by Linda Straker
- Emmalin Pierre represents St Andrew South East constituency
- Second executive member to openly announce contesting political leader position
- Keith Mitchell has been leader of NNP since 1989
Emmalin Pierre, who represents the constituency for St Andrew South East and is currently the Public Relations Officer of the New National Party (NNP), said that whenever the Political Leader position is declared vacant, she will contest that office.
“For me personally at this point, my strong gut feeling is that once that vacancy exists in the party, I will offer myself,” Pierre said during an interview on the Community Forum television discussion programme aired on Meaningful Television (MTV) News.
She told the host that it’s the wish of Dr Keith Mitchell who is the current political leader of the NNP that the party continues to exist when he is no longer involved in politics of the country. “He always refers to the Grenada United Labour Party and often says that he does not want to leave this party and looking back, feels that it has fallen apart because he has exited the leadership position,” she said.
Pierre, who served in various ministerial portfolios during the NNP Administrations from 2013 to 2022, has become the second executive member to openly announce contesting the political leader position. The first was Peter David who is currently the Assistant General Secretary and represents the constituency of the Town of St George.
After the NNP lost the June 2022 General Elections, Dr Keith Mitchell in a ceremony to accept the oath of Opposition Leader said that he did not intend to hold onto the position beyond the party’s next convention. He has been the leader of the party since 1989.
“It is both an honour and gratitude that I have accepted the mantle to lead the opposition of the parliament in this country for the immediate period, consistent with Section 66 of the constitution of this country. As the current political leader of the New National Party, I do not intend to hold this position beyond the party’s next convention,” he said.
But, let me add that the process of the next convention should be orderly and timely, and no one will push the party to do what he or she wants. Let it be very clear, I will remain committed to representing the people of North West St George who have elected me for the last 38 years,” he said back then.