ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Former Minister for Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Michael Church, today resigned from the government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, but two of his colleagues signaled their intention to heal the rift that surfaced following a cabinet re shuffle late last week.
Prime Minister Thomas had demoted Church to a junior minister in the Ministry of Works, Physical Development and Public Utilities in the second re-shuffle of his government since it came to power in July 2008.
He had blamed Church for attending an international a meeting with regional trade advisor Dr. Patrick Antoine, without the consent of Cabinet.
“Mr. Church has done something totally out of the way. He went to Geneva without Cabinet authority. So that is why he has been demoted.
“He went to a meeting where Dr. Patrick Antoine was representing some company and Mr. Church was facilitating. It is not in the best interest of Grenada. The office of a Minister is not that of a freelancer,” Prime Minister Thomas said.
Church., who will remain in Parliament as a government back bencher, has not commented on his decision to quit the cabinet.
But two other colleagues, who along with Church had blanked the swearing in ceremony last Friday, Monday signaled their intention to remain within the cabinet.
An official statement said that Karl Hood would take over responsibility for the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environment and International Trade that were previously held by Peter David, while Glynis Roberts, will serve as Minister for Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
David and Roberts have since accepted their instruments of appointment from Governor General Sir Carlyle Glean.
Roberts told reporters after the ceremony that that the last few days had been difficult for cabinet members but that she and David were satisfied that through their actions, they got a commitment from the Prime Minister for shared commitment to collective governance.
“We believe the point we sought to make over the last few days has been made; and that nobody lost, but democracy won.”
Roberts said their refusal to accept their letters of appointment last Friday was not to challenge the seat of the Prime Minister but a demonstration of their commitment to democracy and accountability.
“It was never a challenge to the Prime Minister. It was a challenge to all of us and a challenge to our shared commitment to democracy and accountability.”
The new twist in the political saga here follows a weekend of mediation talks presided over by Barbadian political consultant Hartley Henry, the former advisor to the late Barbados prime minister David Thompson.
Meanwhile, the main opposition New National Party (NNP) said it is extremely concerned over the present political situation.
“Our Party has always expressed concern over what is obviously the continued political disunity and instability within the ruling National Democratic Congress party Government, except to say that it has now reached a crisis situation,” the NNP said in a statement.
“The concerns of the New National Party are predicated on the already over-burdened frustrations and grief of high unemployment now reaching close to 50 per cent, the already high and increasing cost of living, a burdensome VAT system, a depressed business community, coupled with a “crisis of unity and confidence” in this NDC Government, are indeed all combining factors that can hardly give any comfort to our people.”
The party also dismissed media reports that its leader and former prime minister Dr. Keith Mitchell had cut short an overseas trip as a result of the situation in the country.
“Our Party wishes to categorically refute this statement as at no time Dr. Mitchell was in Canada within the past week. Our Party is indeed concerned as most Grenadians are and would like to call upon the Honourable Prime Minister to urgently address the nation and allay the fears and concerns of disunity and the crisis of confidence which faces his Government,” the NNP said. (CMC)