MAREP’s orientation for skills and vocational training for TAMCC 2012 completed

THE Market Access and Rural Enterprise Development Programme (MAREP) has completed preliminary recruitment and orientation for beneficiaries of its second cycle of Skills and Vocational Training Certification Programme.

The orientation was held at the Rose Hill Community Centre on Friday, September 21, 2012. Approximately 90 candidates who were selected from 17 of MAREP’s targeted rural communities were present to receive information about the content of MAREP scholarships, which they will receive for the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) academic year 2012-2013. 

Beneficiaries who met the qualification requirements for the MAREP scholarships were recruited from MAREP targeted communities such as Mt. Rich, River Sallee, Sauteurs, Florida, Clozier, Union, Resource, New Hampshire, Windsor Forest, Vincennes, Paradise Cocoa, Soubise and Telescope.

Scholarship recipients who attended the orientation had the opportunity to review the terms and conditions associated with their MAREP scholarship agreement. The agreement includes conditions such as monitoring of candidates by MAREP Community and Youth Officers (CYOs), mandatory submission of reports of their progress, MAREP evaluation of their overall performance, punctuality, discipline, violations of the agreement that may lead to suspension or termination of scholarship and obligation to support MAREP’s work in targeted communities.

Entrepreneur Denis Noel, from Noelville Limited, addressed the scholarship beneficiaries and admonished participants to be creative, use the skills they will learn to build on their unique ideas to become entrepreneurs, to persevere and be self-motivated and to utilise every opportunity wisely in order to help create employment for themselves and others rather than waiting until employment can be created or provided for them.

MAREP provided a copy of the draft scholarship agreement to the candidates for consideration and advised them to carefully review and seek advice before signing.

Winners in GPC letter writing competition receive prizes

This student collects his prize from Director of Post, Leo Roberts.

By Linda Straker

THE top three students in the 2012 International Letter Writing Competition were on Monday presented with their prizes.

Open to students under the age of 15, the competition was held in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union and the Ministry of Education. 

As a member of the Universal Postal Union, the Grenada Postal Corporation (GPC) launched the international letter writing competi tion for young people on October 2011 at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School. 

The theme was “Write a letter to an athlete or sports figure you admire to explain what the Olympic Games means to you”. This was in keeping with the London Olympic Games 2012 and participants were encouraged to write a letter to Kirani James.

More than 100 students participated in the com- petition, which was won by Nizar Jasat of the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School who received EC$1 000; second was Odessa Merryman of the St. Mark Secondary who received EC$500; and third was Calvin Blache of the St. Andrew Anglican Secondary School who received EC$300.

The winning school also received a trophy, which will be kept at the school for two consecutive years; and the school with the most entries received a commemorative plaque.

GPA to assist SVG to develop poultry policy

By Linda Straker

President of the Grenada Poultry Association (GPA), Mr. Garvin Pierre, left the island earlier this week to assist neighbouring St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) with the development of a policy and other strategies that can assist in developing that island’s poultry industry.

According to officials at the GPA, Mr. Pierre was selected based on his expertise in the field and he is expected to work along with the relevant stakeholders in putting a policy together with the main aim of creating a level playing field for both the local producers/suppliers and those who currently import poultry into the country.

The importation of poultry into the islands contribute to a significant food import bill. The aim of the policy will be to increase local demand and at the same time reduce on import. 

Grenada is yet to have a policy on poultry, although the association has presented a draft document and Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, who is enthusiastic about the idea, has ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to partner with the association to have the policy developed and finalised.

National Training Agency undergoes review

The review team in session.

LAST week Wednesday a four-member team concluded a three-day mission in Grenada, the purpose of which was to conduct an external review of the National Training Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). 

The review team, led by Ms. Nicole Manning of HEART Trust/NTA-NCTVET Jamaica, conducted a number of interviews with senior NTA staff (in particular, the Chief Executive Officer and the Quality Assurance Co-ordinator) and other TVET officials associated with the National Training Agency. 

A statement from the NTA said that they also examined documents and other evidence related to quality assurance and standards development and approval including all manuals and reports; and visited approved training centres and other training institutions currently going through the process of centre approval. 

The evaluation is intended to determine the effectiveness of the systems, policies and procedures implemented by the NTA in keeping with the Quality Assurance Criteria and Guidelines for Caribbean Vocational Qualification of March 2009.  

The team will present their findings to CANTA at its next meeting in November. CANTA will then submit the report for further approval to the Regional Co-ordination Mechanism for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (RCM-TVET). The report will then be advanced for final approval to the CARICOM Council on Human and Social Development (COHSOD). 

The evaluation will determine Grenada’s readiness to grant Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs). Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) are one of the features in the process towards achieving the free movement of certified skilled workers under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).   

The statement said that the awarding of CVQ granting status to Grenada will mean that skilled and certified workers who successfully complete NTA training will be able to seek available employment opportunities in other CARICOM states with less difficulty. (LS)

RATING ‘PREMATURE’

THE Government of Grenada has described the decision by Standard and Poor’s to lower foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Grenada to ‘SD’ from ‘B-/B’ as premature.

“Government considers the action by Standard & Poor’s as premature considering the terms of the agreement for the 2025 Notes, which provide a grace period of 30 days after the due date and the notice duly issued by Government to note-holders before the due date. This 30-day grace period has not yet expired,” said a statement from Government on Tuesday following the announcement on Monday.

“Notwithstanding yesterday’s rating action by Standard & Poor’s, the Government of Grenada wishes to confirm that timely payment of Grenada’s Treasury Bills on the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM) will continue as normal,” said the statement from Ministry of Finance, which said that Government fully understands the importance of the RGSM for Grenada and other member governments of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union and is deeply committed to the RGSM.

In 2005, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, Grenada undertook debt restructuring of its long-term liabilities, however, Grenada’s treasury bills on the RGSM were unaffected.

Yet again, throughout the difficult years of the recession 2008-10, Grenada met all its obligations on the RGSM.

The Government of Grenada confirms to all investors that it will continue to meet its obligations as and when they fall due on the Regional Government Securities Market.

Standard and Poor’s said that it was lowering the local currency sovereign credit ratings to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘B-/B’ because of the severe liquidity constraints the country is facing.

“The outlook on the long-term local currency rating is negative, reflecting downside risks to the ratings if liquidity pressures were to intensify,” said the international rating agency.

“The downgrade to ‘SD’ follows the Government’s failure to pay the coupon due September 15, 2012, on its US$193 million bond due in 2025. In its September 12, 2012, statement to bondholders, the government of Grenada stated its intention to use its best efforts to pay the coupon within a 30-day grace period,” justifies the agency.

“However, according to our criteria, we consider an obligation in default unless payment is made within five business days of the due date, regardless of any grace period.” (LS)

GFA secures approval for GOAL programme

GRENADA Football Association (GFA) has secured approval from football’s world governing body, FIFA, for its GOAL Programme.

In a letter to GFA’s President, Cheney Joseph, FIFA advised of the approval of the project which was taken at a FIFA GOAL Bureau Committee meeting last week.

Joseph said that on a visit to Poland earlier this year, he was able to lobby on behalf of the GFA.

He said that the GFA now awaits a decision of government to make good on promise to provide the titles to land to be used for the construction of the project.

Joseph said that over 40 people are expected to gain employment during the construction phase of the project.

As part of the GOAL Programme, the GFA will receive about US$500 000 for the construction of offices, a gym, and conference rooms.

The GOAL Programme allows each member association of FIFA to receive funding for football development projects that respond to the special needs of their national associations.

Launched in 1999 by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, the GOAL Programme has to date provided support for over 500 development projects across the world, with a total of USD 200 million having been invested in them.

RGPF to increase vigilance on scrap metal

THE Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) expresses its concern over the theft of metal from private property and several national infrastructure.

The RGPF reminds those in the scrap metal trade that it is an offence to acquire materials from the property of others without proper authorisation.

“We have been receiving reports of artefacts, manhole covers, railing, and road signs being stolen and shipped out of the country.”

Persons so engaged are informed that it is an illegal act and that they should desist from doing so immediately. Buyers and sellers are warned to stay away from stolen goods or face the penalty as stipulated in law.

The RGPF will be increasing its vigilance at the St. George’s Port. Persons are also warned that they must also be able to provide proof of the legitimacy of their materials for shipment.