GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MAY 18 - 24, 2008

UNCLAS GRENADA 000083 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EFIN KCRM PGOV SOCI GJ SUBJECT: GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT MAY 18 - 24, 2008 ¶1. 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. Begin GWAR text: a. Owner of CapBank Arrested, Charged, and now Free on Bail It appears, however, that the financial investigations unit (FIU) has stepped up its investigation. Hard on the heels of the court returning the bank to DeBourg's control last week, which was stopped by the GOG filing a motion challenging the court's interpretation of the banking act, the FIU arrested DeBourg and charged him with 4 counts of fraudulent breach of trust totaling about US$6.7 million (EC$18 million). He is free on US$370,000 bail (EC$1 million),but had to surrender all passports, travel docs, etc. He is not allowed to be in contact with witnesses in the case. b. NNP Declines to Sign Code of Conduct The Inter-Agency Group of Developmental Organisations (IAGDO),a group of six local non-governmental organizations, met last week to draft a code of conduct for political parties for the upcoming general elections (not yet called). The governing New National Party (NNP) declined to sign, stating that the party has "always refrained from the use of threats, innuendoes, bribes, degrading comments against our women, violence, half truths, and character assassination". The party added that it would only participate in a process conducted by a truly "non-partisan and objective organization". Several IAGDO members are fairly non-partisan. Several are not. The group tried a similar tactic during the 2003 elections and the NNP declined to sign then as well. c. RGPF Members to Vote Separately Grenada's Parliament last week amended Grenada's electoral law, enabling members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) to vote on a date prior to the general election date. The change is designed to enable the entire force to be available to maintain security when the country goes to the polls. The results of RGPF voting will be counted and sealed pending results of the general election. This new system will go into effect once elections have been called, which must happen no later than February 2009. d. Grenadians Excel at U.S. Universities A Grenadian studying at Midwestern State University graduated at the top of her class this year, receiving the MSU President's medal. Approximately twenty-two Grenadian students are currently studying at the school. A representative of Cameron University, Texas is expected to visit Grenada next month to meet with prospective students to provide information on the various programs on offer. According to The Grenadian Voice newspaper, for the past 10 years, Grenadian students have been excelling in the Cameron University scholarship program, which provides students with a partial waiver on tuition fees. End text. ¶3. The GWAR now goes into hiatus until the end of June. MCISAAC