Grenada general election February 19, 2013

PM Tillman Thomas at his party's rally on Sunday: "With God’s grace and guidance, we shall be victorious."

Grenadians will go to the polls in a General Election on February 19.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas made the announcement on Sunday as he addressed hundreds of supporters at a rally of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NDC will be seeking a second term while the Opposition New National Party (NNP), led by former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, will be seeking to retake the reigns of Government. Mitchell was voted out of office in 2008, winning only four of the 15 seats in the national Parliament.

The election is coming a few months ahead of schedule. The vote was not constitutionally due until October.

“The time is right to seek a new mandate from the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique,’’ Tillman told supporters Sunday. “With God’s grace and guidance, we shall be victorious.’’

Although Tillman's party won eleven seats in 2008, five MPs elected under the NDC banner in 2008 were sitting in Parliament as backbenchers, leaving the government party in a minority situation.

Parliament, which was prorogued in September, was dissolved last week, paving the way for the general election announcement.

Grenadian journalist MARCIA BRAVEBOY has written a special report for JYOTI. Please click here to read that report