Marcel Joseph Peters
Former Leader of the Opposition and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Grenada
Marcel Joseph Peters was a Grenadian politician and former Leader of the Opposition.
Career
Marcel Peters worked with the Grenada Ministry
of Agriculture from 1953 to 1984. In June 1984, he decided on a political
career, resigned, and joined the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) of
Sir Eric Gairy to contest the General Elections held on December 3rd 1984.
Peters was the only successful GULP candidate (the New National Party
of Herbert Blaize captured 14 of the 15 seats in the House of Representatives)
and joined Sir Eric in condemning the Elections as rigged. He said
then he would not take his seat in the House of Representatives but subsequently
changed his position, broke with Sir Eric and was sworn in as a
Member of the House.
At a Press Conference on 6 March 1985, he disassociated himself from any charge
that the Elections were rigged. At that time, he along with three other former GULP members established the Grenada Democratic Labour Party (GDLP).
In 1987, Peters' GDLP would become part of the Nicholas Brathwaite led National Democratic Congress. Peters would go on to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 6 April 1990 to 21 June 1995 during the NDC Administration.
Personal life
Peters was married to wife Joslyn. He was the father of 14 children - Carlyle, Roland, Thaddeaus, Errol, Randolph, Earl, Leroy, Lydia, Keith, Ian, Joseph, Elias, Roseann, and Martin.
Death
Peters passed away on Sunday, 8 January 2017 at the age of 85. His funeral service was held on Tuesday, 24 January 2017 at at the Sacred Heart R C Church, Tivoli, St. Andrew and his body was Intered at the family Cemetery Carrier.
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