New political party promising non-traditional approach to politics

By Linda Straker

WITH blue as its colour, and a motto of “United for People with the People”, Grenada’s newest political party was launched last week Tuesday evening with the main spokespersons promising to step away from the traditional approach to politics and instead adopt a brand of politics that Grenadians crave.

“In other words, we will not open the old playbook while spite, petty politics, quasi-dictatorship, corruption and laziness abound. The era of saying one thing and doing another must come to an end,” interim leader, Glynis Roberts, told hundreds who turned out to the launch of the National United Front (NUF) at the Grand Beach Convention Centre Crown Ballroom.

MP Glynis Roberts, one of the
persons behind the NUF.

Explaining that they are embarking on a journey of renewal and respect, she said that it will be an era that shows respect for families; one that seeks to build communities rather than garrisons; and one that respects the diverse opinions of the people and tolerates different points of view.

“Debate is not the mischief of miscreants, it is the tool wise leadership uses to get better,” she said to an audience, which interjected with loud applause as she explained that her dream of changing the political landscape in Grenada began with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but had to remove herself because of weak and ineffective leadership as well as haphazard policies.

“We are here to announce tonight, that though this dream of change has been delayed it is not forever denied; that though too many opportunities were squandered, they are not forever squashed. That is why it must be known that the National United Front is the real keeper of the flame that was lit on July 8, 2008,” she said.

“The dream lives on and the hope will be carried forward; the coalition will be re-assembled and the people shall inherit its benefits,” she said to an audience, which comprised many well-known NDC supporters who championed the message of change for the 2003 and 2008 general elections.

A cross-section of persons at the launch
of the National United Front (NUF).

She said that the challenge for the NUF is not just to engineer an election winning strategy, but a genuine governance strategy that put people first and one that can transform ideas and plans into action. “One that can empower the youth and engender respect for law and order, one that turns good governance not into mere slogan, but a developmental philosophy that will bring jobs and benefits to real people in real communities,” Roberts told the audience, which also comprised diplomats mainly from the Chinese, Venezuelan and Brazilian embassies.

Though not presenting the interim co-ordinating committee, chairman of the Interim Committee said that persons have already been appointed to head various committees in the party. These include: policy, finance, party constitution and membership recruitment.

Interim Chairman, Jerome Joseph, said that the party is mobilising in the various constituencies to hold the party’s first convention early in 2013 to elect the first executive.

“Building a political party is hard work and some of you have done it before and definitely we can do it again,” said Joseph, who is a former founding member and chairman of the NDC.

Inviting persons to become NUF members, Roberts said that the leadership of the party must emerge from the members, even though a group of persons have started the process, they don’t have divine rights to its leadership and no sinister demands on its inheritance.

“The ideas and the solutions must come from you; and the path to be travelled must be carved out through your collective imagination. So that’s why in the coming days we will continue our community meetings and we will embark on a membership drive to ensure that you get more involved,” she said.

General election is constitutionally due by mid-2013. The launch of NUF brings to 17 the amount of political parties registered with the Parliamentary Elections Office, but most of them are minority or defunct. The recently published voter’s list revealed that less that 55 000 are registered to vote.