FEES OWED TO ISA

By Linda Straker

Grenada is one of six Caribbean countries that are in arrears with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous international organisation which administers mineral resources in the seabed.

The countries are among a list of 43 members of the ISA that are in arrears of two years or more with dues, effective April 2014. They are Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The annual report of the Secretary-General, Nii Allotey Odunton, was the focus of a two-day debate in the Assembly. The report did not give the dollar amount of that which is owed, but said that up to April 30, 2014, only 29.7 per cent of the Authority’s 166 members had paid. The money collected represents 68.7 per cent of the value of the member contributions to the 2014 budget.

The approved budget for the 2013/2014 biennium stood at just over US$14.3 million.

“Notices are sent on a regular basis to member states, reminding them of the arrears,” the document said.


“The administrative expenses of the Authority shall be met by assessed contributions of its members until the Authority has sufficient funds from other sources to meet those expenses,” it explained.

The scale of those assessments shall be based on the scale used for the regular budget of the United Nations, adjusted for differences in membership, according to the report. In accordance with article 184 of the Convention and rule 80 of the rules of procedure of the Assembly, members in arrears for two years or more shall not have voting privileges.

Meanwhile, as the inter-governmental body wound up its session last week Thursday, a day earlier than originally scheduled, its Council signalled it wanted formulation of procedures and criteria for applications for extension of exploration contracts as well as exploitation regulations to be given top priority.

The Council, by a decision adopted on July 23, requested the Authority’s expert body, the Legal and Technical Commission, to, “as a matter of urgency and as its priority”, formulate the draft texts and submit them to the Council at its 2015 session. The draft instruments would be applied in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner and made available in advance of the Council’s next session in 2015. The Commission is scheduled to meet in Kingston in February 2015.

The Authority’s Assembly, at its final meeting on Thursday, July 24, decided to convene the 21st session of the Authority from July 13 to 24, 2015 in Kingston.

During debate on the proposals in the Council, many delegations expressed support for formulation of the draft texts. A proposal by the Netherlands for the incorporation of environmental management planning in the regulatory framework for mineral exploitation in the Area was welcomed by delegations.

A communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting said that the exploration contracts awarded to the pioneer investors in 2001 and 2002 will come to an end in 2016 and 2017. Some of the contractors involved are likely to proceed to exploitation while others might apply for extension of their contracts. There is now a significant increase in the level of interest in deep seabed mining.

The report, submitted under article 166 paragraph 4 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, provided information on the work of the Authority from July 2013 to June 2014.

Presenting the report to the Assembly on July 23, Mr. Odunton highlighted the challenge of managing the increasing workload of the Authority as it moved towards elaborating exploitation regulations and the need for standardised data on the living resources of the seabed Area. The report observed that the Authority had achieved significant milestones since 2000.

It is not clear who represented Grenada at the Assembly and whether or not the outstanding fees were settled by the time of writing this report. E-mails and calls to a number of relevant persons went unanswered or not acknowledged.

TIME TO UPGRADE OUR METHODS – PM believes nanotechnology can transform C’bean region

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has suggested that CARICOM Members produce a regional Nanoscience and Nanotechnology policy paper, in consultation with all stakeholders, with a view of pursuing research in this area.

Delivering a lecture last week Tuesday evening at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, on Science and Technology and their utility in transforming regional economies and sustaining the region, he said that the end result for such an undertaking should be to develop and commercialise new products and services.

“The interest and impact of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology have risen exponentially over the years. In 2009, some 40 countries were investing in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology; five years later, just about every country is doing so. It is today a multimillion-dollar industry with applications in such diverse areas as solar energy, cancer medicine, robotics and oil and gas exploration,” he said.

The Prime Minister, in his capacity as Head for Science and Technology in CARICOM, said that over the last three decades, there has been spectacular advances in science and their associated technologies – computer science and associated Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Biological Sciences and the associated Biotechnology; and Nanoscience and the associated Nanotechnology.

Dr. Mitchell believes that Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) have a major role to play as
effective tools, not only in food production and energy, but also in critical areas such as education, health and climate change mitigation and adaptation.


He said that the cost, for example, of poultry in the region is high mainly because of the price of feedstock. “Can we not use the available track of land in Guyana, Suriname or Belize to develop a feedstock industry that is independent of extra-regional inputs? This, my friends, is a challenge for our scientists and entrepreneurs,” he suggested.

“We must, as a region, take a closer look at our food bill and use innovative approaches and STI to substantially reduce this bill. As a self-respecting people, we must as far as is possible, try to feed ourselves,” he added.

He said that if the region is going to fully utilise STI to meet some of the major challenges it faces, then regional decision-makers need to look at building capacity where there is need to build capacity, and strengthen research culture.

“Accordingly, I have requested that the CARICOM Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, which we launched in Grenada earlier this year, organise a major High Level Conference, which we will host in Grenada in March 2015, to explore ways in which we can further develop STI, so that it can play a more effective role in the social and economic development of our Caribbean people,” he said.

Think ‘Caribbean’

Companies across the region are being told that the time is ripe to increase exports of their products, not independently, but jointly under a Caribbean Brand label.

Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, is certain the Caribbean Brand can work but, she explained during an interview with The Grenada Advocate, it would require all the players in the various sectors to embrace it and come on board.

“It has its own recognition. Whenever we call the word Caribbean, people immediately have a picture in their heads, just like if you call the word Hawaii… So how do we capture and market that? How do we capture and market that in our agro products? How do we capture and market in our sports? How do we capture and market in our overall service sectors; having that common brand and allowing that to drive our agenda?”

Executive Director of the Caribbean Export
Development Agency, Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

She added, “If we are going to do it, it needs to be now, because basically we are wide open and if we do manage to get a Canadian agreement … that would also be another huge market that we need to look at and exploit.”

The executive director’s comments came as she noted that the Caribbean Brand concept is already being utilised by Caribbean Export, but they want to take it to the next level. According to Coke-Hamilton, in the execution of study tours and export promotion exercises, her organisation brings as many representatives as possible from across the region and places them under a Caribbean Brand umbrella.

Using the examples of the Caribbean Essence Fashion Showcase, a Caribbean Export project, as well as Caribbean Kitchen which was present at Anuga, the largest food and beverage fair in the world, Coke-Hamilton explained that both have shown that high quality products do come from this region and can stand on their own in the international arena. She noted that of the five fashion designers who went to Berlin, Germany for a showing through the Caribbean Essence initiative, three were able to
secure orders; while in the case of Anuga, three Caribbean companies were named in the top 50.  

“How does that happen? Because we are excellent, we do have that level of excellence. So it is now a question of seeing how we can expand the pie so that more of us are able to take advantage of that,” she noted.

With that in mind, Coke-Hamilton was at pains to point out that not everyone needs to go to market, explaining that rather than trying to create a sustainable product, some persons may do better business-wise if they become part of the value chain.

“You can be the pepper guy; you don’t have to make the sauce. I can be the water, you can be the cranberry; you can be the bottle stopper; you can be the paper brander. Everybody has their role to play in the value chain and what we need to understand is to play to your strengths; be part of that value chain that would eventually get us to market.”

To that end, she explained that Caribbean Export’s vision for a Caribbean Brand Label would ensure, for example, that all the pepper sauces from all across the region have a single brand which has a stamp of approval which indicates it has met international standards such as ISO and HACCP. Such a move, she noted, would also ensure that manufacturers are able to meet the demand for products and earn much needed foreign exchange for the region.


“Most of us cannot meet market demand for many of our products individually, but we could meet it jointly. If we are able to come together and produce certain products jointly under a common brand, just imagine what the outcome would be in terms of sustainability [and] consistency of supply, which is one of the big issues.

“If we had 15-member states producing under one brand, could you imagine the ability to guarantee that we would be able to provide this cocoa, this coconut, this pepper sauce, under one brand to all the markets across Europe? It would be phenomenal! We did it with sugar years ago, didn’t we? We did it with bananas, so why can’t we do that for other products?”

POTENTIAL POLL? – Constitution referendum proposed for February 10, 2015

By Linda Straker

Grenadians could be going to the polls in seven months, not to change its Government, but to change its Constitution, which was handed down from Great Britain when the island gained Independence on February 7, 1974.

Addressing Tuesday morning’s weekly post-Cabinet briefing, Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod said that the Constitution Reform Advisory Committee has submitted its initial report to the Cabinet following weeks of consultations throughout the island and these members will now examine the proposal with a view for having the referendum poll on February 10, 2015.

He said that 25 areas were recommended for change, but focus will only be on 12 in the first instance.

“High on the list is the issue of Grenada joining the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final appellate court,” said the Legal Affairs Minister, who has already expressed his strong support for the new justice system.

“We believe it’s time to find our own wings to fly,” he said.

Another area of priority is the inclusion of the names Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique on the passport. These islands are governed by Grenada, but the names are not spelt out on the passport. Over the years, there has been continuous advocacy for and against inclusion of the names on the passport.

Also on the priority list are the suggestions to changing the oath of allegiance to Grenada instead of the Queen of England; changing the title of Chief of Police to Commissioner of Police; and establishing an Electoral Commission instead of having a Supervisor of Elections.

“We, the people of Grenada, will ultimately decide what we want with this process,” said Attorney General, Cajeton Hood, who shared the briefing with Nimrod.

According to the regulations in the Constitution, any amendment or for Grenada to adopt a new constitution, there must be a referendum that involves two-thirds of the voting population and parliamentarians.

Earlier this year, Cabinet appointed a 15-member Constitution Reform Advisory Committee, whose task was to review work already done with regards to Grenada adopting a new constitution and at the same time have consultations with people, so that recommendations can be proposed with regards to the wish of the population.

Headed by former Attorney General and Constitutional lawyer, Dr. Francis Alexis, the Committee had sessions throughout villages and communities to hear the desires and wishes of the people. The 25 recommendations were based on the discussions and suggestions from these consultations.

Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade, in delivering the traditional Throne Speech for the Opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament last year, said that as Grenada celebrates its 40th year of Independence from Great Britain, having a review at this time is quite appropriate.

Caribbean tourism ‘rebounding’

Caribbean tourism is on the rebound and moving forward – thanks to a turnaround of the economy in the United States.

So says the outgoing Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

The positive outlook comes at a time when the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is forecasting global tourism growth of between 4 and 4.5 per cent.

“We are finally seeing that the US economy which still remains our key market for the region is improving and so has our tourism numbers,” she said.

“The forecast for this year is just a little under the 2 per cent up, year over year. Revenue in terms of room revenue is increasing; spend of people coming to the region is increasing again. Those are all positive indicators for us that the economy is rebounding, but also that the region is out there
collectively, and with the 30 members within the CTO – the diversity of our product makes people want to come back again and again.”

Despite progress, the CTO Chair noted that airlift continues to be a problem in the region. She is therefore encouraging the Incoming Chair of the CTO to continue to focus on the aviation needs of the
region.

“I think we made progress in terms of getting the parties to speak to each other to outline major transportation, organisation .... this is taking much longer than I anticipated. We have to maintain that aviation is critical to the growth of the region,” she stressed.

“Inter-Caribbean travel is a significant part of the business segment for our small hotels product in the region, but overall as well I think we have to improve the aviation needs of our region not just for the inter-Caribbean visitors, but for the fact that it connects families. We have to improve the cost of aviation, the logistics and the service.”

Ms. Nicholson-Doty further expressed that countries of the region are not each other’s competitors. “We complement each other, we have so much to gain from best practices within the region – that we can really look to strengthen the region.” (TL)

CPL BOOST – will bring unprecedented marketing of Grenada

By Linda Straker

Sports Minister, Emmalin Pierre, believes that Grenada’s hosting of the opening games for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will bring about a level of marketing for the island’s tourism product that the island will never be able to achieve on any given day.

“What we are going to achieve single-handedly on that day, the country will never be able to pay for this; we cannot afford to pay for this. The island and its facility will be on show for the entire world; think about the millions in India and South Africa who will be watching,” Pierre said last week Thursday, during a ceremony in which Sandals presented the Government of Grenada with EC$135 000 to contribute to the cost of Grenada acquiring the rights to host the opening games, which will be held on July 11 and 12, 2014.

Minister of Sports, Emmalin Pierre, receiving a cheque
from Peter Fraser, General Manager of Sandals LaSource.

“It’s opening a barrage of opportunities. The games will be exposing our young people to the many opportunities that are available through sports,” she added.

Speaking about the immediate impact on the country, Pierre said that hotel rooms will be occupied as there will be heads in beds during the traditional slow and low season.

“The officials alone will be filling two of our biggest hotels, plus the teams and others who are coming just for the events on those two days,” she said.

“The entire country stands to benefit from this; the marketing opportunities will just be magnificent,” she said, reiterating that tourism and sports can create a partnership that will bring huge benefits to both the public and private sectors.

The sports minister said that although Government has been criticised for pursuing the hosting of the games, she believes that it will bring untold benefits to the island immediately and in the future.

“When we took the decision, we did not even know where the money was coming from to pay, but we looked at the bigger picture and we firmly believe that this can only be in the good for the country,” she said.

Peter Fraser, General Manager of Sandals LaSource, presented the cheque to the Minister. He said that Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart was extremely proud to be associated with the games, as cricket is one thing that unites and brings the Caribbean people together.

It will cost the Government US$500 000 to host the games and Government is raising the funds through various partners. The National Lotteries Authority has already contributed US$250 000.

No more sugar shortage

BY the end of the week, most shops in Grenada are expected to be offering both brown and white sugar to customers, as the shipment which was stuck in Trinidad arrived on the island last Friday.

There was a shortage of sugar on the Grenada market and Chief Executive Officer of the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB), Ruel Edwards, said this occurred because of the region’s poor transportation system.

The shipment of sugar arrived in the island more than a fortnight late and was immediately transported to major supermarkets and the MNIB outlet on Young Street where customers were quickly purchasing huge amounts, fearful that there will be a second shortage.

“I had none and I happen to be inside MNIB when it came, so I purchase 50 pounds,” said one customer.

The sugar shortage first started with brown sugar about three weeks ago and it was the hope of the MNIB that the white sugar would have filled the void by the time the brown sugar arrived. However, with the shipment stuck in Trinidad, this resulted in both the brown and white sugar becoming scarce.

Among the industries affected by the shortage were bakeries, as pastries and confectioneries that are sugar-based were either in short supply or completely unavailable. Market vendors who sold juice were also unable to meet demands.

The MNIB, according to law, has the sole authority to import sugar for commercial sale in the country. An individual is allowed to go through Immigration or Customs with no more than 10 kilos of sugar for personal use. (LS)

HISTORIC RULING – Former Grenada 17 prisoner scores legal victory in UK court

Ewart Layne, who has appealed a High Court judgement which rejected his application to become
a practising attorney in Grenada, believes that a recent UK Court judgement can have some positive impact on his matter.

The High Court in the United Kingdom last week Monday ruled that notwithstanding his recorded convictions for the tragic deaths of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others on October 19, 1983, Selwyn Strachan possesses the requisite character and suitability to be admitted as a Solicitor to the legal profession.

In the appeal matter of Selwyn Strachan vs Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the presiding High Court Judge stated the following: “...The conclusion of the SRA that the appellant does not satisfy
the Suitability Test is flawed and cannot be relied upon to support an argument against waiver of the requirement of student enrolment.”

Both Layne and Strachan were imprisoned for their involvement in the October 1983 killings and both of them obtained legal education and qualification while imprisoned. They were released in 2009
following a re-sentencing after numerous appeals as provided in the justice system.

“The outcome of Strachan matter in London should not affect my matter negatively. Yes, it is a judgement that is not binding in Grenada, but precedent in law. It should have some bearings when my matter goes before the Appeal Court,” said Layne, who expects the matter to be heard later in the year when the OECS Court of Appeal meets in Grenada.

A press release from the London-based Committee on Human Rights Grenada said that in this landmark judgement delivered on June 23, 2014, Justice Charles, having already allowed Strachan’s appeal at the end of the hearing on February 11, 2014, held that the SRA, the independent regulatory body of the Law Society of England and Wales, was wrong to refuse to grant Strachan the right to pursue the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in the United Kingdom, so as to pave the way for his admission as an Attorney-at-Law in the jurisdiction of Grenada.

In this regard, the release said Justice Charles made it clear that if the SRA had not indicated its agreement during the hearing to abide by a waiver of the relevant regulation, he would have directed them to issue a certificate of enrolment to Strachan as that “would have been the only route open to me to ensure that the appellant was able to undergo the training that would enable him to seek and obtain authorisation from the Grenadian authorities to act as an Attorney-at-Law in Grenada”.

Further, the learned judge opined: “...In my view such an enrolment would likely to enhance rather than damage the reputation of the profession and its regulator the SRA in England and Wales in the exceptional circumstances of this case which clearly include the possibility that the appellant’s convictions did not accord with a proper application of the rule of law.”


In the judge’s view, “The SRA, in its decision-making process and so through the Committee, erred in principle and acted unfairly in reaching the Decision.”

Moreover, Justice Charles stated that “it is unfair and wrong for the SRA to assert (as it did) that a factor in favour of the approach by the Committee, and which it supported, namely that the convictions must be treated as sound, was that the Privy Council and the sentencing court did not reopen the convictions. This is because the Privy Council did not have the jurisdiction to do so and the sentencing court was only concerned with sentencing pursuant to the direction of the Privy Council”.

Justice Charles placed particular emphasis on the fact that Strachan’s recorded convictions, which occurred over 30 years ago, were obtained under exceptional cir-cumstances, and the SRA ought to have taken those exceptional circumstances into account before denying Strachan the opportunity to write the LPC in the English jurisdiction.

The learned judge noted, among other things, that the trial of the Grenada 17, of which Strachan was one of the prominent accused persons, was unfair and “fatally flawed and in gross violation of international standards of fairness”, as clearly recorded in the 2003 Amnesty International Report; that the Court in which the trial of the Grenada 17 was conducted was unconstitutional, being a court of necessity, as clearly recorded in the Judgement of the Privy Council; that the main prosecution witness Cletus St. Paul, who is presently a Security Co-ordinator to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, whose evidence convicted Strachan and nine other members of the Grenada 17, gave five conflicting statements to the police, Magistrate’s Court and the trial court, as clearly expressed by JOF Haynes, the late former President of the Grenada Court of Appeal, and recorded in the Amnesty International Report.

Thus, in Paragraph 59 of his judgement, Justice Charles was particularly forthright. He summarised the factual position vis-à-vis the trial and convictions of the Grenada 17 in this manner: “The fundamental error made by the Committee and the SRA is a failure to appreciate and take into account that the political background to the convictions and the manner in which they were obtained is an integral part of the circumstances that make this case exceptional... Factors within those circumstances are: political tensions; the allegations of torture of Defendants; the court was unconstitutional; the jury was chosen by a person who had acted for the prosecution; the jury behaved in ways that demonstrated bias
or a severe risk of bias (and the allegations on which this is based came from apparently reliable sources); the Defence Counsel withdrew on the basis set out in the Amnesty International Report; there is strong evidence that the key prosecution witness gave conflicting statements that were kept from the court and Defendants; the view of the former US Attorney General who observed the trial was as set out in the passage I have cited from the Amnesty Interna-tional Report.”

In his concluding remarks, Justice Charles made the following telling and instructive comment: “I am sorry to have to record that in my view the approach taken by SRA through its decision-making process lacked humanity, having regard to the factual history put before them...”

St. Mark Flood Mitigation project completed

Health and Social Security Minister, and Parliamentary
Representative for St. Mark, Clarice Modeste (second from
right, partially hidden), along with Chinese Ambassador
Ou Boqian, unveil the plaque in recognition of the St. Mark Flood
Mitigation project, while Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell looks on.

“A lion has been tamed,” was the assurance from Parliamentary Representative, Clarice Modeste, to residents who live close to the Great River in St. Mark’s, when officials from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), along with Government, held a closing ceremony to officially bring to an end the St. Mark Flood Mitigation project.

Describing the river as a lion is not an understatement to the residents, as it is known for flooding its banks during the rainy season, claiming lives and destroying the homes of many, who like those in rural communities reside close and in some cases, extremely close to the banks of rivers.

“I grew up not far from the river and every rainy season we worried about it bursting its banks, but you will no longer have to worry about that as this river, which can be so gentle now can turn into a roaring lion with the right amount of rain,” Modeste said about the river, which source is the watershed area of St. Mark.

Modeste, who serves as Health and Social Security Minister, said that the flood mitigation project is a priority needed for the safety of the community. The construction, which cost US$5 million, was completed and handed over almost one month before the scheduled completion time, and will protect the community from the effects of dangerous flooding. The launch of the project in 2013 was the first for the then new Chinese Ambassador Ou Boqian.

In her remarks, she said that her Government was very pleased to be associated with the project, which brings less worry to the people.

“You don’t have to worry about the River suffering you again; its feet and hands are tied up,” she said about the project, which involved dredging certain parts of the river, building river defences and placing of steps so that residents can continue to use the river for traditional practices, such as washing.

Dr. the Right Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, said that this occasion was a special one for his country.

“This is a very happy day. We are launching a very significant project for the development of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. I want to extend a special thanks to our friends at China Harbour. With Grenada working along with China and the US together, we can’t go wrong.”

In the past, torrential rains and mudslides caused much devastation in the parish of St. Mark, many of which resulted in the destruction of homes, and, more importantly, the loss of lives.

In an attempt to combat this problem, the Government took the decision to contract China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Americas to implement the St. Mark Flood Mitigation project in 2013. Steps to better access the river were laid and clearly marked swimming basins/areas were put in place to further cater to the needs of the community.

“In the Caribbean, you never know when a hurricane can hit, especially in the season between June and November,” remarked Jeff Wang, Country Manager of CHEC Grenada.

“With this in mind, our team has been working especially hard to complete this project before the peak of the hurricane season, as this area is particularly prone to floods and damage caused by soil erosion.”

The project employed nearly 100 people – 90 per cent of whom were Grenadians from the immediate surroundings.

Social outreach

During the project life, CHEC Americas did not only build barriers to control the river, but showed its commitment to further enhancing the community through a number of social outreach programmes, one of which is the basketball court which was granted to the Bonaire Government School to celebrate the completion of the project.

Since CHEC began its operations in Grenada, it has been engaged in several Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, including the donation of school supplies, clean-up campaigns, and the sponsorship of cricket in Carriacou.

Frank Yuan, Deputy General Manager of CHEC Americas, thanked the Government and the people of Grenada for their support, while reassuring attendees that CHEC would continue to contribute its best services to the country.

“At CHEC Americas, we strive to stand by our core business values, which can be best characterised with four words – Integrity, Dedication, Inclusion and Innovation. As such, we are deeply rooted in our commitment to maximising the utilisation of local resources and expertise in all our operations.”

The St. Mark project is the first of a series of infrastructure development Government projects, which are to be implemented by CHEC Americas. The company has already completed its geotechnical studies on the Lauriston Airport in Carriacou and work will soon begin on the expansion and refurbishing of the Maurice Bishop International Airport in St. George’s.

PLAN LAUNCHED

Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade, unveils
the Five Pillars of the Marketing and National
Importing Board (MNIB) Strategic Plan.

By Linda Straker

A wider cross-section of the farming and agri-farming communities is now more knowledgeable about the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB) Strategic Plan, which will be their guiding principle document as they seek to become more profitable and at the same time develop the agriculture industry in Grenada.

Chairman of the Board, Samuel Andrew, said that June 17, 2014 marked a significant turning point in the history and life of the MNIB because it was the day that they started to implement a plan that will change the agricultural community.

“This plan as presently today, is a plan that will position the Board and put its decision in line with the national agenda, so that it can plan its role in national development. This plan will also increase the Board’s relevance to national and global development,” he said, while explaining that the bottom line will be profit maximisation.

The MNIB launched its six-year strategic plan at the Spice Basket, in a ceremony where the highlight was the unveiling of the Five Pillars of the plan by Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade. The plan itself was an internal project of the MNIB, two years in the making and was spearheaded by former General Manager, Fitzroy James.

The five pillars that will guide the work of the MNIB will be: Increase in product supply stream; Institutional strengthening; Viable and robust export sector; Development of the agro-processing industry; and Development of a strong meat industry.

With regards to expanding the plan, CEO Ruel Edwards said that in the area of export it is the hope that by 2020, the MNIB will have a strong overseas presence in the diaspora market and export 2.5 million pounds of produce per year.

The plan also provides for reaching a target of 25 per cent increase in exports using 2014 as its baseline and at the same time have a well-developed, value-added sector.

One of the new areas of focus will be the area of meat production and this is expected to be done in partnership with livestock farmers and organisations whose focus and membership is in the meat industry.

“We will be working to realise a 20 per cent reduction in fresh meat imports and at the same time export meats to other parts of the region,” Edwards told the farmers.

Critical to achieving the plan, in particular their desire to export to the USA market, is the need for the MNIB to have a safety system within its working environment. Edwards said that currently, no such system exists and it will be a priority.

“The intention is that by December 31st, 2015, the MNIB will have a safety system as this will give us the break to export our produce to the USA and other markets,” he said.

Major EU funding could benefit key areas for Caribbean states

FOR the first time, the European Union (EU) will be providing 1 billion euros in development aid to the region.

Word of this comes from Head of Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Mikael Barfod, who was delivering welcome remarks at the second bi-regional policy dialogue, ‘Sustainable Bi-regional Multi-stakeholder Policy Dialogue on Science and Technology, which was held at the UWI Cave Hill Campus last week Wednesday.

His comments came as he revealed that the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) programme is being finalised. “This support will be focused in three areas – regional integration, climate change and crime and security. These areas provide several prospects for the Science, Technology and Innovation Community, and align well with the research agenda for the region.”

Ambassador Barfod, in his address, observed some apparently counter-intuitive concepts in the region, which he noted could collectively effect a new paradigm.

Highlighting his observations over the past year and nine months in the region, he said, “Each country within the region contributes a significant portion of its annual budget on human resource development, but continues to suffer from human capacity constraints in several potential growth areas.

“Substantial sums are spent on higher education, including financing from the EU on development of community colleges across the region, but there is a poorly developed research culture, especially in science and technology.

“The private sector plays a critical role in the development to the economies of the region and in support of higher education, yet there appears to be a significant disconnect between scholarship and practice.”

Additionally, he noted that while institutions such as the EU have made available significant financing for research and development, research institutions appear challenged to access this financing.

It is against this backdrop that he suggested these apparent counterpoints converge with a single message. “Leaders in the region must identify sustainable, strategic, scalable solutions for translating investments in education and research into policy imperatives and innovative enterprises. Similarly, we as development partners must create flexible and easily accessible funding options that facilitate the transition from thought to enterprise.”

The head of the EU delegation opined that the outputs from EUCARINET programme between the EU and the Caribbean has provided an appropriate foundation on which this message may be actualised. “The formulation of the final policy brief and strategic plan for sustainability is an extremely useful product for establishing the research, development and co-operation going forward.”

He said that the EU’s seven-year Horizon 2020 programme will help to rationalise the trust in the sector over the next few years. (JH)

TEN HONOURED

By Linda Straker

TEN Grenadians, one of whom has contributed significantly in Canada, are among the more than 11 000 Commonwealth nationals who were recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2014 Birthday Honours List.

The highest award to a Grenadian national was Commander of the Order of the British Empire and it went to Jean Augustine for her services to Education and Politics. She currently resides in Canada where she has made her contributions. She also served in its Parliament.

Russel Fielden and Ann Hopkin were appointed as Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Fielden
is recognised for his con-tribution towards the Tourism Industry and Hopkin for services to Nursing.

“I am very surprised, but that is great,” said Fielden, who learnt about the appointment through his sister in London. “She just called to tell me and now you are telling, I had no idea! I don’t even know who nominated me,” he said.

A British national, Fielden first visited Grenada in 1981, but officially began working in the Tourism sector in 1985 when he was appointed as the General Manager of the Secret Harbour.

He made his contribution to the yachting sector continuously with different companies until he and his wife purchased the True Blue Bay Inn in 1998 and turned it into one of Grenada’s top hotels.

The Member of the Order of the British Empire was awarded to Jean Griffith for services to the Community and the Sickle Cell Association; Vincent Morain for his services to Education and Community Development; and Francis Redhead for his contribution towards Culture.

British Empire Medals were awarded to Maureen Charles for her services to the Community and the Dorothy Hopkin Centre; Wilfred Harris for Community Service; Peggy Nesfield for Community Service; and Christopher Peterkin for his service in the Public Service.

Stakeholders in fishing industry more knowledgeable about policies

James Nicholas, President of the
Southern Fishermen Association.

A number of persons in the fishing industry from five fishing organisations are more knowledgeable about aspects of the industry, having recently participated in a workshop which provided them with a better understanding about the national, regional and international processes for developing and implementing fisheries and related policies.

This is as a result of a recent national fisherfolk workshop undertaken by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). During the workshop, participants carried out a ‘Problem Tree’ analysis, which identified challenges to fisherfolk organisations and fisherfolk in areas such as the cost of fishing operations, market intelligence, development of fisherfolk organisations, fisheries policy, governance and management, and social security for fisherfolk.

Then they determined the likely solutions, including the capacities and resources required to address these challenges. They recognised the need to form a national fisherfolk organisation to advocate for changes in the national and regional policy, institutional and planning arrangements that would better address their issues. As a result, they set up an interim committee comprising representatives of the various fisherfolk organisations to promote the formation of a national fisherfolk organisation.

In his evaluation of the two-day workshop, James Nicholas, President of the Southern Fishermen Association, said: “The main objectives were met. The use of the ‘Problem Tree’ was very interesting and informative as it allowed us to express our issues in this industry, and pointed to the need for a national fisherfolk organisation. We see this as the way forward.”

The workshop was co-facilitated by Toby Francis Calliste, mentor; and Terrence Phillips, Senior Technical Officer, CANARI. Supporting the engagement of fisherfolk is especially critical now, as there are a number of international, regional and national policies being developed and implemented that will impact on their livelihoods.

The Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO), in consultation with its membership, represented the region’s fisherfolk at the recently concluded negotiations and approval of the International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, which were co-ordinated
by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). At the regional level, they are seeking to input into the operationalisation of the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy and the Castries (St. Lucia) Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

The workshop was convened under the over 1 million Euro European Union-funded project, “Enhancing Food Security from the Fisheries Sector in the Caribbean: Building the Capacity of Regional and National fisherfolk organisation networks to participate in fisheries governance and management”, which is targeting fisherfolk organisations in the countries of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

It is being implemented by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), working in partnership with the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies of the University of the West Indies (UWI-CERMES), Panos Caribbean, Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Associations (CNFO) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM). (LS)

Grenada continues to remain free of Chikungunya

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. George Mitchell, says that Grenada is yet to record any case of the Chikungunya disease, which is transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito.

“Neither private or public doctors have come across cases, but what we did was to conduct the Chikungunya test on suspected cases of dengue fever. After the test, we have had positive results for dengue fever, but none of the test came back as positive for Chikungunya,” he said.

“So right now I can say that Grenada medical records have no suspected or confirmed cases of the Chikungunya,” he added.

Recent reports say that there are presently more than 130 941 suspected cases and 4 486 laboratory confirmed of chikungunya positive cases in 17 Caribbean territories, including the French Caribbean territories.

“However, in the case of Grenada, we are still free of it and remaining free is a partnership involving the general public because the way it’s transmitted. The public did to make it impossible for the mosquito to breathe and that is why we want householders to continuously keep the surroundings clean,” said Dr. Mitchell.

The rainy season, according to Dr. Mitchell, requires that the public become more vigilant so as to ensure that breeding grounds are not created for mosquitoes.

“The public, therefore, needs to clean up and remove all waste that can assist in the breeding
of mosquitoes,” he said. (LS)

CUT BY HALF – 50% reduction on concessions for statutory bodies

By Linda Straker

AS of August 1, 2014, statutory bodies established by an Act of Parliament will only be able to receive 50 per cent of concessions on imports into the island.

“Where a statutory body now enjoys any percentage of exemption or concession from the payment of custom duties and taxes, any such percentage is now reduced by 50 per cent,” said Section 3 of the recently approved Statutory Bodies (Treatment of Exemptions and Concessions) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014.

The Bill, which was recently approved by both Houses of Parliament, describes a statutory entity as a body established by an Act of Parliament with statutory powers and operational autonomy to carry out government related functions and which is part of or under the direct control of the Government.

There are currently more than 20 such bodies and they include the National Water and Sewage Authority; the Grenada Ports Authority; the Grenada Postal Corporation; T.A. Marryshow Community College; the Grenada Airports Authority; the Grenada Bureau of Standards; the National Stadium Authority; the Grenada Authority for the Regulations of Financial Institutions; the Gravel and Concrete Emulsion Corporation; the National Cultural Foundation; the Spicemas Corporation; and most recently, the Grenada Tourism Authority.

Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that for 2013, statutory bodies received a total of EC$4.7 million.

NDC marches against taxes

THE town of Grenville was the venue for a peaceful march last Friday in which supporters and
executive members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) expressed their concerns about the ruling administration’s decision to enforce and/or add to clauses within Tax systems to increase revenue and Government’s failure to provide jobs for the people, which was a key promise during the February 2013 General Elections campaign.

General Secretary of the NDC, Patrick Simmons, said that the march, which was led by Political Leader, Nazim Burke, is to openly call for a change to the island’s tax system and at the same time draw to the Government’s attention the need to fulfil their promise of jobs for the people.

Some of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters
who marched through the town of Grenville last Friday.

“We believe that the current tax system is regressive. There is no equity in the tax system and at the same time, this current administration is coming with them too frequently on the people. This needs to change, something has to be done,” he said.

Simmons, who served as Youth and Sports Minister during the NDC administration which did not win a constituency seat in the February 19 General Election, said that the taxes are negatively impacting on
the personal lives of Grenadians, while those who are unemployed are totally fed up with searching for jobs.

“Most importantly, we are calling for a fair tax system,” said Simmons, who claims that since the year started not only has the ruling New National Party Administration increased existing taxes, but they have also introduced new ones.

“Property tax has doubled and now we are hearing of new ones,” he said.

As part of efforts to increase its revenue, Government, as of January 1, 2014, has undertaken some measures which include the lowering of the Income Tax threshold from EC$60 000 to EC$36 000; increasing the licensing fees within the Road Traffic Act and property tax, and most recently, parliamentary approval to increase the excise tax on rum and cigarettes, as well as increase the
licensing fees for a number of goods and services.

Recently, Timothy Antoine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, said that those measures were assisting in increasing Government revenue, which is allowing the Ministry of Finance to at least meet its commitment to pay monthly salaries. He said that for the first quarter of 2014, both the Customs and Inland Revenue Departments met their targets.

However, Government is still working on closing the fiscal gap, he said, while explaining that  before the tax measures, Government, which has a monthly wage bill of more than EC$22 million, had
a monthly revenue of EC$35 million, but during the first quarter had a monthly income of EC$40 million. (LS)

GRAND LAUNCH – New theme for 2014 Spicemas revealed

Culture Minister, Sen. Brenda Hood,
launching Spicemas 2014.

By Linda Straker

Culture Minister, Senator Brenda Hood, has announced that “Uniquely rooted in our rich ancestral traditions, Spicemas 2014... An Explosion of Calypso and Soca” will be the theme for this year’s Carnival celebrations.

She made the announcement last Saturday at the Port Highway while delivering an address to officially launch the start of the 2014 celebrations. At the May 6 media launch, it was announced that “Spicemas 2014 – the Mecca of Calypso and Soca” was to be the theme, but Hood said that following that announcement, there were many concerns expressed from the general public and as a result, a review was done to adopt a new theme.

Hood, who is no stranger to the Culture Ministry and over the years is among the few ministers of Government to actually adorn with a costume and parade on the streets, appealed to persons to play in a band for the final two days of parading on the streets.

“Find a costume of your choice and have great Spicemas experience,” she said to those who came out to witness the opening ceremony, which featured parading of Traditional Mas such as Shortknee, Vieux Croix, Moko Jumbie, Jab Jab, a performance from the 2013 Panorama champion as well as performances from reigning Calypso Monarch Keturah George and soca artistes.

The Moko Jumbie at the Carnival launch.

Chairman of the SMC, Alister Bain, reminded persons that the Queen show will be back on the agenda for 2014, despite the change in venue for the major events because of the unavailability of the National Stadium.

Many persons participated in the opening ceremony,
which featured parading of Traditional Mas.

With regards to sponsors, he said that LIME, despite its reduction in cash support, will continue to be the platinum sponsor for Soca Monarch and National Lottery Authority for Panorama. Both companies will be providing EC$180 000 and EC$352 000 respectively. The Grenada Broadcasting Network will be the official media and advertising platform with support of EC$80 000. Other sponsors include: George F. Huggins, Grenada Distillers, Colombian Emeralds and Westerhall Rum.

100% increase on professional licensing fees

A number of professionals whose services require them to receive a licence from the State to operate can find themselves getting fined fees as high as EC$30 000 if they fail to comply with the law, which makes it mandatory for them to obtain an annual licence.

Head of the Inland Revenue Unit, Dr. Raphael Stephens, said that the law for annual licensing has existed more than 25 years, but few professionals have complied.

“We are putting the necessary structures in place for all who have to obtain an annual licence do so, as it’s a violation of the legislation if they don’t comply,” he said.

During the May 27 session of the House of Representatives, the members approved the Licence Act Order 2014 which makes it mandatory for 45 different professionals to obtain annual licensing fees. Dr. Stephens said that the fees for the professionals named in the Act increased by 100%.

“Some of the practitioners are fully aware that they have to obtain a licence, but they have not been doing so for years and so once the legislation have gone through, the entire legal process will be working to increase its compliance,” he said.

The fees start from as low as EC$5 for Hucksters or Traffickers to EC$10 000 for Motor Vehicle Dealers. The fees for Accountants, Architects, Auctioneers, Lawyers, Engineers,  Doctors, Dentists, and Surveyors moved from EC$500 to EC$1 000.

Commercial Agents will now have to pay EC$1 200; Real Estate Agents; Distillers and operating a Brewery EC$5 000; Charterers of ships, yachts or boats annual fee will be EC$2 500; Duty-free shop EC$5 000; Chemists EC$600 and Travel Agents EC$500.

The licence for operating or managing a watersport business will be EC$100; operating a video rental outlet is EC$500; operating a club EC$1 000; a cinema EC$500; a refreshment house EC$500; operating a guesthouse EC$600; a hotel with 20 bedrooms or less will be EC$1 000; a hotel between 21 and 90 bedrooms EC$1 500; and a hotel over 90 rooms will be EC$2 500.


The gun licence will be EC$500; the boatman will be EC$50; the wireman licence will be EC$200; while a building contractor will be EC$720.

Where the Bond established with the Customs and Excise Department doesn’t exceed EC$100 000,
the annual fee will be EC$12 000 and where the Bond established with the Customs and Excise Department exceeds EC$100 000 but does not exceed EC$200 000, the fee will be EC$16 000. Where the Bond exceeds EC$250 000, the fee will be EC$20 000. (LS)

STATISTICS KEY TO DEVELOPMENT

By Linda Straker

“A data revolution for sustainable development, with a new international initiative to improve the quality of statistics and infor-mation available to citizens” was the theme for a CARICOM High-Level Forum on Statistics, which opened in Grenada on Monday at the Radisson Hotel.

Bringing together governments and other statistical institutions within CARICOM, the forum was part of a number of activities aimed at showing the role of statistical information in the development of the region as citizens and governments prepare to embrace the various opportunities that can be realised through statistics.

Statistics fall under the supervision of the Finance Ministry and in delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, who is also the Finance Minister, told the participants that statistics ought to be seen as the voice of the people.

“Development is about empowering our citizens, whether it is through education and skills development or health care. It is also through statistics that we inform about their reality and results of actions taken by the people or by Government,” he said, while explaining that statistics is not only important for policymakers, but also for providing information to the citizens of our region.


“Our citizens require appropriate statistics to hold their governments and all serious stakeholders accountable. Therefore, the role of statistics in development is not only for our governments to monitor, but also to drive the development outcomes that statistics measure through the voices of the people of our region,” he said.

Dr. Mitchell said that every regional territory is faced with tremendous and quite similar challenges and it is therefore difficult to address these challenges effectively if governments cannot measure their magnitudes accurately.

Sharing an example of how accurate statistics need to be, he said that regional talk shows through the various outlets have become a dominant medium for public information and many times misinformation, often generating more heat than light.

“It is said that there are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up. I am afraid there is too much ‘making up’ of statistics on talk shows around our region. We must change that,” he said.

“Given this reality, we must develop and timely disseminate information products which our citizens can consume, and in the process become more enlightened and empowered to play their specific role in nation building.”

He also believes that statistical development requires a regional approach at a time of unprecedented economic challenges with very limited and stretched public resources, and dwindling grant resources, the necessity for evidence-based policymaking is crucial. Every development dollar must count.

“None must be wasted. Governments and citizens alike need relevant and timely information on which to make decisions. It is clear, even with the best intentions, that national statistical systems are currently not meeting these challenges. Consequently, we must invest in regional approaches that help to optimise our scarce public resources,” he said.

“In our region, the free movement of people – and of minds – has to be encouraged and entrenched in the sharing of best practices as we confront the enormous challenges we face. Statistical development should not be static or isolated within individual countries because the development of statistics is essential to regional and national advancement.”

The main objective of the forum was to enable high-level commitment by governments of CARICOM to the strengthening of the national statistical systems as a key means of sustaining the development and availability of timely, high quality and relevant statistics for decision-making, and for the empowerment of citizens of our entire region.

Carnival season opening tomorrow with Port Highway jam

THE Port Highway in Tanteen is expected to be converted into a potpourri of Carnival displays when the Spicemas Corporation (SMC) opens the 2014 Carnival season tomorrow, Saturday, May 31, 2014.

It will be the launch of Spicemas 2014 and the SMC will continue to reveal its plans for this year’s Carnival season. A statement from the SMC said that the launch will provide Carnival lovers with a taste of all the exciting events down to the climax in August. The event is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. during which the Spicemas Carnival season will be officially declared open.

ABOVE : The Spicemas Corporation (SMC) held a motorcade
around the island informing and inviting people
to attend the Carnival launch.

Several Calypso and Soca artistes are expected to perform during the launch, which will live up to its energised reputation, said the release, which also confirmed that the event will highlight other
aspects of Spicemas including Pan, Fancy Mas, Moko Jumbies, Jab Jab, Vieux Corp, Wild Indian and Shortknee.

The organisers of Spicemas are looking forward to having a much bigger launch than in previous years and are inviting all to come out and enjoy a taste of what’s to come for the Carnival season. The list of activities slated for Spicemas 2014 will be revealed during the launch.

Mr. Alister Bain, Chairman of Spicemas, said: “We are looking forward to a safe, secure and well-organised season with the involvement and participation of everyone, including stakeholders, sponsors, the RGPF, the general public and our visitors.”

The Port Highway is located alongside the Roy St. John playing field and the launch will be happening eight days after the SMC held a motorcade around the island informing and inviting people to attend the launch. The main venue for Carnival celebrations in 2014 will be the Roy St. John playing field in Tanteen because there will be cricket games at the National Cricket Stadium, which over the years has become the venue for main Carnival final activities such as Soca Monarch and Panorama. (LS)