Grenada is preparing for a political transition marked by the formal departure of one of its most enduring figures, as former prime minister Keith Mitchell confirmed he is stepping away from electoral politics and will not seek another term in office.

Mitchell, 79, announced his retirement at a party forum late Thursday, bringing to a close a parliamentary career that spanned more than four decades. He told supporters that the decision was deliberate and rooted in a belief that leaders should recognise when their time has passed. General elections in the tri island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are constitutionally due by mid next year.

The former prime minister, who led the country during two separate periods amounting to nearly 23 years, also named Adrian Joseph, acting clerk of parliament, as his successor in the St. George North West constituency. He expressed confidence that the opposition New National Party NNP would retain the seat.

Addressing party members, Mitchell reflected on his long public service and said he was satisfied with his record.

“To the people of St. George North West, you trusted me with the privilege of representing you in the parliament of this country for over 40 years and 23 years of those you gave me the privilege to be prime minister Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” he said. “What more can any human being ask?”

He added that he had watched political leaders elsewhere remain in office beyond their physical capacity and had resolved to avoid that path.

“I said that will not happen to me,” Mitchell told the gathering, drawing loud applause.

Mitchell’s announcement comes nearly three years after the NNP suffered a decisive defeat in the June 2022 general election, when the party won six of the 15 parliamentary seats and lost government to attorney Dickon Mitchell and the National Democratic Congress. Despite that setback, Keith Mitchell said the moment was right to step aside.

His retirement marks the end of an era not only as Grenada’s longest serving head of government but also as one of its longest serving lawmakers. During his tenure, the NNP achieved two clean sweeps of all 15 seats in parliament, a rare outcome in Caribbean politics that has only recently been matched by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and the Barbados Labour Party.

Almost a year ago, Mitchell relinquished the post of opposition leader, paving the way for Emmalin Pierre, a former teacher and television host, to become the first woman to lead a major political party in Grenada. Pierre said Mitchell’s decision contradicted claims that he would never leave office. “He has proven many people wrong,” she said.

Outside politics, Mitchell was known as a keen cricketer who once captained the national team as a spin bowler in the early 1970s. He has also recently remarried.