ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC—Delegates attending Sunday’s main opposition New National Party (NNP) convention elected the party’s first woman leader.
She is Emmalin Pierre, who served as the party’s Public Relations Officer before her elevation, while Norland Cox is the new deputy leader.
The NNP’s December 15 convention was overdue by approximately two years, and Dr Keith Mitchell had led it since 1989, he was then elected to lead the party, taking over from the late Herbert Blaize, the party’s first leader.
The NNP was formed by several minor political parties to contest the 1984 general election, the island’s first election, following the collapse of the People’s Revolutionary Government in October 1983.
Mitchell will now serve as the party’s Chairman, and Gregory Bowen, who served as the deputy political leader, will now serve as the party’s deputy chairman.
The election at the convention, held at St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School, occurred against former Assistant General Secretary Peter David’s accusation of an undemocratic process lacking fairness, transparency, and legality.
David, one of two people who applied to become the leader, announced his withdrawal from the race late Saturday.
“They have built a barricade for the way forward. Their divisive machinations have left me with little option but to withdraw myself from tomorrow’s proceedings as a delegate or even an observer,” he said in an address broadcast via his Facebook page.
“Democracy’s time has come. Decency’s time has come. Honesty’s time has come. I say to you — Tonight is not the end of anything. It is the beginning of everything,” he said in the address as he thanked the cross-section of Grenadians who have been encouraging him through the many months, weeks, and especially recently, not to abandon his leadership campaign.
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