GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 16 - 22, 2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000050 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAIR SOCI GJ SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 16 - 22, 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. Will American Airlines Fly to Grenada Again? Grenada's Director of Tourism, Jocelyn Sylvester-Gairy announced last week that an agreement in principle had been reached with American Airlines to once again fly from Miami to Grenada, possibly starting in November 2008. Whether it works out remains to be seen and Grenada can ill afford to take on new debt to facilitate the service. Only American Eagle from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Air Jamaica from New York and since November 2007 from Miami, both via Montego Bay, have flights to Grenada. While their planes are generally filled to capacity, but the lack of easy, direct connections to onward destinations complicate travel. A traveler really has to want to get to Grenada to make it work. b. VOSH visits Grenada A team of 16 volunteers from the United States Volunteer Operation Services to Humanity (VOSH) spent a week Grenada providing eye care services to the people of St. Mark Parish. The clinic was sponsored by the Rotary Club in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. The Spice Isle Review newspaper spoke with Dr. Mitch Dobrzelewski, who said that the clinic focused on vision assessment, general eye care and the distribution of glasses. This is the seventh time VOSH has worked in Grenada. c. Luxury condominium project for Grenada The Government of Grenada (GOG) continues to go after the luxury market. An investment agreement was recently signed between the GOG and Grenadian owned Investment Company, Grand Harbor Condominiums Inc. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the project is supported through the grant of investment incentives provided to approved tourism developments. The project is estimated to be completed in 2009. Luxury villas and hotel/condominiums have been touted as the way to improve Grenada's tourist profile. Unfortunately, the record is not all that clear. There are a number of half-built projects scattered around the tri-island state that were once going to be the in-thing. Grenada's infrastructure remains incomplete since Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) devastated the island, tourist attractions underutilized and undermanned, and a labor force not attuned to service. d. Regional education system in trouble The Minister for Education said that the education system in the region is in serious trouble, listing poor performances in English, mathematics, science, and untrained and poorly motivated teachers in secondary schools to be some of the contributing factors. The Minister calls on parents to support teachers in the social development of the nation's children. MCISAAC