by Linda Straker
- Dickon Mitchell is newly elected political leader
- Elected during party’s 2021 convention held on Sunday, 31 October 2021
- In keeping with Grenada’s Covid-19 protocol event was held virtually
“You have sent a clear and resounding message that the NDC is once more on the path of inspiring hope and belief in our people and our nation,” was the message from Dickon Mitchell, the newly elected political leader of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A newcomer to politics, Mitchell, a lawyer by profession was elected during the party’s 2021 convention held on Sunday, 31 October 2021. He is the third lawyer elected as the political leader of the NDC. The previous leaders are Tillman Thomas and Nazim Burke.
Thomas led the party to victory in the 2008 General Election. However, for the 2013 election in which Thomas was the political leader and the 2018 General Election in which Burke was the political leader, the party was unable to win a seat.
In keeping with Grenada’s Covid-19 protocol, the event was held virtually with delegates for the different constituencies gathering at one location or personally signing on using a video conference platform.
“You have chosen unity over disunity, you have chosen resilience, flexibility, inclusiveness, and strength over infighting, weakness, vacillation, or wish washiness. You have chosen boldness and courage over timidity and the same ole, same ole. You have chosen positive change and transformation over stagnation and failure,” Mitchell told over 300 super delegates who participated in the convention.
He received 277 of the delegates’ votes while Phillip Telesford and Terrence Forrester who also contested for the post received 43 and 7 respectively.
Claiming that NDC is once more on the path of beginning the process to govern Grenada, Mitchell said that the party which celebrated 34 years of existence in October will be required to change the culture of politics in the island.
“We are required to change the culture of our politics, we are to encourage our citizens to get involved in politics because politics means nation-building and it is our collective job to build our nation,” he said in his welcome and thank you message via video conferencing and live streaming.
Describing his election to the political leader post as the first step in transforming the politics of Grenada, he told the delegates it is his belief that it is the first time in Grenada modern history so many people had the opportunity to understand the importance of democracy. “This convention has opened the eyes of every Grenadian to the importance to our democracy, to the importance of the political process and so I expect as part of that transformation we will continue to educate our population,” he said.
The other executive members are Chairperson Tevin Andrews; Deputy Chairperson Sylvester Quarless; Deputy Political Leader Adrian Thomas; General Secretary Learrie Barrie is assisted by Rickelson Scott for the Western Zone; Belinda Charles for the Eastern Zone, and Ron Redhead for the Southern Zone.
The Recording Secretary is Cindy Henry and she is assisted by Tereisha Fortune. The Public Relations Officer is Orlando Romain and he is assisted by Randal Robinson, while the Labour Relations Officer is Andre Charles. The Treasurer is Andrea St Bernard and the floor members are Lennox Andrews, Elwyn McQuilkin and Garvyn Pierre.
The only way it will remain the same is when we stop begging selling the country and handing out favors and go back to some revolutionary ideas and nation building
They are all the same. The “bus. Community ” put him there for their purpose …if he wins elections, he will be required to hand out favors…. same as with the current Admin. Nothing we can do. The powers that be are ordained of the Most High anyway so what he wills will play out.