We will Deliver! They called it the New National Party. Herbert Blaize died in December 1989. Significant strides were made in the first few years.
THE HISTORY OF OUR PARTY
Like many other democratic political forces in the country today, the New National Party (NNP) is an offspring of the tumultuous events of October 1983, which culminated in the fall of the so-called people’s revolution and military intervention by foreign forces, including forces from sister Caribbean countries. In the early aftermath of the collapse of the revolution and
the opening up of the country to democratic political action-including the formation of political parties- there was the formation of a relatively large number of political parties and groupings. This can be interpreted as a natural reaction to the sudden and unexpected removal of the severe and ruthlessly enforced restrictions which had been put in place from the birth of the revolution in 1979, until its violent demise in 1983. Prior to the first post-revolutionary democratic election in 1984, three of the small political parties agreed to consolidate their forces and resources and to form a united grouping or party. The party went on to win the general elections of December 1984 and to govern the country until 1989, when differences related to policy and direction resulted in the departure of key members who formed a new political party. Later in that year, national political stalemate and the failing health of the late Party Leader and Prime Minister, Herbert Blaize, led to change in leadership. This change was followed by a terminal split, which saw the faction led by the ailing Herbert Blaize, leaving the NNP and forming a new party (TNP or The National Party) which [interestingly} ran the Government of the country until the general elections of March 1990. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Ben Joseph Jones who led the country until the March 1990 general elections. That general election (1990) did not result in a simple majority for any of the three major contesting parties. After much horse trading, the National Democratic Congress (NDC); the party which won the most parliamentary seats (seven out of fifteen) succeeded in securing the support of one member of Eric Gairy’s Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) and was thus able to form the Government. That Government remained in office for five years until it lost the 1995 general elections. The New National Party (NNP) won that election with a simple majority of one seat. Even with that very slim majority in Parliament the new NNP Government set about addressing the very serious economic problems which the people of Grenada were experiencing at the time. These problems included, but were not limited to, persistent economic decline, fiscal instability, low and declining levels of local and foreign investment, high debt ratios, high and increasing unemployment and decaying physical infrastructure, including roads, bridges and state-owned buildings (including schools and medical facilities), electricity generation and transmission, telecommunications; and water and sanitation collection, treatment and distribution systems. The economy was stabilized and returned to growth. The progress continued in spite of the disruption caused by the resignation of one of the party’s eight members of Parliament in 1999, leaving the party with a minority in the Parliament and necessitating early elections. NNP won all fifteen seats in Parliament. This result enabled the party to continue its progressive growth and people oriented policies which contributed to unprecedented periods of sustained economic growth and fiscal stability in spite of the disruptive effects of international and local events such as the September 11, 1999 terrorist attacks in the United States, and the deleterious effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes Lenny (1999), Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005). The damage caused by hurricane Ivan was valued by international agencies at 200% of GDP. Yet, the country returned to consistent growth of 5% and more in the years following. Grenada has repeatedly been cited as a model of effective and efficient post-disaster recovery. Progress under NNP Government
In general, the NNP period in Government from 1995 – 2008, saw the development, implementation and management of a dramatic and unprecedented program of economic growth and social development. The party made use of its three consecutive mandates from the people to fulfill its promise to structurally transform the country; involving, but not limited to, economic transformation, social transformation and physical transformation. This process of structural transformation, which was by means completed when the party lost the 2008 general elections, resulted in the above mentioned consistently strong economic growth, the lifting of thousands of people out of crippling poverty and indigence, the implementation of policies (including fiscal policies) which were responsive to the absolute need for versatility and adaptability in times of international economic uncertainty, the significant upgrading and modernization of physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sea defences, slope protection, sporting facilities and Government buildings (including schools and medical facilities) the [though not completed] reorientation and streamlining of the Government and public service machinery, with more focus on objectives and outputs than on process. The significant strides, the progress made during that period are even more obvious now that the country is in a virtual meltdown with a continuously declining economy, a worsening social situation, a deteriorating investment climate, an obvious lack of direction and a debilitating lack of confidence. The country is somewhere between explosion and meltdown. At this time it is difficult to say for sure which will be worse. What we are sure about is that both need to be avoided. Details of achievements in the area of infrastructure include the rehabilitation and repair of hundreds of miles of primary, secondary and tertiary roads, the construction of the national stadium and the general upgrading of sporting facilities throughout the country, the construction of the Ministerial Complex, including the Ministry of Education building, the building of new secondary and primary schools and the significant upgrading and repair of others, the construction of the new general hospital and the refurbishment of medical stations, the construction of the cruise ship port and adjacent shopping facilities and the bus terminal, the securing of the financing for, and in fact the official launch of, the much delayed Grenville Market project, which includes an abattoir and a bus terminal. Saying that much had happened under the NNP is not an idle boast. It is there for all to see. Compare that with what is happening now. Carriacou and Petite Martinique
We must not fail to make mention of the fact that Carriacou and Petite Martinique also received its share of improved facilities for the people. Roads and water supply have been significantly improved. Petit Martinique was the beneficiary of a desalination water plant to improve water supply, construction of a new jetty the upgrading of medical and sporting facilities and Police Stations. Human Resource Development
The New National Party government was also very cognizant of the fact that the development of the nation’s human capital was pivotal if the country was to be set on a path towards sustainable development. Therefore, in addition to the already mentioned investment in educational facilities-and the relevant equipment and Supplies - the NNP Government sought and obtained hundreds of scholarships and training opportunities for citizens, in particular the youth of the nation. Many of the beneficiaries of these programmes are now serving the people of the country in various fields. There were significant levels of cooperation with St. George’s University and the Government of Cuba in this regard. The New National Party Government paid significant attention to the preparation of the country’s people, in particular its youth and students not only for the world of work, but for life in general. The focus was on the creation of appropriately educated and skilled productive and versatile able to meet the challenges of their immediate society and the world at large. Therefore, there was significant focus on the mix of academic, vocational and life skills and competencies which the individual and the society at large would need to master for success in today’s world. This was buttressed by a focus on the continuous learning needed to keep current and relevant. In recognition of the important role of vocational skills in the development of the individual and the society, the NNP Government undertook a number of relevant initiatives including:
1) the strengthening of technical and vocational education at the school and college level;
2) the introduction of standards based on the Jamaica model,; and
3) the establishment of the St. Andrews Skills Training Center. The Centre quickly became a hub of skills training and remedial education activity and attracted a large number of persons of all ages. It was unfortunately destroyed by hurricane Ivan and has not been re-established. The Ministry of Education also established a consultative and advisory mechanism through which the Government was able to benefit from the experience and insights of operatives in business and industry. That consultative met over a long period and was able to impact Government policies, strategies and actions, including the establishment of the above-mentioned Skills Training Center. In general, the New National Party led the country out of the morass that it was in, in 1995 and with the guidance of the Almighty, the support of friends and the involvement and participation of the people-all the people-helped to put it on a sustainable development path with the ability to successfully weather international, regional and local storms whether these were economic, political or weather-related. When the party demitted office in 2008, the state of the country was very much better than when it assumed the reins of Government in 1995. In general the party lived up to its promise to better the lives of the Grenadian people. The Party stands ready. It is both willing and able to do the same again.
