Grenada’s Opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell has announced that he will not seek re-election as political leader of the New National Party (NNP).
Mitchell was elected to the House of Representatives In the December 1984 general election when he won the St. George North West constituency and he has held the seat in every election since.
He was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989, defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize. Blaize then dismissed Mitchell from his position as Minister of Communications and Works on 21 July 1989.
After the NNP was victorious in the general election held on 20 June 1995, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives, Mitchell took office as Prime Minister. Under Mitchell’s leadership, the party won all 15 seats in the early election held in January 1999, and the NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one-seat parliamentary majority. Mitchell held the additional portfolio of Minister of Finance for three periods.
The New National Party was defeated in the general election held on 8 July 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), winning only four seats against 11 for the NDC. Mitchell himself was re-elected to his seat from St. George North West. NDC leader Tillman Thomas succeeded Mitchell as Prime Minister on 9 July. Mitchell said that the people voted for change and congratulated Thomas. Following the election, he continued as NNP leader and was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on 16 July 2008.
In the February 2013 general election, the NNP again won all 15 parliamentary seats. After this resounding victory, Mitchell was sworn in as Prime Minister on 20 February 2013. Looking ahead to the next election, Mitchell predicted that his party could win all 15 seats in parliament for a third time. Mitchell and his New National Party created history by retaining all 15 seats in the Grenada General Election of 13 March 2018. It is the first time any political party regionally or otherwise has achieved such a feat. Mitchell held the additional portfolio of Minister of Finance until 2020.
In June 2022, Mitchell called a snap general election. His New National Party was defeated by the National Democratic Congress under Dickon Mitchell (no relation), winning just 6 seats to the NDC’s 9. Mitchell subsequently became Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives of Grenada.
The party expressed deep gratitude for Dr. Mitchell’s decades of dedicated service and leadership, which played a pivotal role in shaping Grenada’s progress. The NNP pledged to stay united and optimistic about the future, drawing continued inspiration from Dr. Mitchell’s lasting legacy.
