Opposition leader asks OAS for replacement to monitor Grenada's election

Opposition leader asks OAS for replacement to monitor Grenada's election

June 12, 2008
Caribbean Net News

ST GEORGE'S Grenada: The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Tillman Thomas has called on the Organisation of American States to replace the man who was supposed to head the OAS mission to monitor Grenada's general election on July 8.

Thomas said on Wednesday that the NDC is no longer comfortable with Ambassador Albert Ramdin as leader of the OAS monitoring team. He said he had conveyed the NDC's position to Francis McBarnette, who is in charge of the OAS office in Grenada.

Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, is due in Grenada on Thursday for a three-day pre-election visit.

National Democratic
Congress leader,
Tillman Thomas

The statement from Thomas, on behalf of the NDC, came shortly after news broke that a returning officer had disclosed that supporters of the ruling New National Party (NNP) have still been registering to vote, even though the last day for the registration of voters was June 2.

Meantime the Commissioner of Police Winston James has urged all leaders and senior members of political parties to encourage their members and supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and refrain from any form of confrontation and/or conflict while engaging in campaigning activities.

The call was made as a result of the number of complaints coming to the attention of the police involving supporters of the various political parties.

James is calling on persons, especially those directly involved in campaigning activities, to be tolerant, understanding, and respect persons with opposing views and positions.

“We would not allow this situation to continue to emerge and deteriorate any further," says James. A prompt and decisive response from the Royal Grenada Police Force can be expected, to any negative incidents occurring during campaigning activities, the Commissioner concluded”.

James is also calling persons speaking on the various platforms to refrain from encouraging any form of hatred, resentment and/or violence during their presentations.

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