ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, 21 September 2012 (CMC)- Former environment minister Glynis Roberts, who submitted her resignation from the government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas on Thursday, has publicly criticised the decision to prorogue parliament saying it is tantamount to governing by decree.

Governor General Sir Carlisle Glean prorogued parliament on Monday on the advice of Prime Minister Thomas effectively avoiding a debate on a motion of no confidence in his administration, the second one in four months.

“To govern by decree in a time of crisis is a mistake. We need the views and opinions of everybody, particularly those elected by people to represent them,” Roberts told supporters at a town hall meeting in her South St. George constituency on Thursday night.

“Democracy cannot be an inconvenience. When a nation’s future is a stake, patriots must be willing to put their own futures at stake. That is what I did today”.

Several government back benchers and opposition politicians have been calling for the resumption of parliament in order to debate the motion of no confidence filed by former foreign affairs minister Karl Hood.

Hood as said he will re-file the motion whenever the new parliament is convened but Finance Minister Nazim Burke said the government is not bothered by the motion since it is confident it would be defeated.

Roberts’ resignation had been a subject of speculation for several weeks and it comes amid moves to remove her as a candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the next general election constitutionally due by March next year.

Robert’s, the former treasurer of the four and a half year old ruling party, has announced plans to seek a third term as parliamentary representative for the for St. George’s South, but has not yet indicated whether she will contest the seat on behalf of the NDC.

“After weeks of consultation and after months of urging by you the supporters, and with the understanding of my many parliamentary colleagues – I handed in my resignation from the cabinet of Grenada to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas at 4 pm (local time),” Roberts said.

“I told him that I was grateful to serve at his pleasure, and I left with all my love and my respect for him intact. I never questioned his character; only his leadership choices.”

Roberts is the latest government legislator to resign from the Cabinet following Peter David, the former tourism minister, Hood and former trade minister Michael Church.

Since winning the 2008 general elections, three other government ministers including attorney general Jimmy Bristol have been fired.