Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GRENADA107
2008-07-31 02:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Grenada
Cable title:
GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT JULY 20 - 26, 2008
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UNCLAS GRENADA 000107
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT JULY 20 - 26, 2008
UNCLAS GRENADA 000107
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT JULY 20 - 26, 2008
1. (U) Embassy Grenada's weekly report (GWAR) provides a little
detail about events of interest that do not merit longer
reporting at this time.
2. (U) Begin GWAR text:
SGL Holdings Ltd. In Trouble
a. A Turks & Caicos-based currency trading financial company
with an office in Grenada, SGL Holdings Ltd., appears to be in
trouble. Customers have been unable to access monies they
invested in the company; the minimum required was US$1,000. On
July 21, the company issued a statement saying it is facing some
challenges due to an investigation of its trader. Details
remain murky about how the company operates and what exactly is
being investigated.
Grenada has been the launching pad for a number of pyramid-like
schemes over the years. It is to be hoped that this is not the
latest addition.
b. Grenada to Field an Olympic Team of Nine
Grenada's Olympic team of 12 athletes and trainers head to
Beijing shortly. Eight of the nine athletes will compete in
various track and field events. The ninth athlete is a boxer.
British investor, Peter de Savery, donated US$10,000 to the
Grenada Olympic Committee to make the trip for athletes and
trainers possible.
c. Carnival 2008 Heats Up!
Preparations hampered somewhat by July 8 elections, Carnival
2008 finally shifted into full gear during the week of July 20.
Soca, Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca, and Queen competitions are in
full swing. Some big name participants did not show up for Ole
Mas but the audience had a good time anyway. Despite the last
minute scrambling, the Carnival committee is promising a great
show August 11-12.
d. Calypso Judges: Foreign Vs Local
The perennial dispute over judges has resurfaced. As one of its
first acts, the newly elected Government of Grenada banned
foreign calypso judges (usually Grenadians who live abroad) from
this year's Carnival. This led one of the two competing calypso
associations to threaten to pull out of the competitions and in
fact, a number of artists have stayed home.
Charges of bias against local judges have been around a long
time as the same artists would win year after year. The
previous government had opened the competition to foreign judges
in order to make the competition fairer. Local judges - and the
artists who were no longer winning each year - complained that
the foreign judges did not understand Grenadian nuances.
Grenadian calypso judges in New York, Toronto, and London are
crying foul.
What is new this year is that there is now apparently a shortage
of judges. While the committee running Carnival promises that
no act will be judged twice by the same judge(s),unless they
can increase the numbers, the likelihood is that that is exactly
what will happen.
End text.
MCISAAC
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT JULY 20 - 26, 2008
1. (U) Embassy Grenada's weekly report (GWAR) provides a little
detail about events of interest that do not merit longer
reporting at this time.
2. (U) Begin GWAR text:
SGL Holdings Ltd. In Trouble
a. A Turks & Caicos-based currency trading financial company
with an office in Grenada, SGL Holdings Ltd., appears to be in
trouble. Customers have been unable to access monies they
invested in the company; the minimum required was US$1,000. On
July 21, the company issued a statement saying it is facing some
challenges due to an investigation of its trader. Details
remain murky about how the company operates and what exactly is
being investigated.
Grenada has been the launching pad for a number of pyramid-like
schemes over the years. It is to be hoped that this is not the
latest addition.
b. Grenada to Field an Olympic Team of Nine
Grenada's Olympic team of 12 athletes and trainers head to
Beijing shortly. Eight of the nine athletes will compete in
various track and field events. The ninth athlete is a boxer.
British investor, Peter de Savery, donated US$10,000 to the
Grenada Olympic Committee to make the trip for athletes and
trainers possible.
c. Carnival 2008 Heats Up!
Preparations hampered somewhat by July 8 elections, Carnival
2008 finally shifted into full gear during the week of July 20.
Soca, Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca, and Queen competitions are in
full swing. Some big name participants did not show up for Ole
Mas but the audience had a good time anyway. Despite the last
minute scrambling, the Carnival committee is promising a great
show August 11-12.
d. Calypso Judges: Foreign Vs Local
The perennial dispute over judges has resurfaced. As one of its
first acts, the newly elected Government of Grenada banned
foreign calypso judges (usually Grenadians who live abroad) from
this year's Carnival. This led one of the two competing calypso
associations to threaten to pull out of the competitions and in
fact, a number of artists have stayed home.
Charges of bias against local judges have been around a long
time as the same artists would win year after year. The
previous government had opened the competition to foreign judges
in order to make the competition fairer. Local judges - and the
artists who were no longer winning each year - complained that
the foreign judges did not understand Grenadian nuances.
Grenadian calypso judges in New York, Toronto, and London are
crying foul.
What is new this year is that there is now apparently a shortage
of judges. While the committee running Carnival promises that
no act will be judged twice by the same judge(s),unless they
can increase the numbers, the likelihood is that that is exactly
what will happen.
End text.
MCISAAC