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Jimmy Bristol |
A top Grenadian lawyer has labelled the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) administration the worst government to have ruled in the Spice Isle.
"This in my opinion is probably the worst administration Grenada has ever seen," said Jimmy Bristol while appearing on last Sunday's edition of the 'George Grant on Sundays' talkshow.
Bristol was responding to earlier comments made by medical doctor and New National Party political activist, Dr. Bert Brathwaite, who was on the show earlier arguing why the current government should be given a fourth term.
The St. George's-based attorney-at-law is not known for any outspoken political views.
Apart from his legal work, Bristol has been one of the main promoters of the Grenada Sailing Festival being held this weekend.
When host George Grant suggested that there are government backers who will point to "developments" as the success of the NNP government, Bristol retorted: "What development?"
The lawyer charged that the road network being undertaken by the NNP resulted from monies given to Grenada by Kuwait under the 1990-95 National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Sir Nicholas Brathwaite for the island's support in the Gulf War with Iraq.
"The agreements for the roads through CCC were an NDC (National Democratic Congress) Government) I am not batting for either party just being objective. (The road initiative.... was put into place before this government came in," he said.
The government has regularly boasted about the development of the island's road network, through contracts awarded to Caribbean Consolidated Construction (CCC).
Bristol said: "What has happened is that development has taken place inspite of the government. There has been absolutely no planning of our development. It's haphazard.
"The Planning Department Š. exists in name only. The land use has not been planned out. The maintenance of our environment has not been sustained. Tourism is given a back seat."I understand from one of the meetings I had with one (official) of the tourism authority in relation to the sailing festival, that they understood that the government not really interested in tourism.
That's no hearsay."
"That was put to me again out of a meeting in St Kitts when a representative of Grenada said the same thing. And they were wondering what they are doing working, trying to develop tourism if the government itselfŠ is really not viewing tourism as an important aspect".
Bristol also expressed concerns about the government's attempts to interfere with the judiciary.
He alleged that the attempt was made through controversial Jamaican lawyer, Hugh Wildman who was serves as the legal advisor to Cabinet.
"The worrying thing with this government is that they have sought to interfere with our democratic systems (and) the judicial system, which is the worst thing they can do. And at times I wonder if we are going along a Zimbabwe route," he said."We had the government's disregard for the Eastern Caribbean dollar the Eastern Caribbean monetary system through the Capital Bank matter, and refusal to revoke the license which was granted under very dubious circumstances by the Prime Minister when he was Finance Minister at that time," he added.
According to Bristol, this is what Dr. Brathwaite and "all the cronies want to call responsible development".
The lawyer said he was forced to respond because Brathwaite had told fundamental untruths about the Grenada situation which he felt should not go unanswered.
"I have been in a social function with the Prime Minister, when they first got into power years ago, and his comments about the people of Grenada showed me then that he has absolutely no concern for Grenada as a country and the Grenadian people," Bristol said."And that was a birthday party for Grace Duncan in St John's. I was there," he said, without elaborating further.
General elections are widely expected in Grenada this year, though Prime Minister Mitchell can extend his rule until the end of the first quarter in 2009.
