Patrick Simmons, the former Grenada youth and sports minister, plans on contesting for a position on the executive of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the party's February 2 convention. Simmons, who wants to be general secretary, made the announcement when he appeared on Sundays With George Grant (SWGG), a three-hour program broadcast on radio and over the internet. Bernard Isaac, the current general secretary, was elected to the position in September 2012 when former MP Peter David relinquished the party post he held for more than a decade. David and nine other were also expelled from the party at the convention. Simmons was the only one of the three former NDC ministers on SWGG that plainly declared an intention to run for an executive position, including that of new NDC leader to replace former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas. Presumed leadership frontrunner, former finance minister Nazim Burke, said he was willing to serve in any capacity, as he has been doing since 2000. Former education minister, Franka Bernardine, said she is still “carefully evaluating” whether she’ll vie for the post of party leader. “I am going to be guided by the executive and the convention will decide,” she said. In an interview in another segment of SWGG, former NDC member William Joseph denied that he had joined the ruling New National Party (NNP) since resigning from the NDC earlier this month. Joseph, former chief of staff to Thomas, claimed that a “series of lies and allegations” have been leveled against him since quitting the NDC. He reiterated his stance that a Burke leadership of the NDC was “not in the best interest” of the party. However, Joseph added that he did not resign from the NDC because of his opposition to Burke possibly assuming the role of party leader. According to Joseph, he resigned because of “serious misconduct” by Burke. He did not elaborate on the nature of the “misconduct”. Joseph was an NDC strategist in last year’s general election in which the party lost 15 – 0 to the NNP of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Source:carib news