The Grenada newsletter

Alister Hughes 9th July 1976
P O Box 65
St.Georges
GRENADA T1 R --N A0
THE N NEWSLETTER
For The Week Endina July 10th 1976
EDITORIAL NOTE The last issue of NEWSLETTER was on May 1st last,
for the week ending on that date. For purposes of record, it must
be stated that, since that date, NEWSLETTER has been on an extended

and most interestShg trip to the United States and Canada, in the
course of which an estimated 16,000 miles were covered.

SUSPENDED AG FILES WRIT.
On Monday 21st June, Mr Desmond Christian, suspended Attorney General

of Grenada, filed a writ in the High Court seeking an injunction to
restrain the Tribunal appointed to investigate charges against him

from reporting on one or more of the charges preferred.

Mr Christian, who is also Director of Public Prosecutions, was suspend
early in May under the provisions. of Section 86 of the Grenada
Constitution, and, under the provisions of the same section, a Tribune

was appointed to inquire into the matter because it had been represent
to the Governor General that "the question of removing the Director of
Public Prosecutions under this section ought to be investigated ....."


This Tribunal was headed by Mr Justice Barrymore Renwick, resident Puj

Judge of St.Lucia, and the other members were Mr nhstice Cecil Egertor

Hewlitt of the Monteerrat and British Virgin Islands High Court, and
Mr Justice Archibald Nedd of the Grenada High Court.

According to Section 86 (6) of the Grenada Constitution, "A person
holding the office of Director of Public Prosecutions may be removed
from office only for inability to exercise the functions of his offcis

(whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or any other cause) o:
fdr misbehaviour and shall not be removed except in accordance with t:

provisions of this section."

In this connection, the following charges have been preferred against

Mr Christian. That :-
(1) He went to Guyana while failing to make proper arrangements

for Government's representation in the Nutmeg Issue which was
before the Court.

(2) He failed to pay telephone bills, thereby causing Government'
official telephone to be disconnected.











Alister Hughes
THE GRENADA NEWSLTTER Week Ending 10.7.76


(3) He used threatening fgaturea to the P.ria~ minister at
Mt Royal in the presence of Crown Council, Mr Lyle 8t.Pail,
Minister of Finance, Mr George Hoaten, and the Permanent
Secretary in the Prime Minister's Ministry, Mr Nolan
Jacobs. (MEWSLETTER'S NQTE. Mt Royal is the Prime
Minister's official residence)

(4) He decieved Cabinet in the Clancy affair by informing
the said Cabinet that he saw a warrant for Clancy's arrest
in the United States. (NEWSLETTER'S NUTE. Mr John
Clancy, alias Eugene Zeek, is a fugitive from justice
in the United States, now resident in Grenada)
(5) He acted contrary to Cabinet's instructions in the
Claney case. (NEWSLETTER'S NOTE. Mr Christian laid
charges against Mr Clanoy for forging an immigration
card, which charges, it is reported, were laid against
the wishes of Cabinet)

'The Tribunal commenced its hearings on June 16th and concluded on

June 21st, Mr Christian being represented by Mr Garol Pristol ,
assisted by Mr Allan Alexander of Trinidad. 'he oase for
'Government was presented by Mr Ernest John who, in Mr Christian's

suspension, is acting Attorney General.

Informed legal sources state that the filing of Mr Christian's
vrit has posed a problem for the Chief Justice of Grenada, Mr
Tustice Maurice Davia. Because Mr Justice Redd of the Trensda
High Court is. a member of the Tribunal investigating the charges
laid against Mr Christian, he is debarred from sitting to consider
the writ and MW Justice Davis must choose from Mr Justice Berridge
of St.Vincent, Mr Justice Bruno of Dominica, Mr Justice Bishop of
Antigua or Mr Justice Glasco of St.Kitts. It is believed,
however, that these gentlemen have full schedules in their own
Courts and will find it difficult to coae to Grenada* T4 date,
it has not been announced when Mr Christian's writ will be heard.
( 569 words)
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Alister Hughes
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending O0.7.76


EX-NUTIMEG BOARD__ CHAIRMAN LOSES APPEAL.

Mr F J Archibald, deposed Chairman of the Board of the worenda

Copperative Nutmeg Association, has lost his subuiaslon to the
Court of Appeal against the refusal of the High Court to grant en

interim injunction to restrain the publication'of the Report of
Mr Harold Dennison, the one-man Commissioner appointed by

Government to look into the affairs of the Association.

Council for Mr Archibald, Mr Maurice Bishop, argued that the trial

judge, Mr Justice R A Kedd, had failed to consider the question of
damages. In a judgement delivered on June 25th, the Appeal

Court stated, however, that it was for Mr Archibald to show that

his injury was so substantial that it could not be remedied
adequately or attoaed by damages. "This the appellant has
failed to do", said Mr Justice St.Bernard of the Appeal Court.
"I would dismiss the appeal for the reasons stated."


Commissioner Dennison commenced his investigations on October 29th

1975 and continued until November 6th when barriaters-at-las
Kenrick Radix, Maurice Bishop and Lloyd Noel, on behalf of certain

members of the deposed, elected Nutmeg Board, made submissions to

Mr Dennison that several rights of their clients had been denied.

Among those rights, they said, was the fact that their clients had

not becn notified of the intention to hold an inquiry, that they
should have been given an opportunity to make representations on
the choice and number of Commissioners appointed to make the

inquiry, and that, as of right, they should be given access to all
relevant books and documents. It was also claimed that the

Commissioner had a duty to give g full and accurate description
of the evidence so far, and Messrs Radix, Bishop and Noel stated
they wished to have the right to recall witnesses who had already
given evidence.

With the exception of the right to recall witnesses, Mr Dennison
overruled all the submissions, following which, all the barristers-

at-law withdrew from the Inquiry and, on behalf of Mr Archibald,
Mr Bishop filed an application for the interim injunction ae
referred to above.
(continued)









Alister Hughes
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER -mWeek Ending 10.7.76


Meanwhile, the Report of the Commissioner has not been 1ub3li bred
and there is some doubt as to whether it has been written.
Unconfirmed reports from Guyana state that, shortly after the
return of Mr Dennison to his homeland (Guyana) from Grenada last
November, he died.
(495 words)
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NIGERIAM POLICEMEN LFAE
The Nigerian Police officers acondd:,to Grenada for a two year

term are scheduled to leave the island on Saturday of this week
(10th) after having completed only one year of service.

The reasons for this early departure have not been given and it
has been stated that they are to be replaced. However, it is
known that there has been growing friction with Prime Minister
Jairy and there is speculation that the Government of Nigeria
may have withdrawn this technical assistance.


These Nigerian Police officers, Mr James Usen and Mr P E Oyakhilome,
were seconded to Grenada in mid-1975 as Commissioner and Deputy
Crmnisaioner of Police respectively. These appointments came
ag a direct result of comments made in the Report of the Duffts
uomuission which investigated allegations of police brutality in

,renada.

",; their Report (submitted in February last year) the Commisaloners
expressed the opinion that reorganization of the Grenada Police
Force, and improving of discipline, was dependent especially
on providing a highly qualified, competent and experienced
p'Arson of integrity as Commissioner of Police. At that time,

the Commissioners thought there was no such person in Grenada
and advised that the assistance of Commonwealth Countries be sought.

In an exi.usive interview with NEWSLETTER last last week, Mr Usen
declined to comment on persistent rumours that his appointment
;iF rting cut short because of disagreement with Prime Minister
siatr over political interference with the Police Force. In
t.is" connection, Mr Usen was prepared to say no more than that

he and Mr Oyakhiilome were being "reassigned."
(continued)








Alister Hughes
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 10.7.76
Page 5
At the time of the interview with Mr Usen, two officers of the
Nigerian Embassy in Trinidad were in Grenadap They were
Mr R Mohmoud, Head of Chancery and Mr C 0 O'Kubote, the
Second Secretary in the Division of Information. Mr Usen denied
that these officers were in 'renada in connection with the cutting
short of his appointment, and said they were in the island to
witness a Police passing-out parade.
(324 words)
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MED REACTION TO REVALUION O EC DOLLAR.
Sir Dennis Henry, Chairman of the Grenada Cocoa Board and of the
Grenada Banana Cooperative Society, as well as President of the
Commonwealth Banana Exporters Association, told NEWSLJETTER this
week that the Council of Ministers and the East Caribbean Currency
Authority had acted "wisely" when parity of the East Caribbean
dollar was fixed at EC#2.70 to the US4l.00.

Thia rate was announced on the evening of Tuesday July 6th, at the
same time that it was stated that East Caribbean currency would
be pegged to the US dollar instead of to sterling.

Commenting on this, Sir Dennis said that the fixing of parity at
this Pate had shown that "the paramount importance of agriculture
and tourism to the economic development of the Associated states
and Grenada" had been clearly recognized. "The merchant sits
by his door until the agriculturiat passes by", he said, "and while
I fully understand and appreciate the motives of those who would
have liked to see a substantial revaluation of E C currency, the
real question is whether, on balance, the agricultural economies
of the region should be made to carry the whole burden and be
sacrificed. For the time being, at any rate, the answer appears
to be wisely in the negative."

The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Lydon Ramdhanny,

expressed a contrary view when he told NEWSLETTER that the parity
of $2.70 had brought "disappointment" to the Chamber. In a
letter dated June 8th, the Chamber had suggested to Mr George
Hosten, minister of Finance, that a parity of $2.40 would be a
good compromise between the interests of the agricultural and
commercial sectors, and, this recommendation having been ignored,
(^onT 1 "'Ica)








Alister Hughea
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 10.7.76


Mr Ramdhanny expressed the hope that the situation will not be
considered static but will be kept under constant review.

"Of course", said Mr Ramdhanny, "with the hope for industrial
development in the Less Developed Countries of the Caribbean
Community, the present parity will be an advantage". "But",

he continued, "this is, at the moment, only a hope, and the
authorities must bear in mind that, at the present level of

parity, imports will cost the EaSt Caribbean a considerable sum."
(352 words)
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GOVERMENT WORKERS RECEIVE BACK-PAY

In accordance with an agreement reached with a negotiating team
appointed by the Civil Service Association, the Technical & Allied
Workers Union and the Grenada Union of Teachers, the three bodies
representing all eatagories of Government employees, Government
paid its employees at the end of June back-pay amounting to just
under EC$2 million covering the period January to December 1975.

The agreement stated that these employees were to receive back-

pay in accordance with salary increases effective January 1st

1975 and first paid at the end of April 1976. This made back-
pay due for a 15 month period ending March 1976, but Government
pleaded inability to pay the full sum at the ena of June, and
employees still have a three-month period of back-pay still due

to them.

Another aspect of the agreement reached was that Government

should set up a Salaries Commission.to review the matter of a
general salaries revision, the Report of that Commission to be

implemented not later than January 1977. The apointment
of that CommisBsion has not yet been announced.
(176 words)
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CPSA HOLDS TALKS WITH CALICOM SEC-GENERAL

In an exclusive interview with NEWSLETTER this week, Mr Herbert
James, President of the Caribbean Public Services Association

(CPSA), said he was very pleased with the outcome of talks held
last week-end with Mr Alister McIntyre, Secretary General of

the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Mr Jame headed a three-man
continued)










Allster Hughes
THE GRENADA NhWSLETTER Week Ending 10.7.76


delegation to Mr McIntyre at the Georgetown, Guyana headquarters

of CARICOM, the other two members being Mr Norman Semple of Guyana
and Mr James Manswell of Trinidad.

Mr James said that one important matter discussed with Mr McIntyre
was the implementation of the "Memorandum of Understanding" between
CARICOM countries. "this Memorandum deals with the
transferrability of Public Servants between CARICOM states and
Caribbean organisations, Mr James said. "It safeguards the
pension rights of Public Officers and opens up wider horizons for
all members of the OPSA."

The Seoretary-General of CARICOM disclosed to the delegation that
Belise and the Bahamas have not yet signed the Memorandum, but

Mr Molntyre gave assurances that every effort ia. being made to have
these countries subscribe.

Another matter discussed was the possibility that the CPSA will be
given consultative status with the CARICOM 3abour Relations toek.
At the present time, CPSA is represented in this connection through
the Caribbean Congress of Labour, but Mr James said his organisation
thought the specialised needs and problems of Public Servants were
great enough that the Association should be represented directly.


Mr James said that, under the direction of Mr Jamea Manawell,
Executive Secreta'y of the Public Service Association of Trinidad

& Tobago, the new venture of the publication of a Caribbean Public
Services magazine is being undertaken. It was hoped that the

first issue will be out at the end of July.
(284 words)
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EMLOYERS REJECT MADAM-PRESIDENT
At its Annual General Meeting on Thurs4y June 'a+th, the drenada
Employers Federation reel&cted the outgoing President, Mrs R A Gnith,
for a second term. The outgoing Vice-President, Mr 0 Searles,
was also reelected.

The Meeting expressed its appreciation of the services rehdered to
the Federation by Mrs Smith who also holds the pest of Executive-
Officer,
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Alister Hughes
THE GRENADA N WSMLUIBR Week Ending 10.7.76

CRUISE LINER CALIS
The east calls, reported by NEWSLETTER before publication was
temporarily stopped on May 1st, were for the week ending April 24th.
Calls since then, up to and including the week ending July 3rd, are
as follows according to figures supplied by the Urenada Tourist Board:-
Week Ending May let April 27th "Sagafjord" (7 614 Passengers.
30th "Cunard Adventurer" 7 do.
Weel Ending May 8th nil


Week Ending May 15th
Week Ending May 22nd
Week Ending May 29th
Week Ending June 5th
Week Ending June 12th
Week Ending June 19th
Week Ending June 26th

Week Ending July 3rd


May 14th "Sun Viking"
nil
May 28th "Sun Viking"
nil
June 11th "Sun Viking"
nil
June 23rd "Amerikanias"
25th "Sun Viking"
June 30th "Amerikania"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
BANANA SHIPMENTS


The last shipment of bananas reported by NEWSLETTER was on 25th/26th
April by o0 "OGestoreet". Shipments since then are as follows:-
Date. Ship. Boxes. Weight (ibs) Value. Rejects
IaY 3rd Geeattide 21,680 668s595 $56,830.00 47
May 11th Geentater 23,890 744,099 63,248.00 175
-May 20th Geesterest 28,498 884,271 88,427.00 157
May 26th Geesttide 20,109 619,333 61,933.00 180
June 3rd Geestland 21,816 675,941 67,594.00 115
June 8th Geestatar 21,148 656,604 65,660.00 57
June 15th Geestorest 24,271 750,697 75,069,00 46
June 22nd Geesttide 23,276 720,804 72,080.00 80
June 29th Geestatar 25,637 793,109 79,310.00 134

It should be noted that the figure quoted as the "value" of the
shipment represents the amount drawn by producers after deductions
fpr expenses. This figure rose to 10%EC per pond beginning
with the shipment on May 20th.
The trip abroa; was -0-O-O-O-
interesting, but
NEWSLETTER is glad
to be ....


...... back in harness 11t


742 do.

742 do.

769 do.


624

553