The NDC of Petite Martinique Carriacou and Grenada

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was formed in 1987 following the resignation from the New National Party Government (NNP) of two of its most formidable Ministers ? Hon. George Brizan and Hon. Francis Alexis. The Hon. Tillman Thomas who was also at the time a government Member of Parliament (MP) and a Junior Minister along with Jerome Joseph who was a government Senator both immediately resigned from the NNP in support of George Brizan and Francis Alexis.

Almost immediately, other activists namely Jerome Thomas, Sidney Mitchell, Leroy (Castro) Alexander, Keith Clouden, Jim “Masai” Henry and Crawford Best joined in the formation of the National Democratic Congress.

Growth of the Party

The ranks of the party were quickly swollen when other well known Grenadians entered the party. People such as Hon. Phinsley St. Louis, MP, Hon. Marcel Peters, MP, then leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Hon. Kenny Lalsingh, MP as well as a majority of the membership of the now defunct NDP (National Democratic Party) joined the new party.

George Brizan and others formed the NDP in January 1984 following the demise of the Grenada Revolution in 1983. It was one of the parties brought together in Union Island in the summer of 1984 to form the NNP in preparation to contest the December 1984 general election.

The organization and growth of the NDC were very rapid. A number of people’s consultations were held to develop the party’s constitution, policies and principles — documents that continue to guide the NDC today. Within six months after the formation of the party, the NDC was fully entrenched in all fifteen constituencies in Grenada and was ready for the Party’s first annual Convention. At the NDC’s first Convention the following person’s were elected as officers on the national executive committee:

After the convention, at a General Council meeting, the party adopted the heart as the best representation of the party as true family love.

In 1989, Nicholas Brathwaite, the former head of the Interim Government, joined the NDC and was elected as Political Leader at the Party’s Convention of that same year.

This development had the blessings and approval of George Brizan.

When general election was eventually called for March 13, 1990 by the then Prime Minister, the Hon. Ben Jones, it was Nicholas Brathwaite who led the NDC in to the election.

The NDC won seven (7) out of the fifteen (15) parliamentary seats. Three other parties shared the other eight (8) seats. The Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) received four (4) seats; the New National Party (NNP) received two (2) seats and The National Party (TNP) received two (2) seats.

However, the NDC was able to form the government with the courageous move by Edzel Thomas, who was one of the successful GULP candidates. The NDC’s position in the House of Representatives was further strengthened with the help of three other MPs, Hon. Ben Jones, Hon. Alleyne Walker and Hon. Dr. Gibbs.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister, Hon. Nicholas Brathwaite, the National Democratic Congress Government was best known for and very instrumental in returning Grenada to a credit worthy position, after it was declared uncreditworthy by international financial organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank.

Towards the end of 1994, the Hon. Nicholas Brathwaite demitted office to allow Hon. George Brizan to become Prime Minister and to take the party in to the June 1995 general election. The NDC lost the election to the New National Party. The NDC received six (6) seats, whereas the NNP received eight seats and GULP received one seat.

The NDC suffered a devastating blow in the January 1999 general election when it did not win a seat, and was left without any representation in both Houses of Parliament. By 2000, the NDC had neArley collapsed when most of the foundation members left the party. However, under the courageous leadership of the two remaining founding members, Tillman Thomas and Jerome Joseph, and others who persevered, the NDC decided it was time to encourage and invite new members in to the party.

Thereafter, a group of young and energetic politicians joined the party and gained positions of leadership within the NDC National Executive Committee. These new leaders, under the guidance of Political Leader Tillman Thomas, include Dr. David Lambert, George Prime, Ferron Lowe, Peter David and Nazim Burke.

With these new politicians now holding key leadership positions within NDC, the party, which was once considered dead by local political pundits, emerged as one of the top contenting parties in Grenada today.

The NDC created a storm leading up to the November 2003 election with its powerful “wind of change” message blowing in the land, and embraced within the hearts of the populace.

This wind of change brought to the Party and certainly to Grenada a new pulse. The NDC was pulsating, energetic and ready to take on the ruling New National Party. It certainly was not business as usual. The new NDC went in to the trenches of Grenada and held dialogue with the people. The party focused on the issues that were important to the nation and more so, presented itself as the best and only alternative to the NNP.

We strive to restore a sense of national pride and patriotism among our people by:

• Undertaking an inventory of all Grenadian passports issued under the Economic Citizenship program and other diplomatic arrangements.
  Revoking the grant of passports issued under these arrangements to any and all persons deemed to be unfit to hold such a passport.
• Enter into negotiations with the Government of Canada with a view to obtaining a reversal of the visa requirement for Grenadian persons wishing to enter Canada.
• Recognizing our national heroes and martyrs as well as those who have made a significantcontribution to our country’s’ development by giving due regard to their contribution.