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