GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: DECEMBER 30, 2007 - JANUARY

UNCLAS GRENADA 000001 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAIR ELAB GJ CH SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: DECEMBER 30, 2007 - JANUARY 5, 2008 ¶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 GWAR text: ¶A. Minister Blasts Liat At the January 4 opening of Port Louis Marina and Victory Bar and Grill, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Culture Clarice Modeste-Curwen blasted Liat for reduced flights, lost luggage, lousy service, and an "unconscionable" 90% increase in prices since September 2006. Modeste-Curwen echoed Prime Minister Mitchell's late December call for greater competition for Liat in providing air service within the region. According to Jocelyn Sylvester-Gairy, head of the Grenada Board of Tourism, Grenada lost approximately 22,000 in 2007regional visitors because of the high ticket prices. Grenada relies on regional travelers to take up the slack during the off-peak seasons, including the prime hurricane months of June through November, when cruise ships do not come, yachts are stored, and fewer Europeans and North Americans visit. ¶B. PM Does Not Call Elections, Yet Prime Minister Keith Mitchell's New Year's message to the nation was carried live on the Grenada Broadcast Network on January 3. The 20 minute address was most notable for not mentioning elections. The address rehashed, in briefer form, plans laid out in the 2008 budget proposal. The PM urged Grenadians to be more self-reliant and promised diligent GOG efforts to improve their lives in the new year. ¶C. Chinese Merchant Accuses Locals of Harassment A local merchant - Dominican of Chinese descent who has lived in Grenada for six years - told the Spice Isle Review that he has been harassed by locals calling him and his wife names and threatening them and their business. The merchant says he has received death threats. He showed his gun (registered) to one man attempting to rob the store, but insisted that he did not threaten the would-be thief. There has been an influx since 2005 of over 600 Chinese nationals from the PRC. While they were rebuilding the national stadium, locals seemed ok with their presence. Since the stadium was finished in early 2007, the Chinese laborers have begun to work on local construction projects, hire themselves out as carpenters, etc., competing head to head with locals at a time of very high unemployment and rising prices. The government has been accused of favoring Chinese over Grenadian labor and rumors abound that they are working in violation of local labor law but has declined to clarify their work status. MCISAAC