By: Staff Writer
January 21, 2025
Peter David, former minister of foreign affairs and minister of labour and agriculture under the Dr Keith Mitchell New National Party (NNP) government in 2018 to 2022, has left the party over alleged dissatisfaction.
David, who is also the member of parliament for St George, also served in the Tilman Thomas National Democratic Congress between 2008-2013 as the minister for tourism and foreign affairs.
He left the Thomas led NDC government in similar controversy, having left them after an election loss to Mitchell.
David said in an address that went viral on social media: “I had faith that the NNP was an organization committed to empowering its members and fostering an environment where ambition and freedom of ideas could thrive based on democratic principles, merit and the collective good.
“However, over the last year, my experience within the party has starkly contradicted these values, the actions of the party leadership, including the public personal attacks, the spreading of falsehoods and the deliberate attempt to undermine my integrity and that of several other long standing dedicated members have left me delusion within this organization.”
Last year, David sought to succeed Mitchell as leader but he withdrew his candidacy one day before the election at the NNP’s convention claiming the process was not fair.
Insiders say that David feels slighted over the selection of Emmalin Pierre to succeed Dr Mitchell as leader of the NNP.
Pierre, who has the full confidence and backing of former NNP leader Mitchell, is trying to rebuild the party after a shock defeat at the hands of the NDC, led by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
David is the latest NNP parliamentary representative to resign.
In 2022, St Andrew North-west MP Delma Thomas quit the NNP to join the government of Dickon Mitchell where became the Minister of Mental Health, and Sports.
With the resignation of David, the NNP now has four seats in the House of Representatives.
Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre thanked David for his service.
“We appreciate Honourable David’s service over the years, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” Pierre said.