PR – Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) candidate for St. Patrick East, Dishon Edwards, is calling for a major decentralization of government services, arguing that residents in the north of Grenada should no longer have to travel to St. George’s to access basic public services.
The continued concentration of government services in the capital, St. George’s, places an unnecessary burden on residents of St. Patrick East and other northern communities, according to Edwards.
The situation, he adds, forces people to spend time and money travelling long distances for services that could be delivered closer to home.
“If you cannot go to Mohammed, bring Mohammed to you,” Edwards said, outlining his vision for a more accessible system of public administration.
He referred specifically to routine services such as licence renewals, saying that residents should not have to leave St. Patrick’s and travel to St. George’s simply to complete a basic transaction.
“We are in 2026, and if you need to renew a licence, you have to come to St. George’s,” Edwards said. “That is a very simple thing to fix. Just buy a printer and set it up in each parish.”
For Edwards, decentralization is not simply about convenience. He says it is part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic activity outside St. George’s and ensure that development opportunities reach communities in the north.
Like other parties, DPM has intensified its community outreach and engagements, and has been making repeated calls for Grenadians to get their names on the voters’ list in this last week of registration for the general election.
Among those making the registration appeal during campaign stops are Stanford Simon, Olvine Holas and MP for the Town of St. George Peter David, Political Leader of DPM.
“Register, so that you can all turn out on election day,’’ urged David, adding that DPM is ready to participate in the national polls.
“We believe we can make a difference in the upcoming election and can form the government,’’ he said.
“You will not be able to be part of the wave on election day if you’re not registered. If you don’t do it this week, no matter how much you like me, no matter how much you want to support me, you’ll not be able to help me get into the position of parliamentary representative for the Town of St. George, so I can represent you once again.’’
DPM, David told a meeting of constituents on the Carenage, is “committed to building’’ Grenada and believes that “people, of the Carenage and people throughout this country’’, should have access to healthcare and education, “just like people who have wealth’’.
Everyone’s vote matters, Holas said in urging people to register.
“Voting is your chance to have a say. But before you can vote, you must get registered. So, don’t keep putting it off,’’ said Holas, DPM candidate for St. Andrew North-West.
“If you’re not yet registered, go and get registered. And, if you’re registered already, make sure your information is correct on the voters’ list. And when election day comes, don’t stay home. It’s your country. Your voice matters, your vote matters; use it.’’
Simon, DPM candidate for St. George South-East, said “it’s critically important that you register. Make the time and go out and register to vote. It’s a right that we have and let’s exercise that’’.
Apart from the need for better local community health services, Edwards has also pointed to transportation challenges facing students from St. Patrick East that travel to T.A. Marryshow Community College, and is advocating for greater use of regional campuses that could bring education closer to students and reduce the cost of travelling south.
“The concept of decentralization is extremely important,” Edwards reiterated. “We need to start thinking like that here in Grenada—not just the central concept of having everything in the south of the island.”
Edwards said the same principle should apply to economic development, government administration, education and other public services.
The DPM candidate says his approach would be guided by a simple principle: government should be structured around the needs of communities rather than requiring citizens to repeatedly travel to the centre.
His proposal comes as Grenada continues to expand digital government services, while the government’s official portal provides access to a growing range of online services.
Edwards says digital transformation should complement—not replace—the decentralization of physical services, particularly for residents who need direct assistance.
“If we decentralize, we will reach so many persons on the outskirts of the parish,” he said.
Edwards will be one of two DPM candidates that will be introduced at a news conference to be hosted, Thursday, October 1, by The Movement.
The other will be businesswoman Rolanda McQueen, who is DPM’s standard-bearer for St. Andrew South-East.
The media conference, which begins 10 am, will be at the Chrysalis Education and Business Centre at the St. George’s Baptist Church in Springs.
