ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—Nearly four months after he was sacked as sports minister, Jonathan LaCrette has confirmed a social media report that he has quit the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Reports are correct,” he said in a text message to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) after being asked to confirm the social media post circulating claiming that he had resigned from the party.
The NDC has yet to make any public statement on the issue.
Lauretta was defeated in the 2022 general election when he contested the St George’s Northwest constituency against former prime minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, who has represented the constituency since 1984.
A former educator who resigned from the Ministry of Education in 2022 to join the NDC and contest the general election, La Crete was fired by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell seven months after being appointed sports minister following the January 2024 cabinet reshuffle. He had previously served as health minister and acting foreign affairs minister.
Lauretta was one of seven senators appointed by the Governor-General who acted on the advice of the Prime Minister following the 2022 election.
However, on August 1, Prime Minister Mitchell informed the nation that he had asked the Governor General to revoke LaCrette’s appointment. No specific reason was given for the termination other than Prime Minister Mitchell saying that he had lost trust and confidence in the senator.
“The reason for doing so is that as Prime Minister, sitting in the Cabinet, I formed the view that I had personally lost trust and confidence in Minister LaCrette in his capacity as a Minister, and in those circumstances, I thought it was appropriate for me to inform him of that fact and to inform his fellow Cabinet colleagues,” Mitchell told reporters, adding that LaCrette would continue to be the party’s caretaker for the St George’s Northwest Constituency.
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