy in our country. For the first time in many years, we are going to have a robust opposition.”
“We expect the debates to be maybe even fierce sometimes, but there is one thing I wish to impress on all my colleagues, those on this as well as others on the other side, we are adults, we represent a civilise nation, the eyes of the world are on us and therefore I implore all of us that even as the debate may rage on let us do so with a spirit of mutual respect and civility.” Andall is a former secondary school teacher and a linguist.
“There will be little ones looking on and we do not want them to be saying Lord, this is what Parliament looks like, mark me no share; we have an obligation to set good and proper examples.” Parliament has 9 members on the Government side and 6 on the Opposition side.
If Dodgy Doc is “a guiding light” for our parliament, then our country truly is doomed.
Well said, I whole-heartedly agree with your Comment. Grenada Loyal: well said.
I’ve read and reread this particular article with just total disbelief.
Where is Joseph Andall coming to, with this political propaganda ????
Grenada needs rehabilitation to get rid of all that kept it down in the past.
My thoughts exactly. Well said.
I really question what inspired Joseph Andall to make such a view of the Doc ? I pray & hope that Grenada never slides back to them old days of such corruption.
Keith Mitchell gets too much hate, No one else stood up in a period when Grenada was searching for leaders. why didn’t you negative commenters form a party and stand against him years gone by.
yes he made many mistakes and neglected certain aspects of Grenada but he did many good things.
actually keith mitchells story reminds me of eric matthew gary, he did many great things for this country but is never acknowledged(you only hear about the socialist Maurice). it seems that people only remember the bad things you do through out life.
HistoryMan, it is not that Doc Keith Mitchell gets too much hate. It is that Doc went out of his way to target and derail people plus victimized so many that his operations resembled a mob like ruler. That is where anger grows.
Also, bordering on the behavior style of a dictator in a supposed democracy is where the attention turns negative.
Call it haters: NO – its being victimized by this Dodgy Doc that has looted too much & he wants to get away with it.
It is intent to expose that corruption before it gets swept under the rug. It should be the objective of this Hon. Dickon Mitchell Adninistration to establish a Board of Inquiry here or Investigative Committee to get to the bottom of all of that wrongdoing.
Shining light of what and for who?
Most corrupted leader of the land.
Trust me this kind of character is not what our young people should ever aspire to be.
You speak truth, thank you.
This so called grandfather of Lower House is indeed the old Grandfather that should Retire and not continue to harm Grenada’s future.
That is why the people have spoken and voted to have a much needed change in Government.
The man is no shining light as this here propaganda article implies !!!!
The Doc a ” Guiding Light in the Lower House of Parliament ” – that is indeed a chilling thought.
Grenada needs to shake off its corrupt image of the days and the ways of Keith C. Mitchell and begin to rebuild and begin to move forward, not again be weight down by the old ways of them old days.
Thank God we hopefully see the turn-around of new hope.
yes, thats why they abolishing the corrupt CBI and protecting our pristine forests and wetlands…. oh wait…