Dr. Keith Claudius Mitchell took the oath of office for a fifth occasion today as Grenada’s prime minister following the overwhelming victory of his New National Party (NNP) in the March 13 general elections.
The 71-year-old Mitchell, as he had done following the victory on Tuesday, reiterated a call for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to join with the rest of the social partners in putting forward the best policies for the future socio-economic development of the tri-island state.
“I am humbled by this your confidence in me and the team you have chosen, but that is just the elected team, the real team is all of us,” Mitchell said after being sworn into office by Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade at the ceremony held at the Grenada Trade Centre.
He said his first task would be to write an official letter inviting the NDC, which failed to win a seat in the Parliament for the second consecutive time, officially requesting their participation “in the interest of national building”.
Mitchell said it was regrettable that the constitutional referendum in 2016, which would have allowed for among other things for the country to join the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final court and the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament at all times had been rejected by the population.
He said the results of the elections on Tuesday mean “it is now left in the hands of the Governor General to have some semblance of opposition in the Parliament”.
Mitchell did not name nor did he give any hint as to who would form the new Cabinet.
