by Rawle Titus
As Grenada’s main opposition party, the New National Party (NNP), looks ahead to selecting its leader for the next general elections, there appears to be an emerging choice: some stalwarts of the party think Peter David represents the leadership capabilities that the party desperately needs to reinvigorate itself and regain the trust of the Grenadian people.
Keith Mitchell, the longstanding party leader who has served multiple terms as prime minister, has overstayed his welcome and lost his grip on the party and the nation. Despite previously stating his intention to step down, most recently claiming the 2022 elections would be his “one for the road,” Mitchell has backtracked. He is now clinging to power in an increasingly undemocratic fashion.
Recent surveys indicate a Grenadian public now soured on Mitchell’s leadership. A November 2023 on-ground poll by Writeups24 found that 73% of over 3,000 respondents favoured David as the new NNP leader, with only 27% still backing Mitchell. This overwhelming margin reflects the people’s desire for change within the party.
A transparent and genuine effort to expand leadership candidate considerations even beyond David must also be allowed to occur without any form of manipulative resistance.
David, who previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs under the NNP, does have the qualities needed to reinvigorate the opposition.
In contrast, Mitchell’s leadership has become increasingly insular, undemocratic, and divorced from the will of the people. He has systematically dismantled party institutions, sidelined potential successors, and worked to change rules and manipulate the process in his favour — all desperate efforts to maintain his grip on power at all costs.
The NNP faces a stark choice ahead of the next elections: stick with Mitchell’s stagnant, self-serving leadership that already cost them power in 2022, or turn to an alternative offering a forward-looking vision.
A new NNP leader must represent a return to the party’s roots of fostering economic opportunity and giving voice to the aspirations of all Grenadians. The ongoing turmoil in the party creates unsurmountable challenges to re-earn citizens’ faith and become a vibrant force advocating for the people’s interests.
At this critical juncture, the NNP must have the courage to move past Mitchell’s obstructionism and empty promises of departure. The future of the NNP — and of Grenadian democracy itself — depends on making this change at the top.
Rawle Titus is a veteran Caribbean Journalist currently working as a Public Affairs Director in New York.
This Keith Claudius Mitchell just cannot help himself in desperately trying to stay in the Spotlight. Just to make noise, a chaotic narcissist of the very worse kind.
Doc can’t lately talk fast enough with his lips moving at twice the speed of sound, so he is resorting to waving his hands wildly as if to say “ I am here “. Well we wish he was never ever here.
The only time I ever want to see this here character in the news again is when he is finally charged for his two decades of corruption and looting and being led away on criminal charges in handcuffs. Why the ongoing coverups of the shady Doc ?
Please somebody put a muzzle on this old dictator. Old dictators have gone out of fashion. Grenada deserves better and it is time Keith Claudius Mitchell is out of the Spotlight.
Anybody except Keith C. Mitchell.
This man has done more damage to Grenada, over any good to Grenada.
Old Dictators are a Dying Breed – no pun intended of course.
Peter David would make great PM.
Dickon Mitchell is great PM.
Keith C. Mitchell still cannot accept the reality that He lost the Elections.
Grenada does not belong to Doc Keith Mitchell, although in his mind, he thinks it does. Doc has inflicted enough damage and serious looting of Grenada for the nearly last two decades, that it’s time for this ex – PM to fully Retire.
Doc lost the elections and still wants to stick his nose into everything. He can not accept being The Loser !!
Grenada needs a break from this ex wanna be and been terrible dictator.
Enough of Keith Mitchell. Enough.
What an utter disgrace!!!…This guy’s greed for power is unconscionable, though not surprising. Whenever his party has been in control, GDA has been run by a criminal enterprise – corrupt and steep in greed, graft and crookedness. As a famous man once said, in a third world country the most profitable form of entrepreneurship is in government and law enforcement. Unfortunately for Grenadians,
he’s been at the helm of both sectors. His character flaws are so numerous and obvious that finally “ the emperor has no clothes “.
Common decency dictates that for the sake of his party, and all Grenadians, he takes a permanent leave from politics. He was never imbued with the quality and gift of statesmanship, neither was governance ever his forte.
kudos to all the commentaries, it couldn’t have been said any better. This individual is so vindictive I wish my people would have woken up earlier, for those who still support him, in his political endeavor it’s time to open your hearts and minds for a better Grenada. I am not saying that he hasn’t done a few good things for the country, however it was all for his political gains. We the people need to remove our rose color glasses, so can properly see who and what this individual is all about, he is starting to act like number 44 of the United States. our young men and women deserve a brighter future, this achievement will not be granted by his leadership, he has taken enough resources for the country, it’s time to move on and move out.