Tillman Thomas

At 63-years-old Tillman Thomas has lived through every single political administration in Grenada since the island attained  political independence from Britain in February 1973.

"I have seen many promising leaders emerge, showing a profound understanding of the hopes and dreams of the people, their fears and anxieties their needs and their wants.

"However, the longer they stay in office and the more they are allowed to remove the political checks and balances, the more they become intoxicated with power and begin to behave like maximum leaders," he said.

Now Tillman, who holds a Bachelor's degree in economics and is also a graduate of the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, is attempting to end what he said is the "disaster" that Grenada has found itself in when voters elected Keith Mitchell as prime minister in 1995.

He is leading the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the July 8 general election hoping to take control of this Caribbean nation and end what he termed a "creeping dictatorship" in the country.

Thomas, who was born on June 13, 1945, should know about dictatorships.

Soon after the Eric Gairy government was overthrown in a coup by a group of left wing politicians headed by the charismatic Maurice Bishop in 1976, Thomas was thrown into jail for two years.

"During the 1980s I stood up for free speech and was imprisoned for it. I have subsequently learnt to resist authoritarian rule through established institutions, such as the legislature, the judiciary and an enlightened political party," said Thomas, who first contested general elections here in 1984 as a candidate of the National Party headed by the late prime minister Herbert Blaize.

For six years, he served as junior minister in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and was a founding member of the NDC in 1987, serving also as its assistant general secretary between 1987-1990.

Thomas lost his St. Patrick East seat in the 1990 general election but was still appointed a junior minister in the Ministry of Labour before becoming a full-fledged minister in the ministries of Works and Tourism.

In 2000 he became NDC leader after the party failed to win a single seat in the 15-seat parliament.

"I have introduced a style of leadership that allows leaders in their own right to grow and develop, while at the same time putting a brake on any tendency towards authoritarian rule," he said, adding "I have also made a resolution to dedicate my life to the principles and practice of good governance".

Thomas says he has his own vision for Grenada, one that is "free, a land of equal opportunity, a land of tolerance, fair play and prosperity.

"This is our country and we want to make it a place where we can live,  work, bring up our children and enjoy the fruits of our labour in peace and harmony," he added.

Thomas is hoping that he can fulfil that vision on July 8.

CMC/2008