Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GRENADA126
2008-09-12 13:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Grenada
Cable title:
GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6,
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UNCLAS GRENADA 000126
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR USOAS ANDREW STEVENSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OFDP KCRM UN OAS GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6,
2008
UNCLAS GRENADA 000126
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR USOAS ANDREW STEVENSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OFDP KCRM UN OAS GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6,
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. Major Shake-up within RGPF
The new Commissioner of Police (COP) announced a major shake-up
in the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) as investigations begin
into the disappearance of files from the Special Branch. The
COP charged that all files from the 16-member department had
been destroyed soon after the July 8 general election. The
commissioner said that the files may have contained sensitive
information ranging from drug matters to reports on the arrival
of criminals deported from overseas. The other major changes
involve the removal of the entire eight-member Rapid Response
Unit and the transfer of a number of senior officers. Others
have been sent on leave while an audit is conducted throughout
the force.
The opposition New National Party (NNP) denied files were
destroyed to cover anything up. According to the NNP press
release, standard operating procedure was to transfer the
information in the files to the unit's computer system. Once
the information was in the computer system, the paper file was
destroyed.
B. GOG Reportedly to Appoint Four Female Ambassadors
Four women were apparently chosen by the new Government of
Grenada to serve as new Ambassadors. A formal announcement of
the picks has not yet been made. However, the lineup previewed
in weekly newspaper Grenada Today suggests that Nadia Bishop,
the daughter of former slain Revolutionary Prime Minister has
been appointed as the Grenada's ambassador to the United
Nations; Dr. Dessima Williams who served as OAS ambassador
during the 1979-1983 revolution, will return to that position;
Marcelle Gairy, daughter of former prime Minister who was ousted
in the 1979 coup, will be the new ambassador to China; and Ruth
Rouse who was once High Commissioner in London will return
there. In addition, High Commissioner to Ottawa, Jenny Coombs
is expected to remain in that position.
No word yet on who the GOG will name bilateral Ambassador to the
United States.
C. AG Offers to Drop Case against NDC
Attorney General James Bristol apparently sent a letter to the
National Democratic Congress' (NDC) attorney offering to drop
the case brought against the party on behalf of a Royal Grenada
Police Force (RGPF) officer if the party returned the officer's
belongings. The officer was allegedly beaten up by party
operatives who also took and kept his wallet, personal cell
phone, camera, and tape recorder after he was found listening in
on an NDC meeting at the party headquarters from an abandoned
adjacent property. He was briefly hospitalized for bruises and
contusions after the incident.
The AG's offer to drop the case if the items are returned to the
officer puts the NDC in the uncomfortable position of having to
admit they took them in the first place. The party has insisted
since the incident took place that they only took what was
theirs. The officer has not commented publicly.
MCISAAC
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR USOAS ANDREW STEVENSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OFDP KCRM UN OAS GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6,
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. Major Shake-up within RGPF
The new Commissioner of Police (COP) announced a major shake-up
in the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) as investigations begin
into the disappearance of files from the Special Branch. The
COP charged that all files from the 16-member department had
been destroyed soon after the July 8 general election. The
commissioner said that the files may have contained sensitive
information ranging from drug matters to reports on the arrival
of criminals deported from overseas. The other major changes
involve the removal of the entire eight-member Rapid Response
Unit and the transfer of a number of senior officers. Others
have been sent on leave while an audit is conducted throughout
the force.
The opposition New National Party (NNP) denied files were
destroyed to cover anything up. According to the NNP press
release, standard operating procedure was to transfer the
information in the files to the unit's computer system. Once
the information was in the computer system, the paper file was
destroyed.
B. GOG Reportedly to Appoint Four Female Ambassadors
Four women were apparently chosen by the new Government of
Grenada to serve as new Ambassadors. A formal announcement of
the picks has not yet been made. However, the lineup previewed
in weekly newspaper Grenada Today suggests that Nadia Bishop,
the daughter of former slain Revolutionary Prime Minister has
been appointed as the Grenada's ambassador to the United
Nations; Dr. Dessima Williams who served as OAS ambassador
during the 1979-1983 revolution, will return to that position;
Marcelle Gairy, daughter of former prime Minister who was ousted
in the 1979 coup, will be the new ambassador to China; and Ruth
Rouse who was once High Commissioner in London will return
there. In addition, High Commissioner to Ottawa, Jenny Coombs
is expected to remain in that position.
No word yet on who the GOG will name bilateral Ambassador to the
United States.
C. AG Offers to Drop Case against NDC
Attorney General James Bristol apparently sent a letter to the
National Democratic Congress' (NDC) attorney offering to drop
the case brought against the party on behalf of a Royal Grenada
Police Force (RGPF) officer if the party returned the officer's
belongings. The officer was allegedly beaten up by party
operatives who also took and kept his wallet, personal cell
phone, camera, and tape recorder after he was found listening in
on an NDC meeting at the party headquarters from an abandoned
adjacent property. He was briefly hospitalized for bruises and
contusions after the incident.
The AG's offer to drop the case if the items are returned to the
officer puts the NDC in the uncomfortable position of having to
admit they took them in the first place. The party has insisted
since the incident took place that they only took what was
theirs. The officer has not commented publicly.
MCISAAC