Minister Mitchell

Agriculture Minister, Adrian "Spaceman" Mitchell will definitely be replaced as the candidate of the ruling New National Party (NNP) for the rural St. Patrick East seat in the next general election.

A well-placed party source told this newspaper that Prime Minister Mitchell has virtually decided that "Spacemen" is no longer an attractive proposition for the seat. The Agriculture Minister lost the seat that he first won in 1995 to Political Leader of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Tillman Thomas in the 2003 poll.

According to the source, the Grenadian leader is not convinced that "Spaceman" who is regarded as "lazy" within some quarters of the party, is prepared to do the political work that is necessary in order to regain the seat.

Medical doctor, Trevor Friday is now considered as the front-runner to contest the seat for the NNP which can remain in office until early 2009. Dr. Friday has confirmed to this newspaper that he would make up his mind after Carnival on whether to accept an offer made by the NNP to contest the seat for the ruling party. Political observers do not expect "Spaceman" to give up the seat without a fight.

During the just-ended carnival celebrations, he was seen acting as the Master of Ceremonies at a show. One pundit regarded the move as an attempt by the Agriculture Minister to try and boost his image in the constituency.

The source said that Prime Minister Mitchell is confident of winning a fourth consecutive term in office whenever he decides to call the poll. However, the Grenadian leader is said to be not confident of two of his female ministers, Senators Brenda Hood and Ann David-Antoine capturing seats in the election.

"He (Dr. Mitchell) is confident of winning enough seats to form the government and will give them (Hood and Antoine) jobs with the government", said the source. Sen. Hood lost the Town of St. George constituency in the last poll to barrister-at-law, Peter David of the Congress party.

David is again considered as the favourite for the seat. In the case of Sen David-Antoine, she was defeated by NDC's Glynis Roberts in the battle for the South St. George seat.

The source said that the NNP hierarchy is not optimistic of winning the seat since Roberts is considered as one of the most difficult of the incumbent NDC candidates to defeat in the next general election.

The NNP currently holds a slender one seat majority in the 15-member parliament.