Grenada Opposition Leader Concerned Over Economy

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

17 July 2001

The leader of the opposition in Grenada, Michael Baptiste, has urged the ruling New National Party (NNP) led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell to declare the country to be in a state of economic crisis. Never before, according to Mr Baptiste, has Grenada's economic situation appeared so grim.

According to reports from the Grenada Today news service, Mr Baptiste expressed his concern during a meeting last week in the House of Representatives. His speech came on the back of the movement of a motion by Finance Minister Anthony Boatswain requesting parliamentary approval to borrow $3,250,000.00 from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) for a Rural Enterprise Development Project (REDP).

Mr Baptiste argued that attempts to solve problems in the rural parishes such as unemployment and poverty would be hindered if the government continues its policy of simply giving hand outs to people. He urged the government to offer people the facility of counselling as many have lost their jobs and are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the situation.

According to the opposition leader, officers from the Special Branch Unit of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) have been requesting the names of people who have lost their jobs from their former employers in order to monitor them as they could be considered as potential criminals.

Anthony Boatswain argued that the REDP is of significant benefit for the rural areas of Grenada; he stressed that the project will include a wide range of activities including constructing community centres, roads and schools. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$8.4 million; the Caribbean Development Bank will contribute $2.54m and the Grenada government $1 million. The goverment will repay the proposed loan over a period of 15 years from December 1, 2006.

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