Hon Keith Mitchell

St. George, Grenada, March 2nd, 2010: After eight months, the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell says he still hopes that he will receive a response and will see some action from the NDC administration regarding two letters which he wrote to the Hon. Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, highlighting numerous concerns raised with him as the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition.  Dr. Mitchell says a blind eye has been turned to his letters written on March 4^th 2009 and again on June 15^th 2009.  Meanwhile, he noted that the economic and political situation in the country has been deteriorating.  The following is the full text of the second letter sent on June 15^th, 2009:

June 15^th, 2009

Hon. Tillman Thomas

Prime Minister

Ministerial Complex

Tanteen

ST. GEORGE’S

Dear Prime Minister Thomas,

On March 4^th 2009, I wrote to you concerning numerous complaints from various sectors and individuals who are finding it extremely difficult to cope with the current social, political and economic situation facing the country at this time.  I wish to inform you that I am deeply disappointed that you have not found the time to respond to my letter which was sent to you more than three months ago out of concern for my country.

Since then, the situation in the country has worsened and I believe that now more than ever there is a need for you as leader of the country to take some decisive actions to address these concerns in the interest of our people.  I wish to again bring them to your attention.

Since assuming office in July 2008, your administration has been contributing significantly to the level of unemployment and poverty in the country by firing large number of vulnerable persons from their jobs.  In most cases these persons suffer political victimization since they are being dismissed on the perception that they are supporters of the New National Party.  I am sure that you are aware of a recent case of a young woman from Carriacou who was fired for privately expressing her political views while she was on vacation in another country.  This Mr. Prime Minister can never be the promise you made that no one will be victimized. This cannot be the promise you made to uphold democracy in our country. 

As you are aware almost 2000 young men and women who were involved in the Imani Programme after one year are still awaiting the opportunities promised to them.  Many are frustrated and are involved in negative activities that the programme had helped to keep them from.  Despite the promise made by the NDC while in opposition that they will not be sent home and that their salary will be increased to $1000.00 Imani trainees are today without an opportunity and an income.  This cannot be the promise of honesty and integrity which you made prior to the general elections.  While the unemployment rate increases, some who are paid by Government are also complaining about late receipt of their salaries, which is making it difficult for them to meet their monthly commitments.  What is worse is that since assuming office, your Government has reduced the wages of ordinary workers who benefited from pay increases like any other class of workers.  Today road workers have to settle for $10.00 less per day, even if the amount of hours they work has been increased.  I am certain that you are also aware that some police officers had to take home $150.00 less without even being informed of the decision taken to remove their allowance.  You must be aware that many ordinary Grenadians are also losing their jobs and lack of employment opportunities due to the action or lack of action by your Government. This sir, cannot be the promise you made to protect workers rights and create new jobs.

After almost one year in office, I am sure that you have a full understanding of the opportunities which were made available for the vulnerable of our society.  I am pleading with you to use your good office to find some means of restoring and expanding the safety net programmes which were established to protect the poor and vulnerable especially the unemployed.  Although Government cannot do everything for the vulnerable, every administration still has a responsibility to protect the less fortunate among us.  Today, many more parents are unable to send their children to school, to provide them with milk and to provide basic food items.  Most of these persons were provided for in programmes offered by the NNP administration.  Today many more elderly citizens are left to go without a meal, because the monthly allowance provided by the NNP administration was removed.  Not only has your Government failed to honour the promise to increase the payment to $400.00 per month, worse yet the little they had was taken away from them without any justification.  This cannot be the promise you made to protect the poor and vulnerable before the last general elections. 

What is puzzling to me and many other Grenadians is the fact that despite the above, you are approving the travel of Government Ministers, advisors and other officials to all parts of the world costing the country hundred of thousands of dollars; you are allowing the Government ministers to purchase expensive furniture, and other unnecessary amenities for their offices; you are allowing the hiring of persons who are paid large sums of monies and are making no serious contribution to the governance process. This cannot be allowed in a time when your Minister of Finance constantly laments the lack of finances to run the country.  Despite all of the above the Government continues to find every possible means to impose additional hardship on the people of the country.  A good example was the Government’s decision to increase the cost of beach sand to over 200% without any justification and without any consultation.  This cannot be the good governance, transparency and accountability you had promised.

I therefore wish to again call on you to stand up as leader of the Government and to take some urgent steps to reverse or correct some of the above situations. In addition, I wish to extend my best wishes to you and hope that you will make those decisions for the sake of the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  Please find attached a copy of my letter sent to your in March 2009, so you can be reminded of some of the other issued which I had raised. 

Respectfully yours,

_____________________________________

DR. KEITH C. MITCHELL PhD, MP, PC

Office of the Leader of Her Majestys Opposition