ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC -The main opposition New National Party (NNP) has questioned the “integrity and transparency” of the Dickon Mitchell government after Grenada signed the Samoa Agreement on the same day that the government said publicly that it would await the findings of its technocrats and bureaucrats who would be “in the best position to tell us exactly what the agreement states.”
“This action directly contradicts the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister’s claims of not being rushed into signing this significant agreement, which outlines the future relationship between the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) for the next two decades,” the NNP said in a statement.
A statement posted on the Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday said that the island’s Ambassador to Belgium, Raphael Joseph, “on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023, signed the Samoa Agreement on behalf of the State of Grenada”.
It noted that the head of mission of four other countries, Burundi, Central African Republic, Niger, and St. Kitts and Nevis, also signed the agreement at the headquarters of the ACPS.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mitchell and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Export Development Joseph Andall told reporters that St. George’s would not be rushed into signing any morality-issue agreement.
The Samoa agreement was signed last Wednesday in Apai and will serve as an overarching legal framework for the relationship between the EU and the OACPS. It follows the Cotonou Agreement and covers sustainable development, growth, human rights, peace, and security.
The provisional application of the agreement will start on Jan 1, 2024. It will enter into force upon consent by the European Parliament and ratification by all EU member states and at least two-thirds of the 79 OACPS members.
Trinidad and Tobago Roman Catholic Archbishop Jason Gordon said that while the agreement is “written as a trade agreement and an agreement of support, financially, etc. for the African Caribbean and Pacific nations, embedded in that agreement and when it is signed it is for 20 years and cannot be revoked …is anyone who signs that agreement will have abortion legislation in their countries.
“They will have to impose abortion legislation, transgender, LBGTQ, comprehensive sex education, a whole range of values will be imposed because of the signing of that document,” he added.
On Wednesday, Andall said, “Grenada, for sure, we are not willing to surrender our sovereignty to any international organization, and if there is any part and proposed agreement inconsistent with our constitution and with our values, we will think very long and hard before entering into any such agreement.”
Prime Minister Mitchell said the Archbishop’s views are “obviously his …I have not yet read the agreement, so I can’t tell you whether the agreement says what people say.
“I suspect at the end of the day our technocrats and bureaucrats will go through the agreement and be in the be position to tell us exactly what the agreements state,” Mitchell added.
In its statement, the NNP said the “revelation” that Grenada had signed the accord on Wednesday “not only undermines the trust of the Grenadian people but also raises critical questions about the integrity and transparency of our current government.
“If the Prime Minister was unaware of such a crucial decision being made on the international stage, it points to a worrying lack of control and communication within his administration. On the other hand, if this was a deliberate decision to mislead the public, it represents an unacceptable breach of honesty and duty owed to the citizens of Grenada.”
The NNP said it “demands immediate clarification from Prime Minister Mitchell and Minister Andall,” adding, “The people of Grenada deserve a government that acts with integrity and transparency.
“We call on the Prime Minister to address this matter publicly and take necessary steps to restore trust and accountability in his office. The New National Party stands firm in its commitment to the people of Grenada and will continue to advocate for a government that upholds the highest standards of honesty and responsible governance,” said the party that was voted out of office in the last general election in June last year.
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