The ruling New National Party (NNP) was returned to office on Tuesday winning all 15 seats in general election. It’s the second consecutive 15-0 win for the NNP and the third time the party has claimed all 15 seats
“It’s an humbling experience and feeling,” NNP leader Dr Keith Mitchell said on local radio.
“I feel very confident that I’ll be able to meet the aspirations and hope of the population of this country, specifically I say this, because of the team that we have and the unity that we continue to preach.”
The 71-year-old Mitchell immediately called on the leadership of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be part of the social partners that will chart the way forward for the tri-island state.
He again dismissed the notion that the clean sweep would result in the government having a free hand in running the affairs of the country.
“You can’t ignore that 20,000 people voted against you…the task is to bring that element into the decision making process,” he said, reiterating his call for the NDC to join the social partners in “dealing with the problems of the country”.
He has already indicated he would be looking at the manifesto of the NDC adding “you could have the best ideas and you don’t have that team willing to reach out for different opinions, you are not going to be as successful as you should be
“The NDC will get a commitment from us to involve them. They refused before…but I hope with the present results more common sense will prevail,” Mitchell said adding that he had not yet received any congratulatory message from Burke.
Burke, who led the party into an election for the first time, failed to win the St. George North East constituency losing to the NNP’s Tobias Clement 2458 to 2319 votes.
Mitchell, who said that Wednesday will be a national holiday also announced a national rally will be held on Wednesday to celebrate the victory.
Former NDC executive, Peter David, who was fired from the party in 2013, easily won the Town of St. George seat, polling 1616 votes as compared to 789 for Claudette Joseph of the NDC.
