Baptiste calls on PM to seek new mandate

Former Grenadian opposition leader Michael Baptiste has called on Prime Minister Tillman Thomas to seek a fresh mandate to govern.



The call comes following the initial refusal of three ministers to take up their new portfolios following last month’s cabinet reshuffle.



Peter David and Glynnis Roberts were eventually sworn in after a week of political drama while Michael Church later resigned in protest at the Prime Minister’s decision to demote him to a junior minister.



Baptiste, who also served as a minister of works, said the rebellion leaves Prime Minister Thomas with a defective government and so he must return to the electorate.



Members of the Cabinet, including Prime Minister Thomas, have been attending a series of counseling retreats aimed at mending the rift sparked by the controversial reshuffle.



The retreat sessions being facilitated by Barbadian Dr Basil Springer, have been covering areas such as team building, leadership and conflict management.