HELLO GRENADA

The Directors of Project Grenada, Messer’s David, Humphrey and Hamlet Mark all woke up today Monday scratching their heads and licking their wounds after a disastrous weekend. First, their nefarious scheme to oust Adrian Francis as president of the Public Workers Union failed as Dr. Malachi Dottin led Team Unity failed in its bid to deliver the union to the Humphrey inspired plan. The presence of Dr. Winston Thomas in the Team Unity line up caused a red flag to be raised. Public workers will have none of that. Sources close to Team Unity explained that this was a precursor to the elections for President of the Trades Union Council (TUC). The plot was hatched by the ‘Project Grenada” mafia in an effort to get the necessary delegate votes required ensuring the election of Humphrey’s protégé Andre Lewis as President. Lewis had to settle for Vice President as he soundly beaten by Kenny James for the position of President. This is a far cry from when TAWU could decide singlehandedly w...

Grenada boasts of high turnout in elections (77% in 2013) however the average Grenadian tends to be cynical of politics and politicians. Politics is supposed to be a debate where the greater good is supposed to be the ultimate aim. However the central prize that emanates from this polemic is power. At stake is the well being of the citizenry who mortgage their well being to a government led by politicians who are supposed to take care of their material needs, philosophical orientation and gatekeeper of the moral and ethical bearings of the society. Our democratic constitution provides legal cover for the exercise of certain rights to include but not limited to freedom of expression, conscience, movement and association. The competitive nature of the mechanics of our democracy is expressed through the organisational reality of our political parties. Forbes Burnham once said that if you have political power you must not allow it to be taken away from you. Therefore those who hold po...

Senior folks in the Spice Isle will tell you that back in the seventies, de-bushing the roadway were called “traveau” work. I am not versed in patois or French but everyone, young or old, knew what the word meant. The oral history records that “traveau” work was only for the marginalised and senior citizens, many of whom, has long passed their active work life. The “traveau “gang was supervised by a “driver” an acronym reminiscent of slavery. The wages were pitiful and the labourers could hardly make ends meet. Many of these old folks ended up in the Richmond Home (the poor house) or were buried by the state. This sordid past gave way to a new sexy term called a Contract. This was probably initiated by Dr Keith Mitchell when he served as Minister of Communication and Works in the first NNP administration led by Herbert Blaize. De-bushing has grown exponentially in terms of scope and the financial resources that propel this enterprise of entrenched poverty. At best, the average p...

A plethora of articles have appeared in Grenada’s weekly newspapers about the chronic crises that continue to plague state owned enterprises (SOE’S) in the tri-island state. It was reported that a team from CARTAC submitted a report to the government from a mission which took place between 22ndApril to 7th May 2014. The report examined the financial performance of Grenada’s SOE’s, the relationship between SOE’s and General Government, the policy improvements that could be made to the framework to manage the fiscal risks presented by SOE’s and to make recommendations on institutional reforms of SOE’s. The Structural Adjustment Programme which the government has pursued in response to the country’s fiscal and economic crisis requires that these enterprises be put under serious scrutiny. Dr. Mitchell held a meeting with Chairpersons and Managers of SOE’s to read the “riot act” and reiterated, tongue in cheek that “it will not be business as usual”. Dr. Mitchell seems unable to recog...

1) Deliver a New Economy. (2) Create jobs and more jobs for all who are willing and able to work. (3) Provide tablets for every school child. (4) Construct the Kirani James Stadium at Gouyave. (5) Deliver internet access to every household. (6) Provide hundreds of jobs within the first one hundred days of taking up office. (7) Create a better healthcare system. (8) End suffering in the land. (9) Build a united country. (10) Deliver a lower cost of living. (11) Ministers would do less overseas travel. (12) Encourage freedom of speech. (13) Bring back foreign investors that were ‘lined up,’ waiting on the NDC to depart the scene. (14) Deliver a ten dollars per day increase on road workers pay. (15) Deliver three five star hotels on Grand Anse Beach. (16) Deliver lower electricity rates. (17) Deliver a new prison complex. (18) Deliver lower VAT rates. (19) Deliver a new parliament building. (20) Deliver a...

In 1994, the government of Grenada signed an agreement with WRB, a little known American company to which majority shares in Grenlec was divested. The agreement was a very much one sided affair which not only transferred controlling interest to WRB but also provided “ self regulatory” powers to the company. Back then, the current Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell was in the political opposition. He lambasted the content of the agreement and Chester Humphrey, president of the powerful Technical and Allied workers union joined him on that crusade. Maybe the genesis of their present alliance was established back then, some 20 years ago. The country was literally grinding to a halt with interminable blackouts and load shedding. Recall that in the late 80’s, the present Minister of Communication and Works, Hon Gregory Bowen was the manager of the island’s sole electricity company. History records that at a particular juncture, Dr. Mitchell was the Minister of communication and works, ...

One must understand that entering into politics mean that the individual has become a public figure and as such they are in the public's domain. They will find themselves being publicly criticised and or castigated by the media.  Barack Obama had his fair share and right here at home the former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and former Minister of Finance Nazim Burke were publicly humiliated in the media by some of the same persons who are at the helm of leadership in this little island today.   May I remind you si r, you were part of that same team that belittled the former Prime Minister by referring to him as "Tilly Boy" and saying he should be in church. Sir you were part and parcel of that same team that ridiculed the former Minister of Finance when he was referred to as "a dunce" and that famous advertisement; telling the world that Mr Burke was building three houses while Grenadians were suffering.  Well sir I have news for you if yo...