GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 17 - 23, 2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000119 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EFIN KCRM SOCI GJ SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 17 - 23, 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: ¶A. Grenada Not Ready to sign EPA Grenada's Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas announced that Grenada needs more time to study the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) before signing on. The agreement, which is due to be signed on September 2, is now in doubt as regional critics believe that the Caribbean will be at a disadvantage. Europe's special concessions to its former colonies did not pass muster with the World Trade Organization and the EPA was the proposed solution. Thomas, whose National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the majority in the July 8 election, has rejected the former government's reluctant acceptance of the EPA. Since other Caribbean nations are challenging the EPA, Thomas may feel it is safe to not sign on. Grenada is calculating that there will be no fallout from the EU for not signing on time. ¶B. GOG Gets Tough on Money Laundering During a workshop on 'Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism' held in Grenada last week, the Minister for Finance Nazim Burke said that Grenada is preparing for an October 2008 review of its financial sector by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. The last review was in 2003. The Minister said the new administration will do all in its power to ensure that persons engaged in money laundering are prosecuted, convicted and their ill gotten gains confiscated. ¶C. Grenada and Trinidad sign MOU According to the Grenada Advocate newspaper, the Government of Grenada and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which Grenadian students will benefit from ten college scholarships each year to study in Trinidad. Grenadians will also be able to travel to TT to seek emergency health services at the expense of both governments on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer. ¶D. Koreans Share Their Culture A four member team from Korea concluded three weeks in Grenada holding workshops in three parishes with teachers and students of secondary schools. The Koreans shared their games, culture, food and movies with the participants and also taught the basics of the Korean language. The lectures included IT training in programming and web development. End text. MCISAAC