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Showing posts from March, 2015

Déjà vu Dr. Mitchell:Chronic crisis in State owned Enterprises in Grenada.

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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...

REVISITING THE GRAND PROMISES MADE TO GRENADIANS BY THE NEW NATIONAL PARTY.

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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...

A Dark cloud hangs over Grenada’s Electricity Reform Process

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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, ...

'DOC,THE SHOE IS NOW ON THE OTHER FOOT'

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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...