ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 24, CMC – Prime Minister Tillman Thomas will face another battle to keep his government in power after a former Cabinet colleague filed a motion of no confidence against him on Friday.
Informed parliamentary sources said that former foreign affairs minister Karl Hood had filed the motion, the second so far this year.
Hood wants the motion to be placed on the Order Paper when the House of Representative resumes in September following the summer recess.
Hood, who resigned his cabinet post two months ago, is reported to be lobbying legislators to support the motion.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), which came to power in 2008, has been split with Prime Minister Thomas leading one faction and his former tourism minister and party general secretary Peter David leading the other faction.
In recent months, several ministers have either been fired or resigned their post and parliamentary officials said it is not yet known if the motion of no confidence will be approved by Speaker George McGuire in time for the next sitting.
In May, Prime Minister Thomas survived a motion of no confidence by an eight to five margin and political observers say he now faces an uphill task this time around to keep the government from collapsing.
Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Mitchell, whose New National Party (NNP) currently controls four of the 15 seats in parliament, is confidently predicting a general election will be called before the end of the year.
The next general election is constitutionally due in July 2013.
