GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT: MARCH 23 - 29, 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