ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, May 22 — Former acting Prime Minister Dr. Francis Alexis has thrown his weight behind former New National Party (NNP) General Secretary Peter David, declaring him a talented politician with the qualities needed to lead a successful third political force in Grenada.

Speaking on a current affairs program on MTV, Dr. Alexis — himself a founding member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and veteran of four decades in Grenadian politics — said David should remain in the House of Representatives “for a long time” due to his experience, broad knowledge, and ability to connect with people.

“I would like to see Peter David in the House of Representatives for a long time. I think he has a lot to offer in terms of ideas. He’s quite a people’s person,” Alexis said during the televised interview. “Peter can speak, not only on law, he can speak on politics and economics and society. The House of Representatives of Grenada will be poorer, in my view, for Peter David not being there.”

The endorsement from Dr. Alexis — Grenada’s foremost constitutional expert who has been active in politics since 1983 and served as acting Prime Minister, Minister of Legal Affairs, and Attorney General — comes as David’s political movement gains momentum following his dramatic resignation from the NNP.

Dr. Alexis joins a growing roster of prominent figures backing David, including respected Grenadian-American educator Dr. Anthony Bridgeman and longtime NNP stalwart Alister Bain, who recently resigned as chairman of the St. George North West constituency branch to support David’s initiative.

Dr. Alexishjas categorically dismissed allegations linking the former minister to the political upheaval of October 1983 that led to the demise of the Grenada Revolution.

“People say things about Peter David. I happen to have written a biography… and it is absolutely untrue to say that Peter David was involved in October 1983 in any nefarious way,” Alexis stated emphatically. “On October 19, 1983, Peter David was not even near to Mount Raleigh.”

When pressed about whether Grenada has room for a third party, Dr. Alexis was unequivocal: “The qualities I see in Peter David are precisely qualities which are needed for a third party if it is going to get anywhere at all — a leader, experience, ideas. If anybody is going to pull off a third party in the country right now, it has to be [Peter David].”

The constitutional expert also delivered a scathing critique of the circumstances that forced David to withdraw from the NNP leadership contest, ultimately leading to his resignation from the party he had served for years.

“It was not fair, because here you have the leader of the party publicly saying words to the effect that a certain person could never succeed, and almost over his dead body,” Dr. Alexis said, referring to the NNP’s internal leadership dynamics.

“If the leader of the party is saying that, naturally, that cannot ensure [fair] transition in leadership of the party.”
Dr. Alexis, who founded the Grenada Democratic Movement while in exile during the People’s Revolutionary Government and later helped establish both the NNP and NDC before founding the Democratic Labor Party and People’s Labour Movement, brings significant political credibility to David’s cause.

David’s departure from the NNP has triggered what observers describe as an exodus from the former ruling party, with entire constituency branches resigning in protest over what they call manipulation of the December leadership race that saw Emmalin Pierre emerge victorious.

The mass resignations include all 17 executive members of the Town of St. George branch and key officials from the St. Patrick’s West constituency, all citing concerns over democratic processes and party leadership.

David has been conducting town hall meetings across the island, advocating for a “Conference of the People” and a “Next Generation Leadership Caucus” to engage younger leaders in the political process.
His movement is positioning itself as a viable alternative for the next general elections.