Grenada holds general election amid economic trouble..opposition wins clean sweep in general election

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21510962

People in Grenada are voting in a general election overshadowed by an economic crisis.

Incumbent Prime Minister Tillman Thomas (National Democratic Congress) is facing a challenge by veteran New National Party leader Keith Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell is promising to lower Grenada’s 30% unemployment rate, while Mr Thomas says he will boost tourism.

The Caribbean Development Bank recently warned Grenada that it had unsustainable debt levels.

The bank said Grenada needed to implement a raft of urgent measures to “anchor investor confidence”.

The country has been struggling to recover from major destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Dozens of people were killed and 90% of the island’s buildings destroyed. Grenada’s main export crop, nutmeg, was also devastated.

Mr Thomas has promised to boost agriculture and the renewable energy sector. Mr Mitchell says he will put job creation first.

Fifteen seats of the 28-seat bicameral parliament are up for election.

Legislators for the remaining 13 seats are appointed by the governing and opposition parties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21526209

Preliminary results of the general election on the Caribbean island of Grenada suggest a landslide win for the opposition New National Party (NNP).

Election supervisors said the preliminary figures showed the NNP had won all 15 seats.

The governing National Democratic Congress admitted defeat.

If the results are confirmed, Keith Mitchell, who served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, will return to power.

The main theme during the election was the economic crisis.

Grenada has a 30% unemployment rate and the Caribbean Development Bank recently warned Grenada that it had unsustainable debt levels.

During his campaign, Mr Mitchell promised to make job creation his priority.

After the preliminary results came in, catapulting his party from fours seats to 15, he said he would also strive to unite the country.

“The victor is the one who has to reach out, the one who lost can’t be expected to reach out; national unity will be a serious platform,” he said.

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just keeping my eye on a small country..you never know what can develop out of it..tillman gone and mitchell in..but who is mitchell?

401

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~ by seeker401 on February 22, 2013.