Leader of the Opposition in Grenada, Tillman Thomas has condemned the ruling New National Party (NNP) for using the Government Information Service (GIS) television channel to air Christmas messages from two of its constituency caretakers who are not members of government.

Thomas described as "an abuse of power" by the Keith Mitchell-led government the decision to use the State-funded GIS to air the Christmas Messages of party activists, Kennedy Roberts and Gabriel Henry.

The two were among persons who gave national Christmas messages which were aired on the GIS television channel on Christmas Day and they were captioned as caretakers for the St David and St George's North East constituencies.

According to the Opposition Leader, the NNP regime has once agan "failed to draw the line between government and party". "...The Government Information Service should be used to promote government not a political party," he said.

"It is clear that they are using the state resources to promote the NNP. This is a scandal, the public should understand that and I will continue to address that issue in the Parliament and by other means", he added.

Thomas claimed that such action on the party of the Mitchell government "will only continue to undermine all our institutions through partisan politics". The two NNP caretakers, in their messages promised growth, progress and development in the areas which they are seeking to represent.

"You need someone to be there for you, someone with full potential and leadershipŠas we celebrate the Christmas season and prepare to enter into a new year", said Roberts. "...Brothers and sisters I call on you, let us be concerned about the progress of this beautiful country Grenada," added Roberts, who is hoping to unseat NDC's Nazim Burke.

Thomas said that he had no problem with the caretakers airing a Christmas message but contended that they should have used another medium."They needed to use the right channe, paying for it to be aired on other television or radio programmes, not the use of the government service," he remarked.

"They don't work for the government, they don't hold any government post, and if they do, they were clearly described as delivering the message as NNP campaigners; this is wrong and it should stop".

Last month, Thomas accused the NNP of benefitting financially from renting television equipment from its defunct National Public Relations (NPR) outfit to GIS. Speculation is rife that GIS pays NPR an estimated $5000.00 a month for use of equipment including a television camera.