GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MAY 11 - 17, 2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000081 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ENRG EFIN KWMN GJ SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MAY 11 - 17, 2008 ¶1. (U) Embassy Grenada's weekly 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) PM Mitchell Takes Over Chairmanship of RSS Regional Security Coordinator Grantley Watson met Grenada's Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell last week after the PM took up the chairmanship of the Regional Security System (RSS). Discussions included drug interdiction, greater cooperation between RSS states on intelligence, and the RSS role in assisting member states during crises and natural disasters. The RSS was created out of a perceived need for a coordinated collective response to security threats impacting the stability of the region in the late 70's and early 80's. Grenada joined in January 1985. b) US$370,000 Bail Set for CapBank CEO Lawyers for embattled banker, Finton De Bourg, chief executive officer of Capital Bank International (CBI),said they intend to appeal the US$ 370,000 bail set for their client after he appeared in a court on four counts of fraudulent breach of trust totaling more than EC$18 million (US$6.8 million). He was arrested last weekend following an investigation by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). De Bourg is due to return to court on July 7. c) Political parties Asked to Sign Code of Conduct. Political parties in Grenada were urged to sign a code of conduct designed to ensure that candidates are held accountable for their actions during the up-coming general elections. The Inter-Agency Group of Development Organizations (IAGDO) appointed a watchdog committee to monitor the implementation of the code and to engage in public education on issues regarding the code. The ruling New National Party refused to sign the code in the run up to the 2003 general elections seeing it as an opposition ploy. No indication yet how many of the political parties will sign this time around. MCISAAC