EDITORIAL
The sudden about turn by Oliver Archibald and Laurina Waldron to appear on the platform of the New National Party (NNP) at last Sunday's rally at Progress Park in St. Andrew's took many persons by total surprise.
The two former government ministers have been sending strong signals to persons who came in contact with them that they wanted to have nothing to do with Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell and his ruling party.
Both Archibald and Waldron were deeply hurt and disgruntled by the manner in which the Grenadian leader brushed them aside in favour of other candidates in recent years.
In the case of Waldron, she not happy in the manner in which first of all Starlin Romain and then Delma Thomas were given the lead roles as Caretaker for the St. Andrew North-west seat that NNP lost to Alleyne walker in the 2003 poll.
Some of the political activists of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) claimed to have received positive words from Waldron that she was prepared to assist in ensuring that Keith Claudius Mitchell was defeated in the July 8 elections.
GRENADA TODAY is reminded of a letter which Archibald wrote to its Editor in March 2006 in which he led a vicious broadside on the Prime Minister.
In the letter which, this newspaper carried under the headline banner, "Oliver Archibald Attacks NNP", the retired MP for St. Andrew's North-east said: "The Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell ...is not a genuine person and one must be guarded when dealing with him".
What strong words from Archibald who was spitting fire and brimstone over the manner in which he was brushed aside and labelled the Prime Minister as one without a good heart.
This blistering attack on Dr. Mitchell by Archibald came one year after his own children sent a letter of their own to GRENADA TODAY in which they pleaded with Grenadians not to make the mistake of giving the Prime Minister another term in office due to the deceitful manner in which he deals with people.
There is truism in the saying that politics make strange bedfellows and that there are no permanent friends nor enemies in politics.
The love affair between Laurina Waldron-Oliver Archibald-Keith Mitchell gives testimony to this kind of behaviour among our politicians.
It is of utmost importance that we reproduce some of the issues raised two years ago by Archibald when he was on the offensive against his own colleagues in the NNP.
These are some of the questions raised back then by the former St. Andrew's M.P for the Prime Minister, and the man who replaced him in North east, Roland Bhola.
"(a). Mr. Bhola, why have you forgotten the Bamboo Bridge Beautification repainting?
(b). Mr. Bhola, can you remember that the Seventh Day Adventist Church at La Potrie in St. Andrew's was used as a shelter during the two hurricanes? And why don't you help them (in) their time of need?
(c). This is for Hon. Bhola and Hon. Brenda Hood, what has become of the Project that I gave you concerning the two (2) airplanes at Pearls airport? Have you all eaten it up?
(d). I want to let the Prime Minister know, while he is trying to push Mr. Bhola into all that I have done in St. Andrew's North East, they are only spinning top in mud, they are at the end of the rope, Grenadians are learning, and will not make the same mistake again.
(e). The Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell, I say is not a genuine person and one must be guarded when dealing with him. He do(es) not love people he makes believe and tries to show good frontage, but his heart, if could be seen, one will be frighten to look at.
(9). Two hurricanes have passed, not one day has he ever called to find out how I am doing. You will learn more of (him) as I continue in my next letter"
The above description of Prime Minister Mitchell did not come from the GRENADA TODAY newspaper or one of his known political opponents but from someone who used to sit in government with him.
The grim warning from Archibald is that the electorate in the Spice Isle should not make the mistake of putting Keith Claudius Mitchell back into power given his reputation for using people and then dumping them.
Perception is more important than reality and that is the nightmare for the Prime Minister given the many exposure against him in recent years in office.
