Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GRENADA141
2008-11-05 20:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Grenada
Cable title:  

GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1,

Tags:  PGOV ELAB ETRD PREL GJ XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3986
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHGR #0141 3102054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 052054Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY GRENADA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0497
INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0533
RUEHGR/AMEMBASSY GRENADA 0578
UNCLAS GRENADA 000141 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ETRD PREL GJ XL
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1,
2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000141

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ETRD PREL GJ XL
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1,
2008


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


2. Begin GWAR text:

a. Alleged Plan for Benefits for Former Revolutionaries
Local press reported that a coordinated effort is underway to
promote the revolutionary period of 1979 - 1983 as a heroic
period and to attain benefits for members of the People's
Revolutionary Army (PRA). Some former high-ranking members of
the PRA are said to be angry about the way they were treated
following the 10/25/83 U.S.-Caribbean intervention. They are
also displeased with the lack of progress by some of their
former leaders, now in government, to institute "gratuities,
pensions, and other medical benefits afforded U.S. War
Veterans". Should the effort bear fruit, the government could
expect competing claims from victims of the PRA during the
revolutionary period.

b. Grenada Considering Increasing Minimum Wage
Grenada's Tripartite Advisory Committee, headed by a former
labor commissioner and including government and union
representatives, is reviewing working conditions of workers in
lower paid jobs. They expect to report their findings in six
months.

Grenada's minimum wage was last raised in 2002. At US$74/month,
it has been inadequate for many years as the cost of basic goods
and services have skyrocketed.

c. AA begins non-stop service from Miami to Grenada
Travelers arriving on American Airlines first non-stop Boeing
737 flight from Miami to the Spice Isle were greeted by local
tourism officials with free drinks. The GOG expects the restart
of American Airlines' non-stop service from Miami to Grenada to
be a turning point in Grenada's tourism development. The new
service complements existing American Eagle flights to Grenada
from San Juan Puerto Rico. The service will operate daily in
the peak winter season and five days/week the rest of the year.

AA withdrew its jet service from the Grenadian market in 1998
due to insufficient ticket sales and the accumulation of US$1
million GOG debt to AA because of low ridership. St. George's
University's Chancellor paid the debt in hopes of convincing AA
to remain in the market, to no avail. Grenadians are keeping
their fingers crossed that the new service will not suffer the
same fate.

d. Monument to U.S. and Caribbean Soldiers Re-dedicated
On October 25, twenty-five years after the Grenada intervention,
former soldiers, families of soldiers who died during the
intervention, U. S. Government officials, Grenada Government
officials and friends gathered at the refurbished Ronald Reagan
Monument to pay their respects to those who died liberating
Grenada in 1983. The USG and private donations paid for the
refurbishment. Ambassador Mary Ourisman paid tribute to the
fallen, reading from a letter from Former First Lady Nancy
Reagan, who stated that `while we all celebrate the success of
the mission, we mourned the loss of the brave young men who gave
their lives so that others could be free'. Grenada's Prime
Minister Tillman Thomas, who attended the re-dedication, was one
of the persons who was released from prison in 1983 by the
Americans.

End text.

MCISAAC