Abstract art from Carriacou brothers

ST GEORGE’S, August 31, 2010 – They are self-taught artists whose paintings are finding customers as far away as the United States and England. But Kevin and Nicholas Noel, Carriacou-born brothers, are looking for that extra help to take their work to another level.

Kevin, 23, and his 20-year-old brother use the small income generated from sale to support themselves and four other siblings – two sisters and two brothers.

They currently operate from a home on Herbert Blaize Street, at the bottom of Cooper’s Hill, where their paintings are available for viewing and for sale. The work is also exhibited at Kalingo Beach Resort in Morne Rouge, St. George’s.

Kevin described his paintings as “abstract.’’ Some are the “definition of questions,’’ he said.

The young dreadlocked artist, who is a budding musician that frequents the studio of soca star, Lavaman, uses acrylic to paint on canvas. Kevin says he and his brother are in need of canvas, space for working and frames for their paintings.

“I also want to take schooling in oil painting,’’ confides Kevin, who has been painting professionally for about 18 months.

Kevin and Nicholas Noel can be contacted at 459-0935.

OFFICE OF DIASPORA DONATE SUPPLIES TO MINISTRY OF HEALTH

By Betty Ann Lazarus

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, August 31st, 2010 - Grenadians in the Diaspora continue to demonstrate their commitment for the development of the health sector at home.

A gift, including sheets, ward curtains, pillows, floor mats and comforters, was delivered to the Ministry of Health on Monday, August 30. The items, valued at over US$8,000, are for use at the General Hospital.

Grenada’s representative to New York, Consul General Derrick James, was instrumental in coordinating the donation which was made possible by the Office of Diaspora Affairs.

“We know that over the years, healthcare has been an issue of concern for people in the Diaspora. It is one area to which they will always be willing to contribute,’’ said Lana Mc Phail, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in handing over a portion of the supplies on Monday.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs was established in September 2009 under the guidance of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter David. It’s intended to add structure and to systematise the longstanding and historical contributions that Grenadians living abroad have been making to national development.

Mc Phail urged that the donation be put to good use. “We know that this donation will assist in ensuring that our people are a little more comfortable when they are hospitalized,’’ she said, “and we urge that very good use be made of the items.’’

In accepting the donation Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Allison Miller, gave the assurance that the necessary structure is in place to ensure the items are used as intended. She encouraged the Office of Diaspora Affairs to continue supporting the Ministry of Health.

“We ask the Office of Diaspora Affairs to continue giving us their support as healthcare is expensive and we are all aware of the demand on state resources in these times,” said Miller.

The donated items, Miller said, will be sent to the Health Ministry’s central procurement unit, where a committee will ensure that they are disbursed to the General Hospital.

Finance Minister: Government seeking country’s best interest

St. George’s, August 29, 2010 (GIS) – Grenada will know shortly whether a US100 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China would be made available for the proposed Four Seasons’ project in the south of the island.

Finance Minister, Hon. Nazim Burke, anticipates a decision from Eximbank within a month or two. The Minister, speaking at a news conference on August 27, described the project as “viable.’’

“We’re satisfied that, on the basis of the terms and conditions that are being offered, it is a viable project,’’ said the Finance Minister, who at the time was also Acting Prime Minister.

He said all documentation has been submitted to Eximbank, which is evaluating the loan application.

Mr. Burke, also Deputy Leader of the NDC, was joined at the news conference by Sen. Glen Noel, Junior Housing Minister and Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; and by former government IT Coordinator Vincent Roberts, Public Relations Officer of the NDC.

Hon. Burke reiterated government’s commitment to the due diligence process and in seeking the best interest of Grenada in all development projects and negotiations with investors.

He reported that discussions are “proceeding quite well’’ in finding a resolution to the Grand Beach land and hotel issue.

“I will not get into any details here but it is quite possible that before very long, we can see some resolution of this issue,’’ Mr. Burke said.

“We will engage the parties to see whether we can get that hotel working in an improved condition and to see whether government can once again become the title holders to the property.’’

In 1997, the former administration granted businessman, Issa Nicholas, a 99-year lease to the 20 acres on which Grand Beach situated. The plan was for him to operate a hotel of international standard.

An arrangement for the transfer of the government-owned land was later made with Formula One driving star, Lewis Hamilton, who was to engage Mr. Nicholas in negotiations and start building the hotel.

Indications are that talks between the Hamilton and Nicholas negotiators broke down, with the title to the land transferred to Mr. Hamilton by the outgoing administration on July 7, 2008 – one day before the last general election.

In order for the land to be returned to the state, government potentially would have to pay millions of dollars.

“The New National Party transferred the ownership out of the people of Grenada, without getting a cent in return,’’ Finance Minister Burke said. “The National Democratic Congress government could have done nothing to prevent that. We were not responsible for it and we are trying to correct that situation.’’

On another project development matter, Mr. Burke said that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with SeWang One World Investment, a business group that includes Taiwanese and Korean representatives.

The company proposes spending as much as US$2 billion on airports, schools, hospitals, agriculture and other projects throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Officials of the company visited Grenada in May and met with members of government and the private sector.

At the request of the company, a second meeting was held recently in Taiwan, at which Grenada was represented by Mr. Roberts and Christopher De Riggs, Head of Private Sector Development in the Ministry of Finance.

An initial partnership agreement from SeWang One World Investment has been drafted. But it has not been signed by government, said Mr. Burke.

“We’re interested in doing business but we’re unable to sign that agreement in its existing form. So we would want to see changes made to that,’’ he said.

“We have drafted an alternative agreement and we have shared that alternative with the company involved. The visit, the draft agreement and all of these discussions have taken place within the last week.’’

Mr. Burke added: “We believe that if there is an opportunity there, we want to grab it. But we also have a responsibility to ensure that we know who we’re doing business with. So this is not an overnight process.’’

From Police Officer to Educator

DALLAS, Texas, August 27, 2010: A young Grenadian has embarked on an educational journey and in the process accomplished many feats.

Adrian Peters, a former police officer, left Grenada in January 2004 to complete a first degree in Foreign Languages at Midwestern State University (MSU) in the United States and six years later he is about to start the journey towards a doctoral degree.

Peters began studies at the University of Ciego de Avila and then the University of Havana, Cuba in Interpretation and Translation in 1999 and then moved to MSU in January 2004 to complete a Bachelor Degree in Foreign Languages majoring in Spanish and French. He graduated with honours one year later.

Between 2006 and 2009, Peters completed Teacher Certifications in Spanish, French and English as a Second Language (ESL).

He also completed a Masters Degree in Teaching Foreign Languages at the University of Granada, Spain in December 2009 from where he also graduated with honours.

So far this year he has completed Principal Certification and will soon start his PhD studies in Education Leadership and Instruction.

Peters is currently an Assistant Principal at H Grady Spruce High School in Dallas, Texas where he now resides.

The Grenadian educator plans to gather as much experience as possible in preparation for his return to Grenada, where he intends to continue working with education, and educating.

“I understand the value of education and the difficulty some worthy Grenadians have in accomplishing their educational goals, and in many instances due to their inability to self-finance,” he said. Peters said his future mission in life is to assist others in seeking their educational goals.

“It’s not without great sacrifice, pain and even criticism that I have reached that far, but I didn’t turn back”. Adrian is now married to Demeatrice Robinson-Peters, who is also an educator.

Lew Smith interviews Grenada's FM

Grenada's Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David spoke with host Lew Smith on the To The Point Programme on Grenada's Klassic Radio on Thursday August 19, 2010.

The Minister discussed among other things recent discussions with Libyan and Moroccan officials, other bi-lateral discussions, the Preparatory Diaspora Conference, the constituency of the Town of St. George, and Spice Mas 2010.

He said that coming out of the recent Preparatory Conference in St. George's the Office of Diaspora Affairs would mount a series of mini-conferences in the Diaspora in the coming months.

Mr. David said this will ensure that more nationals are given the opportunity to participate in the discussions to assist in national development.