Grenada’s political landscape witnessed a historic transition as former Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, the Caribbean nation’s most enduring leader, formally announced his retirement from active politics. The 79-year-old statesman made his declaration during an emotional address in St. George North West, the constituency he has represented without interruption since 1984.
Mitchell, reflecting on his extraordinary tenure spanning more than forty years in parliament and twenty-three years as prime minister, posed a rhetorical question to his supporters: ‘What more can any human being ask?’ His decision fulfills a longstanding commitment to eventually step aside from frontline politics.
As the founding leader of the New National Party (NNP), Mitchell engineered unprecedented electoral successes, including complete sweeps of all parliamentary seats in both the 2013 and 2018 general elections. However, his party’s dominance concluded with the June 2022 polls, where the National Democratic Congress secured a 9-6 victory.
The political transition plan introduces Dr. Adrian Joseph, currently serving as Acting Clerk of Parliament, as Mitchell’s designated successor. Party officials characterize Joseph—an experienced diplomat and senior public administrator—as representing both continuity and renewal for the NNP.
Mitchell’s departure marks the conclusion of a definitive era in Grenadian politics, characterized by extended electoral supremacy and profound influence in shaping the nation’s contemporary governance structures. His legacy remains embedded in the island’s political consciousness as new leadership prepares to guide the party forward.