As the countdown begins to what could be the most crucial General Elections in Grenada’s history for more reasons than one and the quite worrying specter of the incumbent party’s refusal to conform to a documented Code of Political Conduct once again looms ominously.

The reason given by the incumbent administration of Political Leader of the New National Party Dr. Keith Mitchell is that all of the Civil Society Organizations which came together to draw up the Code of Conduct are sympathetic to the main opposition National Democratic Congress.

This Code of Political Conduct is and undertaking by civil society entities in Grenada every election period for the last three or so election and the New national party has steadfastly refused to sign.

The purpose of this document as explained by the authors is to encourage parties and individuals contesting the elections to do so observing certain moral and behavioral standards. They want contestants to ensure that their campaign activities deal with relevant political issues in a respectable manner and that mudslinging, character assassination, lies and slander do not become their methods of choice.

Such a document seems even more necessary for these elections than any other in local history as certain attitudinal patterns and an unwholesome trend has already been set by many members of the incumbent party when on the speaking platforms of their political activities or even in regular public pronouncements.

One cannot reasonably expect one politician to never call the name of a rival politician during his/her campaign because if one is condemning a certain act of wrongdoing then one must attribute the act to the doer of the act. It is a different matter altogether when one engages personal attacks that have nothing to do with the persons political office, fabrications, lies and deliberate stage managing of data.

The participating organizations and certainly several other persons in society see this as disrespect to the public at large and a display of qualities that is undesirable in one holding public office or aspiring to do so.

To quote from the document itself the goal of the declaration of the Political Code of Conduct is: To create a political environment within Grenada which promotes free and fair elections, upholds the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens, upholds the rule of law and demonstrates respect for all citizens and observance of the democratic process.

The objectives include; to contribute to the holding of peaceful, free and fair elections; ensure continuing respect for internationally recognized human, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; promote public education on acceptable political conduct and to facilitate civil society and the public at large in setting up systems and taking initiatives for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the level of adherence to the Code of Political Conduct. Is there anything sinister about these goals and objectives?

Now let us look at the organizations which have participated in the development of this document: Friends of the Earth-Grenada, Grenada Bar Association, Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Grenada Co-operative Credit Union League, Grenada Employers’ Federation, Grenada Human Rights Organization, Grenada Professional Association of Calypsonians and Tents, Grenada Trades Union Council, the Inter Agency Group of Development Organizations, the Media Workers Association of Grenada, NCH Grenada Inc, St. Andrew’s Organization for Development, St. Mark’s Development Organization, St. Patrick’s Organization for Development and the Willie Redhead Foundation.

Note that the Inter Agency Group of Development Organizations comprise Agency for Rural Transformation, Grenada Community Development Agency, Grenada Education Development Programme, Grenada national Council for the Disabled and the Grenada National Organization of Women.

If the entire membership of all these well respected bodies are in opposition to the NNP then there must be something fundamentally wrong with the policies and/or behavior in office of the administration. This presents a very sad picture indeed.

Or would someone have us believe that members of these organizations are all a bunch of anti-progress, vindictive enemies of Grenada?

Anyway, even if it is true that these organizations are indeed anti-NNP and pro opposition so what? What should be important is not the political orientation of the authors of the Code of Conduct but the nature of the contents of the document.

Can the NNP identify any aspect, any clause, any point in the document that could create a bias against them in any way or which they consider dishonorable or unacceptable to the declared purpose of the Code of Conduct.

Can the party say that the document is not one they want to buy into because they are in opposition to the actual contents? If not then what is the problem to signing on to it regardless to who authored it?

People are already worried by the crazy happenings at the Electoral Office-a list that seems to contort every time it comes out, sweeping cloak and dagger changes at the office itself, an abnormally long time between the day that policemen vote and General Elections day and now refusal to accept the Political Code of Conduct.

What is this saying to us? To me it is saying that the incumbent does not intend to be guided by any sense of morality, decency or respect for others and for the truth.

Several months ago when the winds of election had just started to blow, when the Prime minister had his “finger on the trigger” a couple of foreigners asked me what I thought the strategy of the NNP would be to get back into office.

Prophetically I replied that with no real tangible achievement to boast of and with some absolute bottom of the barrel material for candidates (Bedeau, Caton, Delma et al) their strategy of choice would be twofold.  Spend lots of money to mobilize large rallies for psychological effect, on handouts and all kinds of social assistance in addition to promises left, right and center.

The other part of their strategy I predicted would be a planned, focused, bitter and deliberate personal assault on members of the opposing side with no regard for truth, credibility or honor.

So say so done. This offensive began a couple of months ago and mark my word it will escalate as Election Day draws closer.

To observe any Code of conduct which calls for decent and honorable behavior on the campaign is not part of the NNP election strategy.