GRENADA-Opposition Leader outlines conditions under which the convention will be held.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The leader of the main opposition New National Party (NNP), Dr. Keith Mitchell, says the long-awaited party convention will occur only after constituency support groups and other arms of the party are reorganized.

Mitchell, who was sworn in as Opposition Leader following the party’s defeat in the general elections in June last year, has already indicated that he would not be seeking the top position of the party when the convention is held.

“There will be a process, reorganize the party, get the groups back again, because let me tell you, if we leave the party where it was at the last general election, I don’t care who leader emerges, the party will go down in defeat,” said Mitchell, who until his party’s defeat in the June 23 general election, had been one of the longest serving head of government in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“So, we are going to organize the party, strengthen the ground, build the organization …all of our unity together, NNP will be victorious,” said Mitchell, who had the distinction of leading the NNP to three consecutive sweeps of the 15 seats in the Parliament.

Mitchell, prime minister from 1995 to 2008 and 2013 to 2022, told party supporters on Thursday night that he would not appoint a new leader but would hand over the leadership to the person elected by delegates attending the party’s convention.

“There is a perception by some people that I must just put somebody as a leader; I am not that type of individual, you the people will have a say in any change of leadership in this party; you will have a say, I may have a choice, somebody that I prefer, but if that person does not have the support of the people then what sense is that choice,” he said.

NNP general secretary, Roland Bhola, told the meeting that the party’s constitution outlines the guidelines to follow before a convention date is announced.

“You must have your groups organized, you must have your constituency branches, and then you pick your delegates before you can have a convention.

“That is why we are saying let us build the groups, organize, and put the party in the state, so as the general secretary, I can report to the national executive that all constituencies are now organized, the groups are in place, and the data set for convention. You cannot name a date for a convention if you don’t have the organization,” he said.