Former Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell listens during a news conference to mark the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Marlborough House in London, Britain, April 20, 2018.
REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File
One of the Caribbean Community’s longest serving leaders and politicians has formally retired, naming a constituency successor and suggesting that people in power should know when to call it quits.
Keith Mitchell 79, who had served as Grenada’s prime minister during two different incarnations totaling nearly 23 years, has said he will not contest general elections in the tri-island federation with Petite Martinique and Carriacou that must be held by mid next year.
Speaking at a party forum late Thursday, the Caribbean and US-trained mathematician named Adrian Joseph, the acting clerk of the country’s parliament as his constituency successor, said he is confident the main opposition New National Party (NNP) will win that seat.
Mitchell’s NNP was defeated by newcomer and attorney Dickon Mitchell in general elections in June 2022, winning only six of the 15 seats.
But he says the time to retire is now.
“To the people of St. George North West, you trusted me with the privilege of representing you in the parliament of this country for over 40 years and 23 years of those you gave me the privilege to be prime minister Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. What more can any human being ask? How could I ever feel that I have been treated anything but special? I have seen leadership in this country go on for so long to the point that they are not even able to physically walk and I said that will not happen to me. I was confident that I had to make the decision. I am making good on my promise. Every achievement around which my public life has been built was necessary to make way,” he said to loud applause from party members.
Keith Mitchell is not only retiring as the longest serving head of government in national and regional history but also as one of the longest serving lawmakers, having been the representative of his constituency for just over 40 years.
In walking into the political sunset, he will likely be reflecting on the fact that he and his party had twice won all 15 house seats, a feat which has in recent years only been emulated by Mia Mottley and the Labor Party (BLP) in nearby Barbados. The BLP has twice swept all 30 seats and appears to be on course to win a large majority in snap general elections called for early February.
Almost a year ago, Mitchell resigned as opposition leader, handing the role to colleague Emmalin Pierre, a former teacher and television host who became the first woman to lead a major political party in the country.
Pierre said that many had speculated that Mitchell was obsessed with power and would stay on. “He has proven many people wrong,” she told reporters.
The former PM was an avid cricketer and cricket administration who had in fact captained the national team as a spinner in the early 70s. He recently remarried.
