Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GRENADA52
2008-04-02 20:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Grenada
Cable title:
GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 23 - 29, 2008
how-toVZCZCXRO1602 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHGR #0052 0932053 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 022053Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY GRENADA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0403 INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0433 RUEHGR/AMEMBASSY GRENADA 0478
UNCLAS GRENADA 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 23 - 29, 2008
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 16 - 22, 2008
UNCLAS GRENADA 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 23 - 29, 2008
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON 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. Southcom Completes Intel Training
Southcom trainers conducted a highly successful Intelligence
Analyst training seminar March 25-28 in St. George's for 25
members of the Royal Grenadian Police Force (RGPF).
Participants learned techniques of intelligence gathering,
including surveillance and reporting.
b. Government Sends Mixed Messages on Offshore Business
Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Timothy Antoine on April
1 denied local press reports that the government was going to
allow offshore businesses to once again operate in Grenada any
time soon.
The Grenada Advocate published an article in its March 28
edition quoting Antoine as saying that the government recently
passed the required legislation that will "aid in the
development of the sector". Government suspended operations
within the off shore sector in 2002 and revoked the license of
the banks because most of them proved to be schemes, where U.S.
and Canadian citizens lost millions of dollars.
c. Bread Prices Increase 40%
President of the Grenada Bakers Association Jerome Joseph
announced that bread prices in the tri-island state will rise
40%, an inevitable result of the increase in flour prices.
Flour, which is produced in the region, has increased in price
over 100% over the last 2.5 years due to increasing prices of
inputs, including wheat and fuel. There is no Common External
Tariff (CET) on flour as it is produced in the region. However,
wheat is imported from outside CARICOM and its price has
increased as the amount available in the international markets
has declined.
d. Yet Another New Development for Grenada
The Government of Grenada (GoG) has signed a US$120 million
investment agreement with Century Development Limited, an Irish
owned company to construct a marine village at Fort Jeudy on the
island's south coast. According to The Grenadian Voice newspaper
and Grenada Broadcasting Network, the GoG said that the project
will create around 300 jobs as well as contribute to the
increase of room stock on the island.
Grenada continues to attract investor interest, especially from
Europe. However, while many projects are proposed, few have
started. British developer, Peter DeSavery, remains the sole
foreign investor to successfully weather local politics and
planning and construction issues to move ahead on his projects
at Port Louis and Mount Cinnamon.
e. GBA Demands Attorney General Stop Interfering
The Grenada Bar Association (GBA) demanded that Grenada's
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Attorney General (AG) Elvin
Nimrod retract his criticism of the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) who chose not to press charges against members
of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for
allegedly assaulting a police officer, and taking his personal
property, who they believed to be eavesdropping on an party
executive meeting at the its headquarters.
End text.
MCISAAC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON SOCI GJ
SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 23 - 29, 2008
TAGS: PREL MOPS ECON 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. Southcom Completes Intel Training
Southcom trainers conducted a highly successful Intelligence
Analyst training seminar March 25-28 in St. George's for 25
members of the Royal Grenadian Police Force (RGPF).
Participants learned techniques of intelligence gathering,
including surveillance and reporting.
b. Government Sends Mixed Messages on Offshore Business
Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Timothy Antoine on April
1 denied local press reports that the government was going to
allow offshore businesses to once again operate in Grenada any
time soon.
The Grenada Advocate published an article in its March 28
edition quoting Antoine as saying that the government recently
passed the required legislation that will "aid in the
development of the sector". Government suspended operations
within the off shore sector in 2002 and revoked the license of
the banks because most of them proved to be schemes, where U.S.
and Canadian citizens lost millions of dollars.
c. Bread Prices Increase 40%
President of the Grenada Bakers Association Jerome Joseph
announced that bread prices in the tri-island state will rise
40%, an inevitable result of the increase in flour prices.
Flour, which is produced in the region, has increased in price
over 100% over the last 2.5 years due to increasing prices of
inputs, including wheat and fuel. There is no Common External
Tariff (CET) on flour as it is produced in the region. However,
wheat is imported from outside CARICOM and its price has
increased as the amount available in the international markets
has declined.
d. Yet Another New Development for Grenada
The Government of Grenada (GoG) has signed a US$120 million
investment agreement with Century Development Limited, an Irish
owned company to construct a marine village at Fort Jeudy on the
island's south coast. According to The Grenadian Voice newspaper
and Grenada Broadcasting Network, the GoG said that the project
will create around 300 jobs as well as contribute to the
increase of room stock on the island.
Grenada continues to attract investor interest, especially from
Europe. However, while many projects are proposed, few have
started. British developer, Peter DeSavery, remains the sole
foreign investor to successfully weather local politics and
planning and construction issues to move ahead on his projects
at Port Louis and Mount Cinnamon.
e. GBA Demands Attorney General Stop Interfering
The Grenada Bar Association (GBA) demanded that Grenada's
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Attorney General (AG) Elvin
Nimrod retract his criticism of the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) who chose not to press charges against members
of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for
allegedly assaulting a police officer, and taking his personal
property, who they believed to be eavesdropping on an party
executive meeting at the its headquarters.
End text.
MCISAAC