Minister Church calls for coordination and assistance

TOKYO, Japan, October 26, 2010 - Grenada’s Environment Minister Michael Church is leading the Grenada delegation to the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan.

The high-level segment of the meeting takes place October 27-29, 2010.

Minister Church, who is accompanied by Dr Spencer Thomas, said that “Grenada recognises the unbreakable linkage between healthy ecosystems and the livelihoods of island people”.

He said that Grenada is proud to have been at the forefront of launching the Caribbean Challenge in 2006. “At the CBD COP8 we announced our commitment to increase the amount of habitat under protection from 10% under the CBD to 25% by the year 2020,” he said on Tuesday at an event co-hosted with the Secretary of the Department of Resources and Development of the Federated States if Micronesia.

The event included celebrating island achievements such as the recognition of the Caribbean Challenge’s Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, a US$40 million regional endowment created as part of the eight-country Caribbean Challenge and the leadership, financing and partnerships for implementation which have seen significant progress since 2006 in the Micronesia Challenge, a five-country protected areas and livelihoods commitment.

The Caribbean Challenge was officially launched at the COP9, in Bonn, Germany, in May 2008, by the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucia are now active members.

There are 193 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was opened for signature at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and entered into force in December 1993.

Welcome

On behalf of the Government of Grenada and along with the Honorable Marion Henry, Secretary for the Department of Resources and Development of the Federated States of Micronesia, I would like to welcome you all to this Celebration of Island Leadership and Commitment to Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods on Islands.

Excellences, Dignitaries, Fellow Islanders, Ladies and Gentlemen

I first would like to extend my thanks to the Government and people of Japan for their warm and kind hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for COP10.

This Island event is a celebration of the achievements of the Micronesia Challenge, the Caribbean Challenge and the Coral Triangle Initiative. We are also here to show support for new multi-country initiatives the Western Indian Ocean Partnership and a conservation challenge for West Africa.

We are glad to be here with our partners in the Global Island Partnership – GLISPA - a partnership that helps to bridge local and global island initiatives, build upon existing networks and programs and share knowledge among all islands.

As we deliberate on the revisions of the Convention it is a time of reflection on the responsibility we have to protect the biodiversity of our islands, and our oceans. The survival and long-term sustainability of our island nations relies on the actions we take now. Grenada recognizes the unbreakable linkage between healthy ecosystems and the livelihoods of island people.

This is why, island nations, despite their small size, are providing an example to the world – and we have shown and will continue to show that significant progress on achieving this conventions biodiversity targets are achievable.

While Grenada is a signatory on the CBD and supports the actions under this Convention, we have recognized that for our islands we need to do more. Grenada is proud to have been at the forefront of launching the Caribbean Challenge – in 2006. At the CBD COP8 we announced our commitment to increase the amount of habitat under protection from 10% under the CBD to 25% by the year 2020. Along with the Government of Bahamas, we then issued the Challenge to our neighbors in the Caribbean to join us in this vision.

The Caribbean Challenge was officially launched at the COP9, in Bonn, Germany, in May 2008, by the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

• There are Three primary components of the Challenge:

• Expansion of near shore marine protection to a minimum of 20% by 2020;

• Development of sustainable finance mechanisms, such as Protected Area Trust Funds, tourism and conservation derived fees, and payment for environmental services to provide sustainable funding to the countries’ national systems of protected areas; and,

• Development and implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change projects

The Caribbean Challenge builds on the past 5 years of work by the participating countries to develop, endorse and implement our National Protected Area System Plans that include biological, financial, and capacity assessments, and focused strategies to fill the identified biological, financial and capacity gaps.

Grenada is proud to celebrate with you the success to date of the Caribbean Challenge – the largest biodiversity conservation initiative in the history of the Caribbean. It is the vision of The Challenge to more than double the amount of marine and coastal habitat currently under protection, safeguarding nearly 20 million acres of habitat. It will improve protected area management by helping governments establish sustainable finance mechanisms to generate long-term funding for capacity building and the on-the-ground conservation action for newly expanded Marine Protected Area networks.

Of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund’s initial capitalization goal of US$40 million, US$31 million has already been pledged by KfW (the German Development Bank), the Nature Conservancy, and the GEF. The Challenge now includes, in addition to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, our neighboring Eastern Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia are active members.

Our Caribbean Challenge effort requires coordination and assistance from partners with regional expertise – and we are pleased that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Italy has generously provided $1 million through the UNEP-Caribbean Environment Program to help advance Marine Protected Area’s networking, strengthening and regional coordination with a particular emphasis on capacity building.

This coordination was evident at the recent Wider Caribbean Governments meetings convened by UNEP in October in Jamaica. This included the Eleventh Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention of the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region.

At this meeting the Parties called on both The Nature Conservancy and the UNEP-CEP Secretariat “to examine and establish the appropriate coordination mechanisms, with the Caribbean Challenge. And we note with interest that the French delegation was also keen to highlight the very relevant work of listing of marine protected areas under the Caribbean's SPAW Protocol – and hope that the Government of France will soon join us as an official partner of the Caribbean Challenge.

In conclusion, the Caribbean is already leading the world in sustainable finance planning for our national systems of protected areas. And now the Caribbean countries, supported by our partners, continue to lead by example, moving beyond planning to implementation, via the development and establishment of the $40 million Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, 8 national Protected Area Trust Funds, and expansion of our protected areas.

Thank you very much

A double from Delroy Facey puts Grenada in DCC Finals

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Sunday, October 24th 2010 – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada: Grenada confirmed their passage through to join Guadeloupe Martinique and defending champions Jamaica in the Digicel Cup Finals in late November with a hard fought win over a dogged St Kitts and Nevis in Group E.

Grenada started brightly in front of a strong home crowd of over 4,786 and almost opened the scoring through home favourite Kitson Bain who seemed destined to score but for a last minute block from Williams, after a beautiful pass from Charles.

The home crowd did not have long to wait to get on their feet and cheer when on 15 minutes Facey converted from 4 yards after a corner kick from Charles somehow came through the crowded goal mouth to the fortunate striker who did not have to be asked twice for such a golden opportunity.

Two minutes later and Facey almost doubled his account as his thunderous shot from 25 yards flew past the right hand post of Richards.

Facey did eventually double his and Grenada’s tally when he latched onto a beautiful through ball from Bain and lifted the ball over the advancing Richards to make it 2 nil.

The ecstatic crowd were in hysterics two minutes later when a carbon copy of the second goal occurred and Bain somehow cleared the cross bar with his lofted shot on this occasion to keep St Kitts in with a fighting chance.

Facey who was born in the UK to a Jamaican mother and a Grenadian Father bossed the St Kitts defence and looked odds on for his hat trick before half time, which, thankfully for the game as a contest, did not occur.

The second half continued with Grenadian dominance and, but for an acrobatic finger tip save from Richards after a fantastic looped header from skipper Modeste on the edge of the box, it would surely have been 3-0.

On 68 minutes St Kitts had their best chance of the game when Lake broke free from his own half and as he raced through squared the ball back for Isaac who had sprinted 40 yards in support but rather than take his chance with the goal at his mercy, his attempted pass to Clark was easily cleared.

On 82 minutes Isaac almost made up for his earlier miss when the diminutive striker rose unchallenged to head Lake’s cross against the post and into the safety of Baptiste’s grateful arms.

Kitts hopes were dealt a severe blow when Lake was given his marching orders for an elbow in the head to full back Curt Rennie. This kept the unusual stat alive of at least one sending off in every game of Group E to date.

Grenada then took advantage of the numerical superiority and but for some grandiose long range shooting from the home side could have inflicted a larger scoreline.

It ended to the delight of the large home crowd who cheered their heroes through to another Digicel Cup finals and will return Tuesday to see them take on Guadeloupe to try end the group as winners. St Kitts and Puerto Rico will only have pride to play for in their final Digicel Cup game on Tuesday as they end another fantastic journey in the main football tournament in the Caribbean.

For more information, access to match images and live score updates, visit www.digicelfootball.com.

Grenada: 1 Andre Baptiste 2 Shannon Phillip 4 Curt Rennie 5 Cassim Langaigne 6 Marc Marshall 8 Delroy Facey (12 Denron Daniel 65 mins) 9 Ricky Charles 10 Kitson Bain (21. Lashley Cyrus 75mins)11 Anthony Modeste (Capt) 19 Patrick Modeste (Kyle Joseph 65 mins) 20 Shane Rennie

Coach: N. Simpson

St. Kitts & Nevis: 18 Alexis Richards 3. Shashi Isaac (5. Tishan Hanley 76 mins) 4 Kareem Mitchum 7 George Isaac 8 Alexis Saddler 9 Jevon Francis (11. Stephen Clark 62 mins) 10 Ian Lake 17 Gerard Williams 13 Thrizen Leader (Capt) 14 Tiran Hanley (6.Orlando Mitchum 70 mins) 15 Errol O’Loughlin

Coach: Clinton Percival

Referee: Kevin Morrison (Jamaica)

Assistant Referee 1: Mark Moses (Barbados)

Assistant Referee 2: Adrian Goddard (Barbados)

Match Commissioner Maurice Victoire (Martinique)

Caribbean Airlines to fly the Grenada to New York route from November

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - On 10 November 2010, Caribbean Airlines will begin twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) return services from Port of Spain to Grenada and New York.

The Trinidadian carrier takes over the Grenada-New York route which commenced under the Air Jamaica banner earlier this year.

"Building on CAL's commitment to increasing connectivity in the region, customers will be able to travel from Piarco International Airport in Trinidad to the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada, and then get to JFK International Airport in the United States.

This new route continues the much anticipated expansion of CAL into the Caribbean region, "noted Caribbean Airlines CEO Captain Ian Brunton. Captain Brunton went on to explain the decision to have Caribbean Airlines operate the route with CAL aircraft. "We gain operational flexibility when we switch this route to operate from Trinidad. In fact, we are realising the synergies that we spoke about earlier this year when we took over the Air Jamaica operations in May. The provision of critical connectivity from various Caribbean islands to major North American destinations is one objective that Caribbean Airlines continues to fulfil."

The last Air Jamaica flight from Grenada to JFK will take place on 3 November 2010 and the first CAL flight will depart Port of Spain heading to Grenada on 10 November 2010. Customers can book online at www.caribbean-airlines.com, call the airline toll free at + 800 744 2225 or contact their travel agent to make their bookings.

PM Thomas describes late Barbadian PM as a visionary leader

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 23, 2010 – Prime Minister Tillman Thomas was among regional leaders who have expressed condolences to the government and people of Barbados on the sudden death of Prime Minister David Thompson on Saturday.

Mr Thompson, 48, passed away at his St Phillips’ home after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

The Grenadian leader shared fond memories of the late Barbadian Prime Minister who was among the first leader to visit Grenada following his ruling National Democratic Congress’ victory at the July 2008 polls. He also noted the close working relationship between the governments of Grenada and Barbados especially on regional governance.

He said that Barbados and the region has lost a great leader. He described Mr Thompson as an intellectual and visionary leader.

Also expressing condolences was Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Glynis Roberts who is in Barbados.

Minister Roberts conveyed her condolences directly to her colleague Minister.

“His death is a tragic lost to the region,” said Roberts who is attending her daughter's graduation ceremony in Bridgetown.

The Parliamentary arm of the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Barbados has chosen Freundel Stuart to succeed the late Prime Minister David Thompson. Mr. Stuart will be sworn in as Prime Minister at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Mr Thompson died, with his family at his side; wife Mara and daughters Mischa, Oya & Osa- Marie at around 2:10 a.m. on Saturday at his home in Mapps, St Philip.

Sports Minister congratulates Windwards' selectees on WI team

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 20, 2010 - The Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Sports congratulates the four Windward Islands players, including two Grenadians, selected to represent the West Indies in the upcoming Digicel Series against Sri Lanka.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday announced the appointment of St Lucia and Windward Islands all rounder Darren Sammy as the new captain of the West Indies team for the Sri Lanka tour, replacing Chris Gayle of Jamaica.

Sammy is the first Windward Islands player to be appointed captain of the West Indies cricket team.

The WICB also announced the selection of Grenadians Devon Smith and Nelon Pascal and Shane Shillingford of Dominica in the 15-member squad for the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka in November.

Minister Patrick Simmons said their selection and elevation demonstrate that dividends come with commitment and dedication.

“Over the years we have seen a consistent cadre of talent from the Windward Islands and it was only time for our players to begin to rise to the top,” Simmons said.

“Our hope is that the appointment and selection of Sammy, Smith, Pascal and Shillingford would inspire the other young players”.

The Minister said that the players have already shown their maturity by leading the Windward Islands to emphatic victories in the WICB Cup. The Windwards are the only unbeaten team going to the semi-finals with a maximum 13 points from three matches.

The Sports Minister said that the Ministry and by extension the Government will continue to provide support to sporting associations including the Grenada Cricket Association (GCA) to ensure that players are given an opportunity to maximise their talent.

The Government is also assisting the GCA in hosting three matches of the Pakistan “A” team tour of the West Indies.

Grenada will host three One Day Internationals between West Indies “A” and the touring Pakistanis on November 9 (National Stadium); November 11 (Progress Park); and November 14 (National Stadium).

Grenada features in UK's Diplomatic Magazine

LONDON, UK, October 19, 2010 - Grenada’s attractions and other areas of potential investments are featured in the latest edition of the Diplomat magazine.

The full-coloured glossy 63-year-old monthly magazine, which provides a unique insight into the minds of the most prominent world leaders and governments, provided 22 pages of information about Grenada, including interviews, photographs and advertisements.

Through an initiative of High Commissioner Ruth Rouse, the editor of the Diplomat Venetia de Blocq van Kuffeler was invited to Grenada by Tourism Minister Glynis Roberts.

In her foreword for the special feature on Grenada the editor said: “I have been privileged to visit many spectacular places around the world, but none have I found as unspoilt, charming and bursting with natural beauty as Grenada”.

“This ‘Spice Isle’ boasts dramatic scenery, tropical rainforests, waterfalls and golden beaches that will appeal to visitors from all over the world. The country’s relatively new tourism industry is packed with potential, not only on account of the beaches – there’s plenty of heritage, sport, nature and local culture to discover as well,” she wrote.

The “Grenada Report” in the Diplomat included an introduction of the island by High Commissioner Rouse and investor Peter de Savary recalling his first to the island more than 50 years ago and recognising “an untapped opportunity for the development of the hospitality industry on the island”.

The editor also spoke to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who shared his plans and priorities for the development of Grenada, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Glynis Roberts and Finance Minister Nazim Burke among government officials.

The Tourism Minister said that if the right conditions are created, the tourism sector could become the number one creator of employment and wealth for Grenada. “Our strategy is a work in progress. We aren’t working on mass tourism, but on quality and creating experiences that will make people want to return to the island”.

The magazine also profiled the St George’s University and the Grenada Chocolate Company among industries and institutions, and a guide to hotels and restaurants on the island.

A two-page advertisement from the Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd and other spots from the Grenada Electricity Services (GRENLEC); Mount Cinnamon Resort Hotel; and SGU supplemented the feature on Grenada in the Diplomat.

Co-op Bank, Grenada’s fastest growing bank, recognises the need to expand its customer focus geographically. The Bank has therefore committed itself to understanding the needs of existing and potential customers in the Diaspora,” the bank stated in the magazine.

The Diplomat boasts a mixture of international writers, political commentary on world affairs, stunning photography and interviews with Heads of Mission.

Articles can be found on http://www.diplomatmagazine.com/

Grenada to host AOSIS Ministerial Meeting

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 17, 2010 - Grenada will host a Ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) next month.

The meeting, scheduled for the Grand Beach Hotel in St George’s on November 1-2, will involve Environment Ministers from the 43 AOSIS countries.

They will be updated on the current state of the negotiations and to assess and to agree on a common AOSIS position going into the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) scheduled for Cancun, Mexico.

Grenada’s Ambassador to the United Nations and Chair of AOSIS, Dr Dessima Williams said that the meeting will also engage negotiating partners with AOSIS’ positions and to ensure that there is a common understanding.

“The meeting is very important as a way to caucus each other and to develop a consensus position for the December meeting,” said Ambassador Williams.

“We have invited the 43-member Ministers from AOSIS countries which include 19 from the Caribbean region, 14 from the Pacific region and about 10 from the African and Indian Ocean region,” she said.

The Grenadian diplomat said that AOSIS has very clear positions for a comprehensive outcome in Cancun and very high ambitious levels of bringing down carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

“It’s not likely that any one group of countries will get all that they want but I think the meeting in Tianjin, China (United Nations Climate Change Conference, October 4-9, 2010) showed us that countries are ready to take some decisions toward a legally binding outcome, toward finance, toward capacity building and toward forestry regime for emissions”.

The COP 16 and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6) will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10, 2010.

FM David wants Grenadian children in Diaspora to remember their heritage

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 14, 2010 - Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David is urging Grenadians in the Diaspora to encourage their children to remember their Grenadian heritage.

Speaking Thursday on a monthly radio programme with host Anthony “Jericho” Greenidge, Minister David was high in praise for the young Grenadians in London who recently held a forum and discussed ways of getting more involved in Diaspora activities including the exploration of their heritage.

“I was amazed in my visit to London recently that the young people there are very conscious of their roots and are doing everything to try to keep the second generation in touch with Grenada,” he said.

He commended High Commissioner Ruth Rouse who spearheaded the formation of the Diaspora Consultative Committee (UK) following the Preparatory Conference in Grenada last August.

The DCC (UK) is intended to find new and innovative ways to reach the Grenadian Diaspora throughout the United Kingdom, gather their views and interest them in participating in the development of Grenada.

He said that the challenge is as the Diaspora gets older, we need to do more. Minister David urged the people in Canada and New York to do the same with their kids. “While they remain Americans and Canadians, we must try as much as possible to have them remember where they came from”. He said they must contribute to that society that nurtured their fore-parents.

He said that the Office of Diaspora Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be reaching out to nationals in the various cities to encourage them to lend their skills and talents to the benefit of their homeland.

“This Diaspora Initiative is very important not only for the people who left Grenada 10 or 20 years ago but people who have never come to Grenada but see their roots as Grenada and who are proud”.

Grenadian nationals in London have already formed a Diaspora Consultative Committee (UK) and recently held a Diaspora Youth Forum. Similar initiatives are being planned for New York and Toronto ahead of the Founding Conference scheduled for St George’s on August 2 and 3, 2011.

Minister Burke signs loan agreement for Feeder Roads Project

WASHINGTON, DC, October 14, 2010 – Grenada and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) have signed a US$8.5 million loan agreement for the second phase of the Agricultural Feeder Roads Project.

The agreement was signed in Washington, DC last Friday by Finance Minister, Nazim Burke and the Director General of OFID, Suleiman Al-Herbish.

The Finance Minister hailed the signing of the loan agreement as “an important development as Government seeks to expedite public sector projects to promote job creation and economic growth”. “Indeed, this was one of the commitments given by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas in his national address on September 7, 2010”.

Mr Burke thanked the OFID for “its continuing support for development of Grenada especially in the transport sector”.

Mr Al-Herbish indicated that OFID is happy to support Grenada in this second phase as it was pleased with the impact of the first phase of the project.

The second phase of this project will cost approximately EC$52 million and provides for the rehabilitation or upgrading of 30.6 kilometres of agricultural feeder roads throughout Grenada. The works will include the rehabilitation or construction of drainage systems, sea defences and bridges.

The other funders of the project are the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the Government of Grenada.

Minister Burke was accompanied by Timothy Antoine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Her Excellency Gillian Bristol, Ambassador to the United States of America and Christopher De Riggs, Director for Private Sector Development in the Ministry of Finance.

Finance Minister addresses Small States Forum at World Bank Meeting

Washington, DC, October 11, 2010 - Grenada’s Finance Minister Nazim Burke wants a strengthening of the partnership between Small Developing Countries and the World Bank to overcome many of the economic challenges.

Addressing a Small States Forum (SSF), held on the margins of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC on the weekend, Minister Burke said that “partnerships will ensure we overcome the challenges we face.”

The Grenadian Minister was among a panel of speakers who were discussing their most pressing challenges but focusing on development prospects in the context of the current economic environment and emerging global issues, including climate change and food and energy security.

Speaking on the theme “Adapting to Global Challenges: Climate Change and Food and Energy Security”, Mr Burke outlined key vulnerabilities and their negative impact on the development of small states.

He reiterated the objectives of food security and the constraints faced by small States, some with limited availability of arable land for food crops.

Minister Burke said that the high cost of energy relative to such macro-economic indicators as export earnings, with energy costs being disproportionately high in this regard.

He made the link between climate change as a global phenomenon and catastrophic weather events like Hurricane Ivan which damaged more than 90 per cent of Grenada’s housing stock at an estimated cost of US$900 million (200% of GDP).

Minister Burke highlighted key issues which should inform the approach by the World Bank in treating with these vulnerabilities, including long-term strategic planning based on detailed modelling of climate impact; Mainstreaming disaster risk management, climate resilience and weather proofing, and food security and energy security into a unified and holistic development plan; and Institutional and capacity-building at regional and national levels to receive, manage, implement and monitor climate-related finance and their associated programs and projects.

The Forum was chaired by Winston Dookeran, Minister of Finance, Trinidad and Tobago and other speakers included Minister Burke; Robert Zoellick, President, World Bank Group; Danny Faure, Vice-President and Minister of Finance, Seychelles; and senior representatives of the European Union and the World Bank.

The Finance Minister led Grenada’s delegation to the 2010 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington, DC. The delegation also included Permanent Secretary Timothy Antoine, Ambassador Gillian Bristol and Director of the Office of Private Sector Development within the Ministry of Finance, Christopher DeRiggs.

Government Minister calls for more tolerance from Police

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 11, 2010 - A Government Minister is calling for more tolerance from the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) for vendors who sell in the Town of St George.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for the Town of St George, wants the Police to exercise more tolerance to what he calls the “small business people” who make an honest living by selling in the city centre.

“Our small business people are very important for our economy and sometimes we downplay their importance in preference to big business,” said Mr David. “Big businesses are important but the small business is as important,” he added.

Mr David, speaking Sunday on a weekly radio programme hosted by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), admitted that better conditions need to be created for the vendors but called for patience.

“The Police have to be more tolerant. I have been getting lots of complaints that the Police are very intolerant to the small vendors.”

He said the authorities must recognise the importance of the vendors to our economy and called on the police to work with them. He said that the vendors are trying to do what all Grenadians are doing, that is, work to make a better life for their family.

“I urge the Commissioner of Police and the Police authority while they must continue to enforce the law, they must be sensitive to the fact that jobs are in scarce supply and when somebody chooses to create their own employment then we should be applauding them rather than running them off the streets and treating them as if they are criminals”.

The MP for the Town of St George described the St George’s Market as an important project which should ease the situation with the vendors who crowd the city centre selling their goods.

“Fortunately for us, the Venezuelans have agreed to build the market. The money has been approved and hopefully very soon we will start that project because we need to fix that market and create a better environment for our vendors,” he said.

Culture Minister appeals to Grenadian writers in the Diaspora

NEW YORK, October 8, 2010 - Grenadian writers and authors in the Diaspora are being encouraged to participate in the inaugural Spice Word Festival and Book Fair later this month.

Senator Arley Gill, Minister of State with Responsibility for Culture is appealing to creative writers to ensure that their works are available for display during the Festival and Book Fair scheduled for October 19-24.

“This is where we hope to display all of the books, all of the published materials since we are inviting publishers to the book fair as well,” he said.

He said that interested persons in the Diaspora can contact the Department of Culture in St. George’s within the next few days to make arrangements for their works to be on display during the Festival.

The event will conclude with a grand concert on Sunday October 24 at the Athletics Stadium which will feature three Grenadian writers in Clyde Belfon, David Franklyn and Merle Collins as well as invited guests dub poet Mutabaruka (Allan Hope) of Jamaica and Brother Resistance of Trinidad and Tobago.

Click HERE to listen to Senator Gill speaking about the Inaugural Spice Word Festival and Book Fair.

Click HERE to read background information

High Commissioner Rouse to speak at Commonwealth Economic Forum

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 7, 2010 – High Commissioner for Grenada to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Ruth Rouse will be among speakers at the Commonwealth Economic Partnership Forum to be held in London, October 13-14.

High Commissioner Rouse will join other speakers from the Commonwealth including Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the UK, Anthony Johnson; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, Surujrattan Rambachan; Professor Paul Sutton, Chairman of the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Mr George Connolly, CEO, Barbados Business Machine as they discuss business opportunities in the Commonwealth on October 13.

Sir Ronald Sanders of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group will chair the session on “The Americas, Leveraging the Commonwealth”.

Building on the success of the Commonwealth Business Forum in Trinidad and Tobago, this session will consider how the Caribbean can be leveraged to harness emerging opportunities across the Americas, according to forum documents.

It will also analyse the opportunities for greater trade and investment in the Caribbean, and the prospects for greater regional integration within the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago will be among speakers at the opening session. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will also participate in a session on “Global Growth through Economic Partnership”.

The Forum will also include sessions on Accessing Commonwealth Financial Markets; Africa, Leveraging the Commonwealth; Entrepreneurship and New Business Models for Broad-based Growth; The Commonwealth and India; Enhancing Commonwealth Trade for Global Growth and Reaching the US$4.5 trillion target by 2015; Asia, Leveraging the Commonwealth; Partnerships for Education, Skills and Training and Global Growth through Economic Partnership: The Way Forward.

There will also be a special session on Investment Opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago, to be hosted by Foreign Affairs Minister Rambachan and Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz.

Mixed results for Grenada at Commonwealth Games

by Michael Bascombe

NEW DELHI, India, October 7, 2010 – There were mixed results for Grenada at the Commonwealth Games here as competitors exited with disappointing results on Thursday.

Decathlete Kurt Felix completed day one of the gruelling 10-event decathlon with 3,857 points and in 9th position among the 14 competitors.

Felix’ best performance thus far came in the high jump when he finished third in his group in the high jump event after clearing 2.08m and picking up 878 points. He also picked up 833 points in the long jump after finishing 5th with 7.08m. He was 6th in the 100m in 11.50 seconds; 4th in the 400m in 50.71 seconds and 13th in the shot put with 12.08m after only two successful throws.

Felix will attempt to move into the top tier of the competition on the final day on Friday as he competes in the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500m.

Trish Bartholomew was eliminated in the women’s 400m semi-final with another below par performance. She was 6th in 54.15 seconds as Aliann Pompey of Guyana (51.79) and Christine Amertil of the Bahamas (51.94) advanced as the Caribbean’s two finalists.

In swimming, Nicholas Coard finished 8th in heat two of the 100m backstroke in 1:03.22. Coard and Esau Simpson will compete in the 50m freestyle on Friday, their final events on the schedule.

Still to compete in track and field are Patricia Sylvester in the women’s long on Saturday; Allison George in the women’s 200m also on Saturday and Randy Lewis begins his campaign in the men’s triple jump on Monday.

Previous story: http://mikebas.blogspot.com/2010/10/grenadian-boxers-eliminated-from.html

Grenadian boxers eliminated from Commonwealth Games

by Michael Bascombe

NEW DELHI, India, October 6, 2010 – All three Grenadian boxers suffered heavy defeats in qualification rounds at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

The experienced Jewel Lewis was the latest competitor to exit the competition when he lost to Dalton George of St. Lucia in a light weight bout after the referee stop contest – head blow (RSCH) in the third round at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Lewis was leading his opponent 7-1 in the third round when he was floored by a knock out punch and unable to regain his composure to continue the bout.

Lewis was the only hope of a potential medal in the boxing tournament for Grenada after middle weight Imrod Bartholomew and light welter weight Dominic Boatswain were eliminated on Tuesday.

Bartholomew lost to Lawal Lukmon of Nigeria after the referee stop contest (RSC) in the second round. Lukomon was leading 8-1 before the referee’s decision.

In the other bout, Boatswain lasted only the first round before he was knocked out by Bradley Saunders of England.

The results were not too encouraging in the swimming competition as Nicholas Coard and Esau Simpson were both eliminated in their respective events.

On Wednesday, Coard and Simpson finished 6th and 7th positions respectively in heat 3 of the 100m freestyle at the Mukherjee Swimming Pool. Coard, swimming out of lane 6 and Simpson in lane 1, clocked 26.63 seconds and 27.28 seconds respectively.

On Tuesday, Coard was 7th in the 50m backstroke in 29.37 seconds while Simpson was 4th in 50m butterfly in 28.45 seconds and finished 8th in the 200m freestyle in 2:09.10.

In late news, Trish Bartholomew qualified for the semi-final round in the women’s 400m on the opening day of track and field at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex.