A group of angry supporters of the ruling New National Party (NNP) are up in arms against Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Brenda Hood who lost her Town of St. George constituency in the November 27 general election.

Hood, a popular figure with the well-to-do hoteliers in the south of the island, was defeated by barrister-at-law Peter David of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Well-placed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the supporters have been trying without luck to contact Hood in order to get a meeting to discuss a number of burning issues on the way forward for the constituency.

A source who spoke on condition that he was not named said that the parliamentarian has not held a meeting with any of them since the election and it is clear that the ruling party "is leaderless in the town".

He pointed out that party officials are not happy with the prominent role given by Hood to female political activist Peggy Nestfield, a member of the 1979-83 Grenada Revolution, and former executive member of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM).

According to the official, the supporters have been getting reports of Nestfield organising meetings in some parts of the constituency and not inviting those who have been campaigning for the NNP for several years.

He said that if Hood fails to meet with the NNP members then an approach would be made to Party Leader and Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell to seek the removal of the female minister as the leader of the NNP team in the city.

He spoke of someone already given the task of contacting the Grenadian leader to set up an appointment to discuss their dissatisfaction with the current behaviour of Hood.

The NNP insider also accused Hood of trying to blame party activists for her lost of the constituency on the grounds that they did not do enough work "on the ground for her".
He said the minister should take full responsibility for losing the seat to David since she failed to heed their requests "to come down from on high and meet the people on the ground".
The NNP insider complained that Hood was at one time urged "to take off her high heel shoes and put on low heels" and take to the ground to campaign in depressed areas like River Road and Darbeau.

The insider also said that some of the angry party supporters would like to met with Hood to discuss the non-payment of money due to them for working in the various polling stations as agents on Election Day.

"We know that the party gave people money to pay us but we did not receive any money. Brenda Hood must meet with us and tell us about our money", he remarked.

Despite losing the seat to David, Prime Minister Mitchell decided to keep faith in Hood by appointing her through the Senate and giving her the post of Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation.

Hood was part of the victorious NNP team that swept the polls in 1999 when the party won all fifteen seats.
The attack on Hood is the first clear sign of all is not well within the ranks of the ruling party which saw its 15-0 stranglehold on the country slipped to a narow 8-7 margin in parliament.