Campaigning has started by rival sides within the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) for supremacy within the island’s oldest political organisation in anticipation of a convention before year-end.
The de facto political leader, Gloria Payne-Banfield and her supporters assembled in the south of the island last Sunday while arch rival, deputy political leader, Reynold Benjamin and his team pitched tent in St. Andrew’s.
The other deputy political leader, former Opposition Leader Michael Baptiste who is supporting Payne-Banfield was among those seen in the south.
GRENADA TODAY was told that political activist, Winston Whyte is officially back with the labour party and is expected to play a prominent role in the months ahead.
The GULP has been struggling to find its way politically since the party was ousted from power in a 1979 coup d’etat by the leftwing New Jewel Movement (NJM) of late Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop.
There has been little word from the Payne-Banfield side about their meeting but the Benjamin group issued the following press statement on their activity:
Last Sunday, the Greens in Seamoon, St. Andrew changed its entire land scape as hundreds of supporters of the new revitalised, reorganised and energetic GRENADA UNITED LABOUR PARTY--- great grand parents, grand parents, parents and children, friends and well wishers came together.
The occasion which was organised by the St. Andrew’s North East constituency of GULP led by Dr. Keith Braveboy attracted people from all over the country.
Wind ball cricket competition, All 4's, Domino and other sporting activities together with the sweet music of DJ Splended Sound all came together, so that participants and even onlookers had an enjoyable day.
Gifts and sweets were given to the young ones while everyone enjoyed eats and drinks and other goodies to compliment the various sporting activities.
The gathering was addressed by the most senior member of the GULP, former Political Leader now retired, Herbert Preudhomme, Co-ordinator of the event, Dr. Braveboy, the GULP candidate in the last election and Reynold C. Benjamin, Deputy Political Leader and GULP Party Organiser.
The GULP Executive has given Benjamin a mandate to reorganise the party, nationally, and to attract new and young faces to rebuild and to restructure, in a serious way, what is left of the party and to put together a team of frontline workers to lead the party into the next convention.
Sunday's event was the second such function held on the Greens by GULP in recent times and the party will be returning to the Greens in November and for Christmas as it unfolds the new vision and plan for the rebirth of GULP.
