GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MARCH 2 - 8, 2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000042 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ENRG EFIN KWMN GJ SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MARCH 2 - 8, 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. International Women's Day Celebrated in Grenada Grenada celebrated International Women's Day with events around the country for a week leading up to March 8. This year's celebration was held under the United Nation's theme, "Shaping Progress". There were a number of panel discussion: "Shaping Progress-Women in Politics and Decision Making Roles"; "Preparing Women for Public Leadership"; "Caribbean Women and Gender Relations: The Connections between Gender Ideologies and Political Behavior" and "The effect of Urban to Rural Migration and Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Girls. ¶B. Grenada Inches Towards Renewable Energy Grenada Electricity Services Limited, (GrenLec) announced it will erect wind turbines in the northern parish of St. Patrick to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. The American-owned company, which is the sole power provider for the island, has leased 300 acres of land to establish a wind farm. Grenlec and government officials are in the early stages of discussing financing and the number of wind turbines. Last year the GOG pledged to have all police stations, public schools and health clinics operate by solar power by 2010. The push for renewable energy sources comes at the same time that GrenLec receives preferential terms to buy fuel under the Petrocaribe accord. The 2005 Grenada - Venezuela accord, promises Grenada 340,000 barrels of gasoline, fuel oil and diesel a year. The first shipment of 20,000 barrels of subsidized Venezuelan fuel was delivered to the company in October, 2006. ¶C. Court Denies CapBank Owner's Request to Quash Receivership Grenada's Supreme Court denied on February 27 Capital Bank International owner Finton DeBourg's request to quash the receivership appointed on February 15. The first report by the receiver, who was appointed on February 15, was due on February 25 but has not yet been released to the public. At first that was because the court was considering the request to end the receivership and return the bank to DeBourg. With that question out of the way, the report currnetly under review by the court which must decide what to do next. Depositors are understandably nervous as they are still in the dark about whether or when they will be able to retrieve their money. The bank is encouraging borrowers to continue to pay their loans and opened several branches for one day in late February to receive those payments. End text. MCISAAC