ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the ruling New National Party (NNP) government in Grenada was rewarded for its efforts in building investor confidence and addressing many ‘critical” initiatives in the country following its historic third total sweep of the polls in a general election.

Skerrit, who said he had already extended congratulations to Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, said that the victory of the NNP in the general election on Tuesday, showed that the Grenadian leader remains “in touch and in tune” with the Grenadian population.

“The result also shows that in these challenging times the electorate was not willing to go with a relatively inexperienced and unproved opposition led largely by an individual who clearly did not inspire the nation enough for it to fall in line behind his policies,” Skerrit said.

Mitchell’s NNP won a second consecutive and third overall 15-nil sweep of the Parliamentary seats in a 19 year period, with the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on all occasions. The opposition party was led into the election by the former finance minister Nazim Burke, who congratulated Mitchell on his victory.

Skerrit, speaking on the state-owned DBS radio, said he also believes that the results were “consistent with a global trend of rewarding efforts and side-lining generalities, especially from challengers, whose track record or lack thereof does not lend to the sustenance of voter confidence.

“This is no doubt and extra-ordinary historic achievement by Dr Mitchell and his New National Party and I wish him the very best and extend hearty congratulations to him and his party and the people of Grenada”.

Skerrit said that the experience of the 71-year-old Mitchell has been a valuable tool in helping the region “and in this very difficult climate we are dealing with all sorts of attacks from different quarters of the world…experience leadership is certainly needed and will be needed for the next several years in the Caribbean”.