Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GRENADA167
2007-11-28 20:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Grenada
Cable title:  

GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 18-24, 2007

Tags:  PREL ELAB EAIR GJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8248
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHGR #0167 3322056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 282056Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY GRENADA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0328
INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0355
RUEHGR/AMEMBASSY GRENADA 0395
UNCLAS GRENADA 000167 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ELAB EAIR GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 18-24, 2007


UNCLAS GRENADA 000167

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ELAB EAIR GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 18-24, 2007



1. (U) Embassy Grenada's weekly activity report (GWAR) provides
a little detail about events of interest that do not merit
longer reporting at this time.


2. (U) Begin Text:


A. Grenada Teachers Up the Ante
The President of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) announced
that if there is no pay agreement in place by Wednesday 28,
teachers will stay away from schools on Friday 30. The teachers
had engaged in "mild protest action" wearing union tee shirts to
school, etc., saying the government was not honoring its 2003
promises.

The 2003 promise was made just before the country was devastated
- and its infrastructure nearly all wiped out - by Hurricanes
Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005). Reconstruction severely strained
the country's resources. Grenada received promises of
substantial foreign assistance after the hurricanes, but only
the United States actually delivered all it promised, which
amounted to about 50% of all aid promised. In order to rebuild,
the government borrowed heavily. Debt to GDP now stands at
126%. The IMF has warned the GOG to maintain fiscal discipline.


B. Chinese Deny They Taking Grenadian Jobs
Grenadian Trade Union Congress objected vociferously on behalf
of Grenadian workers that the Chinese who arrived under
concessions granted by the government, have remained in
violation of their visas and are taking work from locals. The
reality is far murkier, as the government has not responded
except to declare that the Chinese are not taking jobs from
Grenadians.

According to The Grenadian Voice, the Chinese company
(underwritten by the Chinese government) which was involved with
the building of the stadium said that they are not involved with
private construction and are not depriving Grenadians of jobs.
PM Mitchell dismissed as false claims by local union
representatives that Chinese workers were hired to construct a
resort in Grenada. The Chinese said that only fifty of the six
hundred workers who came to build the stadium still remain on
the island.


C. Grenada Strengthens Bonds With South Korea
Korea established ties with Grenada in 1974 with the Korean
Ambassador resident in Caracas. Korea recently appointed
Attorney and Magistrate Jerry Seales as their Honorary Consul in
Grenada. The Korean Ambassador on November 19 presented Seales
with his letter of Commission. Plans are afoot for Grenada to
attend the world trade exposition in South Korea in 2012.


D. Seeking Another Regional Air Carrier
The newspapers this weekend quoted the Minister for Tourism,
Clarice Modeste-Curwen as saying that the Government of Grenada
has started talks with a private carrier to fly between the
islands to boost regional travel. The Minister believes that
since LIAT has once again become the sole regional carrier, it
has become too expensive for travelers, undercutting
inter-CARICOM tourism. No word as to whether other CARICOM
countries are supporting her efforts.

End Text.

MCISAAC