AS a result of bilateral discussions in Port-of-Spain on Sunday between Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Grenada will receive nearly EC$20 million or US$8.7 million in grant assistance.
President Xi Jinping was on a two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago before leaving for Costa Rica late on Sunday. While there, he met with a number of Caribbean leaders in a series of bilateral meetings.
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| The Grenadian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, meeting with the Chinese delegation. |
Officials travelling with President Xi said the money can be drawn down at a schedule, and for purposes that Grenada will determine.
Dr. Mitchell, heading a four-man delegation including Foreign Affairs Minister Nickolas Steele, made an impassioned plea for more grant assistance from Beijing for the next three years, as the Grenada Government seeks to stabilise the fiscal crisis it inherited.
Prime Minister Mitchell asked Beijing for 10 million US dollars for each of the next three years for direct budgetary support.
“I add again that the cash support, this year, next year and the following year is crucial because of the situation in which we have found ourselves,” Prime Minister Mitchell told President Xi in wrapping up his presentation.
Grenada has also presented a list of projects for consideration over the next five years – a plethora of things ranging from Housing to Sports, Agriculture, Infrastructural projects and Education.
In a session lasting nearly 45 minutes, Prime Minister Mitchell made a special plea for education assistance, particularly in technological areas. “We recognise that while we are smaller than many other countries, our people want to compete in the same way as other people in the global society. To do this, we must educate them and empower them with knowledge.”
He also pushed to have Chinese assistance in building the additional 500 unit of houses that the previous government had given up in seeking to have the athletic stadium rebuilt.
Prime Minister Mitchell reminded President Xi that before he left office in 2008 there was an agreement for building of both the stadium and the houses, and he was not sure what transpired after that.
He urged Beijing to revisit that initial agreement that will allow for the building of the houses and the stadium.
“There was a commitment to do both, and we are confident Mr. President that we can work together to ensure not just the rebuilding of the stadium, but the houses as well, because the housing situation is also crucial to us,” he told President Xi.
Prime Minister Mitchell was upbeat following his meeting with President Xi.
“I think we had a very positive discussion. We made our case and the President listened and promised to positively look at our presentations. Both sides have agreed on a system for follow up work,” he said.
The Chinese president also invited Dr. Mitchell to visit Beijing at his earliest convenience.
He called the Grenada leader “a true friend of the Chinese people”, noting his bold steps he took to establish relations with Beijing in 2005. (www.gov.gd)
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