ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Three weeks after parliament approved the nutmeg, a spice with seven stars in a semicircle, as the 38thsymbol to be used on the ballot paper for any future election in Grenada, former government minister Jonathan LaCrette says this will be the symbol of his new political party.
The Representation of the People (Election Symbols) Regulations mandates that any symbol to be placed on a ballot paper for an election must be approved by legislators. Lacrette, who was fired from the Cabinet of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell on July 31, 2024, announced the formation of the People’s National Party (PNP) during a social media video launch.
In the video, the former youth, sports, and health minister stated that his party recognizes the current generation of voters will require a well-structured and functional political organization with a governance model that is transferable and robust.
“This generation stands on the threshold of history, ready to embark on a journey that will reset Grenada for another 51 years and beyond. We must ensure that we build well-structured and functional political organizations with a governance model that is transferable and robust,” LaCrette said.
The video displays footage of well-known landmarks of the country and the Constituency of St George’s Northwest, which he contested in the 2022 general election as a candidate for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“A PNP-led administration will prioritize national security, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth, and sports, ” said the former school principal, describing his political organization as “a party that is inclusive, a party that listens, a party that will create policies that empower.”
Lauretta has since announced his intention to contest the St. George’s North West constituency, a political stronghold held by Dr. Keith Mitchell for the main opposition New National Party (NNP) since 1984.
Records from the Parliamentary Elections Office show that LaCrette is the only opposition candidate to capture more than 20 percent of the votes in that constituency since 1984.
Last year, Prime Minister Mitchell said he had asked the Governor General to revoke LaCette’s appointment as a minister, saying that he had lost trust and confidence in the then-senator.
“I will not get involved into the nitty-gritty of the details – they are not appropriate given the fact that it is a trust and confidence issue,” he added.
By October 2024, LaCrette announced that he had resigned from the NDC.
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