There are further signs of a widening of the rift within the Grenada United Labour party (GULP) that has been in turmoil since the death of its founder leader, Sir Eric Matthew Gairy almost a decade ago.

Reynold Benjamin

A faction headed by barrister-at-law, Reynold Benjamin has put out a statement voicing opposition to a casino gambling plan being promoted on the island by one of its own party members, Winston Whyte who is associated with Zublin Grenada Ltd, the architects of the New Port project on Melville Street, St. George's.

Whyte is believed to be supportive of the leader of the other faction within the labour party - Gloria Payne-Banfield, the former Cabinet Secretary. According to release signed by GULP's President, Wilfred Hayes, the island's oldest party voted unanimously last Friday at an Executive Council meeting "to oppose the introduction of casino gambling in Grenada".

"The Executive Council restated the GULP's historical opposition to casino gambling", it said, adding that, "the Council calls on all religious leaders and law abiding citizens to do everything possible in opposing the grant of casino gambling licence and rejecting attempts at inducement and enticement by those who seek to engage in such activity".

The GULP body voiced support for the stand taken by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Grenada to call "on all authorities to prevent the ever increasing avH÷ kÝLnpmbling with G êdamaging effects on individuals and society".

"The GULP agrees that it is an elusion that casino gambling can have a positive economic benefit for Grenada and that the greatest winner is the gambling operator", it added.

Whyte is said to have sounded out Prime Minister Mitchell on the possibility of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government granting the first casino gambling licence on the island. The promoters of the casino project are hoping to use a building at the New Port to establish the operation.

A cautious Dr. Mitchell has reportedly advised Whyte to canvass local church leaders to see if they would support the project and end their years of opposition to casino gambling.

Whyte is said to have devised a strategy to woo the church leaders including a proposal to give them some of the proceeds from the gambling operation to help put back roofs on those church buildings that were blown off by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Meanwhile, the Benjamin-led faction of the GULP has declared June 10 as the date for holding of the Party Convention along with a Convention Rally.

The venue for the convention is Sam's Inn at Dunfermline, St. Andrew while the Convention Rally will be held at the Estuary, Seamoon, St. Andrew starting at 2:00 p.m.

About three weeks ago, the Benjamin Group staged a General Council of the party and it was not attended by Payne-Banfield, deputy political leader Michael Baptiste and several other high profile members of the party.