Ahead of upcoming general elections in Grenada, Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) parliamentary candidate Shirley Rolanda McQueen has secured retention of her position as a director on the board of the Grenada Development Bank (GDB), following formal approval from the country’s Cabinet. The official Government Gazette, published on Friday 9 October, confirmed the full makeup of the reconstituted GDB board, which was greenlit during Cabinet’s 24 August 2026 meeting. The new 9-member board will serve a two-year term beginning 25 August 2026.
Six existing directors, including McQueen, were reappointed to the body: Andrea St Bernard retains the role of board chairman, Valentine Antoine continues as deputy chairman, and the remaining retained directors are Royston Cumberbatch, Patrick Simmons, Trevor St Bernard, and McQueen. Three new directors have been brought in to fill vacant positions, bringing specialized professional expertise to the board: Petipha Lewis joins with a background in commerce, Robin Singh brings accounting experience, and Jason Williams was appointed for his engineering background.
McQueen’s dual role as a sitting GDB board member and electoral candidate has sparked discussion around constitutional eligibility requirements for parliamentary candidates. Official candidate listings published by Returning Officer Shirleen Robertson for the St Andrew South East constituency confirm McQueen will contest the seat against two opponents: Emmalin Pierre, political leader of the New National Party (NNP), and incumbent Education Minister David Andrew, the candidate for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Grenada’s Constitution addresses eligibility for House of Representatives seats under Section 31(4)(a), which bars individuals holding or acting in any public office from standing for election. However, the country’s founding legal document does not classify all government-appointed positions as public offices. Section 111 of the Constitution explicitly defines a public office as any paid role within the public service, and legal interpretation confirms that board positions at statutory corporations do not fall under this definition.
The GDB was formally established as a statutory body corporate under the Grenada Development Bank Act, which outlines that the 9-member board is appointed directly by the Minister for Finance. The legislation does not classify GDB directorships as public service roles, a distinction that is reinforced by constitutional provisions. Under Section 84 of the Constitution, the Public Service Commission holds sole authority to appoint individuals to public service posts, while GDB directors are appointed by the Finance Minister under separate statutory authority.
This legal framework means McQueen’s current GDB board position does not disqualify her from standing as a candidate in the upcoming general election. A key caveat remains, however: if McQueen wins the St Andrew South East seat, she will be required to step down from the GDB board, as the Grenada Development Bank Act explicitly bars sitting members of the House of Representatives or Senate from holding a GDB directorship.
While McQueen’s candidacy is legally permissible under existing law, observers have highlighted ongoing concerns over potential conflicts of interest. McQueen represents the opposition DPM, but her appointment to the GDB board was made under the current ruling NDC administration, creating questions around impartiality in the bank’s governance during the election campaign and beyond. This report is a contributed piece from writer C Francique, and NOW Grenada disclaims responsibility for contributor opinions and content.