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C-
'A
NEWSLETTER
Volume 8 Number 14
'or The Week Ending 18th October 1980
8th Year Of Publication - - 247th Issue
c-9-
TERRORISTS WARN OF "WAR"
Terrorists in Grenada warned the Peoples. Revolutionary
.Goernment that, unless all Cubans in Grenada were sent back.
within three days, there would be "war" in the island.
Prime Minister Maurice Bishop disclosed this in a national,
broadcast on October 5th and said the warning had been left in
a note at the site of the bomb explosion which took place in
the parish of St.Patricks on September 27th.. He said this ie
the first time in Grenada that a note had been left by
terrorists. He called the development "sinister" and,
referring to anti-Cuban rumours being circulated, said the
attack on Cuba is not accidental.
"The counter-revolutionaries and the imperialists understand
very well how important Cuban solidarity and assistance to our
country has been and continuei- tq .be to the task of building
pur economy", he said. "They understand very well that one
of the best ways in which they can turn back our revolution is
prec ely if they are able to break or to weaken the present,
unshakable links and bonds between our Government .and the
Government and people of Cuba."
Mr Bishop said the truth is that Grenada's relations with Cuba
are better than ever. "Our admiration for and friendship
continued -
1ridced & Printed by Altr & ynthia High
0 Box 65, St.Georges, Grenada, Westindies
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THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER
with Comra4p Fidel Castro is stronger' than ever and our need-,
desire and appreciation for their fraternal and unselfish assistance
is firmer than ever", die said. "The reactionaries may as well
stop thdkr childish attempts to fool and confuse our people on this
question. '
* Gains
The Prime Minister said the revolution has made tremendous gains
since March 13th 1979 but "local counter-revolution aided by its
foreign friends" is trying to turn back process. "iln order to
defend our gains and to safeguard our applee from mercenary invasion
or any violent attack", he said., -"we must have all our people, ready
in the Militia to be able to defend our country.,
Mr Bishop called on Greriadians to join the Militia, to work actively
in all the revolution's programmes and 'to jin the "mass
organizations". "If '-you are womann ", he said, "join the
National Women's Organisation, if you are a youth,,, join the National
Youth Organisation, if you are between the ages of 6 and 15, >join
the Pioneers Organisation."
The -Prime Minister said the activities of counter-revolutionaries
are detectable and he called on Grenadians to be alert. "Keep
a look out in your area or in your work place for those elements
';ho are likely to be involved in these counter-revolutionary
Activities", he said, "and, whenever you catch them or suspect
them, report them immediately to the Security. Forces."
(431 words)
ASSIZES. DELAYED
The opening of Grenada's High Court Assizes has been delayed
S- 1
because the Legal Department does not have anyone appointed as
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In Court, on October
14th, the day scheduled for the opening, Mr Justice Archibald Nedd
said he would deal with Civil matters until October 20th and, on,
October 21st, "we will hope to get some work done" in the Assizes.
The Legal Department had been without a DPP since August 31st when
:yanese Mr Desmond Christian resigned from.the post to take up a
continued -
Week Endin_ 18.10.80
Week Endin~' 30 .80 THE GRENADA NE1WS LETTER Page 3
teaching job at the Hugh Wooding Law School at St Augustine,
Trinidad. Since then, efforts have been made to fill the
vacancy, but it is understood that difficulties are being
experienced.
In addition to Mr Christian, there have been five resignations fro.,
the Legal Department this year. Magistrate Mrs Holly Dabreo
resigned at the end of February and Acting Attorney General Lloyd
Noel resigned early in June. Registrar Me E C Wilkinson left
at the end of August and both Crown Counsel Henry Paryag and Deputy
Registrar Miss Denise Campbell are due to leave the Department at
the end of this month.
Informed sources told NEWSLETTER that interviews are being
conducted with persons from other regional countries who might fill.
the post of DPP, and it is understood that efforts are being made
in other Commonwealth Caribbean countries to find suitable legal
personnel.
"We are urgently trying to make the necessary arrangements to get
personnel", Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs
Kendrick Radix told NEWSLETTER, "but I cannot say when we will be
able to make an appointment."
(263 words)
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO GES
The Peoples Revolutionary Government has appointed a Commission of
Inquiry to look into the management of Grenada Electricity Services
,Ltd (GES).
This action comes as a result of a GES request for increased
electricity rates and the Ministry of Communications says that, for
the time being, the request has been refused.
"When the Commission has submitted its Report and the Government
has had an opportunity of studying it", the Ministry says, "the
Government will then be in a position to decide whether or not to
grant the requested increases in the statutory rates."
- continued -
THE GRENAbA NEWSLETTER
GES, a Company jointly owned by the Commonwealth Development
Corporation (59.3%) and the Government of Grenada (40.7%), has
applied to Government to increase its rates by an average of 4.5
East Caribbean cents per unit. According to GES Manager Mr
Rodney George, this increase is required because of sharp rises in
wages and other cost since the last rate increase in August 1978.
Additionally, major equipment overhauls estimated to cost
EC$836,OOO.00 are required and GES hopes to raise a loan from the
Caribbean Development Bank to buy a new generator which must be
installed next year. "There is no way.in which we can service
that loan on the present electricity tariff"l Mr George says.
Performance
The Commission of Inquiry, headed by Guyanese barrister Mr Miles
Fitzpatrick, is to examine the performance of GES with special
reference to the development programmes GES undertook by agreement
when the Company, as formed in 1960.
The first programme, which was to be completed by the end of 1963,
involved the extension of the service to the suburbs of St.Georges,
to Crenville on the east coast and to Gouyave on the west'coast.
The second programme was to carry the service to the island's
9ther two towns, Victoria and Sauteurs. No deadline was agreed
for completion of the second programme, but the Company was to
use its best endeavours" to have it done. All towns and most
areas now have electricity.
The Commission is also to examine the financial operations of GES
and the relationship of the Company to the Commonwealth Development
Corporation. GES' plant and machinery is also to be examined
with special reference to cost efficiency, technological
development and the needs of the consumer community.
This is the second time in recent years that a Commission has
been appointed to look into GES. The Gairy Government appointed
the Date Commission in 1977 to inquire into a variety of matters
including "those aspects of the Company's operations carried on
outside of Grenada" aad "the location of the seat of administrative
-ontrol of the Company." The Report of that Commission has not
continued
Week Endinl'i.o10.80
Week Endini 18.10 80 THE GRENADA NE,:' LETTER Page 5
been published.
Other members of the Fitzpatrick Commission are Mr Osbert Benjamin,
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, and Mr Eric Glean
a Manager of Government's former Electricity Department which was
closed down when GES commenced operations in 1960.
(483 words)
NJM ACCUSES CDC OF RIP-OFF
"The New Jewel", official organ of the New Jewel Movement (NJM),
in its issue of October llth, has accused the Commonwealth
Development Corporation (CDC) of "ripping-off" Grenadians.
"Multinational corporations such as CDC, which manages and controls
Grenada Electricity Services (GES), go to developing countries such
as our Grenada, pretending to be here to help us", the paper said.
"When this so-called assistance is examined, one clearly sees that
their real aim is to make profits and that is all."
"New Jewel" said CDC has not properly implemented the "so-called
plan for development of electricity island wide" and many critical
areas are without electricity. It said the Colonial Government
gave CDC "the right to exploit the Grenadian people for 30 years
and, last year, CDC made EC$249,O00 and "they shipped this profit
to England and did not repair the machines. Thus, we have the
reason for today's blackout."
"Judge for yourself", the paper said. "Isn't this a rip off ?"
GES is owned jointly by CDC and the Government of Grenada on a
59.3 to 40.7 basis. GES has applied to Government for a tariff
increase of an average of 4.5 East Caribbean cents per unit, but
this has bean refused pending the Report of a Commission of Inquiry
appointed by Government to look into the management of GES. The
Commission is due to commence sittings on October 20th.
(239 words)
TPP GRENADA NEWSLETTER
BUXO RESIGNS FROM PRG
Secretary for Tourism, Miss Palme Buxo, 53, has resigned from
the Peoples Revolutionary Government (PRG) and has taken up
residence in the United States of America.
Mr Unison Whiteman, Minister for Tourism, confirmed this to
NEWSLETTER on October 16th and said the resignation is effective
September 30th. "Miss Buxo haseadvised us that she has
migrated to the States and is now studying in Miami'", he said.
Miss Buxo is reported to have fallen ill in May while on an
official trip and is said to have received medical treatment in
Barbados and other Caribbean islands before going to the United
States. Since becoming ill, she has not returned to Grenada.
Miss Buxo became a member of the Government when members of the
PRG were announced three days after the revolution of March 13th
1979, and was appointed Secretary (Junior Minister) for Tourism
on March 29th. She was Secretary to Governor General Lord
Hailes when the West Indies Federation was established in 1958
and had a spell,of duty as Executive Officer in the Federal
Defence Office.
This is the second resignation from the Peoples Revolutionary
Government, the first being that of Acting Attorney General
Lloyd Noel who left the Government last June because of
unspecified "differences of opinion." Mr Noel subsequently
criticized the Passport Law passed by the PRG in August and, in
an official statement, was branded an "opportunist" and charged
#with being guilty of "serious lapses bordering on corruption"
while he was associated with the New Jewel Movement.
(254 words)
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEEDS UP-GRADING
The St Georges University School of Vedicine has the blessing of
the Peoples Revolutuonary Government (PRG) but there are aspects
of the School which need up-grading.
continued -
Wee': Endina 18.10.80
Page 6
Week Ending .8.10.80 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Page 7
At a press conference on 30th September, Dr Bernard Gittens,
Secretary (Junior Minister) for Health, disclosed this and said
the University of the West Indies (UWI) has been requested to
monitor the School of Medicine on behalf of the PRG.
A UWI team led by Professor E R "Mickie" Walrond conducted a survey
of the Medical School late last year and found that, in some aspects
the School is deficient, Dr Gittens said. "We are not satisfied
with the speed with which these deficiencies are being corrected",
he said, "but efforts are being made."
The School of Medicine was opened in January 1977 with a student
enrollment of 197 drawn from 24 countries including Jamaica,
Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. Under an Act passed by the
Gairy Government,the School was granted the "sole and exclusive
charter for a Medical School", and an agreement pledged that degrees
issued by the School will be "fully recognized and accepted by the
Government of Grenada."
Private Company
Under that agreement with Government (signed by the shareholders of
the private Company owning the School, Dr Charles Modica (a lawyer),
Louis J Modica (Charles' father) and Patrick Adams) the School
leased from Government for 10 years at US$21,500.00 per year, a six
acre lot with buildings at "True Blue" on the south coast for its
campus.
The Company also agreed that, with the commencement of the Clinical
Programme in 1979, it will pay annually US$100,000.00 in medical
supplies and equipment for the General Hospital. It also agreed
to give an additional US$75,000.00 'to be used for Government
purposes."
The Grenada Medical Association (GMA) was unhappy that it had not
been consulted over establishment of the School and, in a press
release issued soon after the opening, said the standards of the
institution had not been subjected to scrutiny and may not conform
to acceptable levels.
There was no reaction to this from the Gairy Government and, in
June 1977, the "New York Times" quoted Dr Bernard Gittensdontinued
THE GRE.NADA NEWSLETTER
GMA Secretary/Treasurer (now PRG Secretary for Health) as saying
that the School was "substandard". "There is no one monitoring
the situation", he said, "and they set their own standards"..
Investigation
The GMA concern was justified. An investigation made and
**
published by the GRENADA NEWSLETTER disclosed that, of the five
faculty members with which the School opened, four did not have
the academic background stated by the School. According to a
spokesman for the School, these faculty members had taught and
had been "Professors" at certain prestigious universities in
North America. Checks with these universities disclosed this
information was false.
Months later, the faculty was expanded to 12 members with some 30
"Visiting Professors", and the Chancellor of the School, Dr Modica,
said the original faculty members had not measured up to
expectations. "Some of our original professors were not
everything we expected", he said, "and I realized we had some
changes to be made in our faculty."
The School now has some 600 students enrolled and a faculty of 39
with Dr Geoffrey Bourne, Director of the Yerkes Primate Research
centre, as Vice-Chancellor. In addition, there are 54 "visiting
Professors" who stay one or two weeks and give 3 to 5 lectures.
The Clinical Programme of the School was due to start in August
1979 but, when the UWI team investigated, the programme had not been
completely formulated. The team felt, however, that the programme
being put together did not guarantee good clinical training both in
terms of methodology, types of exposure and the lack of continuity
in the care of the clinical teaching staff.
Risk
The risk here is particularly high in the case of Grenadian
students who, under the terms of the agreement with the School,
receive five scholarships annually. Unlike U.S. students, these
students cannot enter American Medical Schools for clinical training
and GMA has express* the fear that the clinical training they will
receive will be of poor quality and, since their diplomas from the
continued -
(NEWSLETTER for week ending September 2nd 1978)
Wegk Ending 18.10.80
Week Ending 18.10.80 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Page 9
School of Medicine will be recognized in Grenada, the quality of
the medical service in the island will be lowered.
The suggestion has been made that, to correct this deficiency,
Caribbean Community students attending the Grenada School of
Medicine be made eligible for attachment to clinical programmes
operated by UWI, and that UWI act as external examiners to these
students.
(730 words)
,, ,
GRENADA WOOS NORTH AMNRICAN TOURIST TRADE
A Familiarization tour of Grenada has been arranged for a group of
travel agents as a follow-up to hiyh level promotion recently
undertaken in North America.
In an effort to win back the lost North American tourist trade,
Acting Secretary for Tourism, Mrs Angela Bishop, led a Grenada team
3o Tourism seminars organised in Toronto, Chicago and Los Anygles
by the Caribbean Tourist Association (CTA). The team visited
North America late last month and comprised Mr Royston Hopkin,
President of the Grenada Hotel Association (GHA), Mrs Gillian
Thompson, GHA Executive Director, and Dr John Watts, Chairman of the
Grenada Tourist Board.
Mrs Bishop told NEWSLETTER the seminars had been a great success.
Her team had been able to talk to a wide cross section of travel
agents, tour operators and airline representatives, and she is
looking forward to the arrival of those who will be taking the
familiarization tour.
Favourable Impact
"We were able to remove much of the negative impression of Grenada
created by unfavourable press reports", she said, "and I feel that
this, together with the visit of the travel agents, will have a
favoutable impact on the coming Winter Trade".
The Acting Secretary for Tourism said that, together with 31 other
countries in CTA, Grenada will take part in the CTA Fall Caribbean
travel Trade Exposition which commences in North America on October
continued -
P'ge 10. *'THE GRE:NADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 18.10.80
20th. Covering 7 locations on the United States eastern seaboard,
the Exposition has as its theme, "A world of its own", and will last
two weeks.
"We don't expect to see a fantastic increase in the number of stay-
over visitors this coming Winter Season", Mrs Bishop said, "but
there will be some increase and we are hopeful that the 1981/1982
Winter Season will show the complete recovery of the North Amarican
trade."
(288 words)
IMF TO HELP
The International Monetary Fund '(IMF) i"''to assist Grenada in the
preparation of the necessary documents to apply for an IMF loan
of some EC$5 million to rehabilitate the Agricultural Industry
damaged by hurricane 'Allen' early in August.
Minister of Finance, Trade & Planning, Bernard Coard, held talks
with officials of the IMF on this matter during the recent IMF/
World Bank meeting in Washington and said, in a broadcast over
Radio Free Grenada on October 15th, that the funds available for
this loan have little terms and conditions attached.
"Hopefully, with the completion of the necessary data collection
and documentation within the next few weeks", he said, "we will be
able to actually receive the funds, hopefully, before the end of
the year."
Radio Free Grenada said Mr Coard had talks also with the World.
Bank on the possibility of providing funds for Grenada's low income
housing scheme. Discussions centered on a loan of EC$8 million
to be provided by the World Bank on concessionall terms".
The Minister of Finance used the opportunity in Washington to hold
talks with the Finance Ministers of Indonesia and Ghana on the
possibility of cooperation in the world marketing of nutmegs and
cocoa. Indonesia produces about 70% of the world supply of
autmegs and the major portion of the remainder is produced by
continued -
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER
Grenada.
Grenada's cocoa, in terms of world production, is negligible.
According to Radio Free Grenada, Mr Coard feels the formation of
single world bodies for nutmegs and cocoa will eliminate competition
and lead to a "universal price".
(193 words)
WARDALLY TAWU PRESIDENT
The Technical & Allied Workers Union (TAWU) held a presidential
election on October 9th amid strong overtones of political interest.
In February last, when the Union's Annual General Meeting wks called,
TAWU President Curtis Stewart failed to attend and, instead, his
resignation was read to the meeting. It is alleged that
Mr Stewart had been receiving death threats and, as a result, left
the island to reside in the USA.
That meeting broke up in disorder, following which, Mr James
Wardally, a TAWU member, issued a statement through the Government
Information Service. In that statement, Mr Wardally expressed
the opinion that "stewart has a history of betrayal of the workers
and has sold them out on several occasions."
Mr Wardally is a member of the New Jewel Movement (NJM) and is
wanted in the USA to face charges of gun running. It is alleged
that, together with others, he smuggled arms and ammunition out of
the United States to the NJM prior to the revolution. He was
arrested in Washington in February 1979 and placed on bail. His
case was due to be heard in October 1979, but he escaped and
returned to Grenada.
Meetings
A second TAWU meeting was called to elect a President and
Mr Wardally was a candidate. He lost to Mr Reginald Dowe by 282
votes to 136 but, without giving reasons, Mr Dowe resigned on 2nd
September and a General Meeting was called on October 9th to fill
the vacancy. Mr Wardally won by 225 to 66 from Mr Simeon Green,
who is Political Leader of the United Peoples Party, one of the
continued -
Week Ending 18.10.8Q
Page 12 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER WeeK Ending 16.lu.8u
political parties which existed before the revolution.
Sources close to TAWU said that both the day and the time of the
mveting were unsuitable for many members and the results of the
election have caused dissatisfaction. It is pointed out that
the total of votes cast at this meeting, 291, is 305 less than the
total cast at the last meeting, 419, and this is considered an
unsatisfactory turn out of the some 700 TAWU members.
With the election of Mr Wardally as TAWU President, the only major
tradeunion (with the exception of the Teachers Union and Public
Workers Union (formerly the Civil Service Association)) not headed
by an NJM supporter is the Seamen & Waterfront Workers Union.
Mr Vincent Noel, Minister of Home Affairs, is President of both
the Bank & General Workers Union and the Commercial & Industrial
Workers Union, and President of the Agricultural & General Workers
Union is Mr Caldwell Taylor, a member of the Peoples Revolutiinara
Government recently appointed Ambassador to the United Nations.
-418 words)
(Since the above was written, Mr Berty Lessey, General
Secretary of the Agricultutal & General Workers Union
(AGWU) has advised NEWSLETTER that, sometime in August
and to replace Mr Caldwell Taylor, the Management
Committee of his Union has appointed Mr Fitzroy Bain
to be President General. Mr Bain was formerly the
Union's "Coordinator" in the St.Davids parish.)
DORMANT AND UNCLAIMED ACCOUNTS
The commercial banks in Grenada .have paid Governmerntover EC$200
thousand under the Banking (Special Deposits) Act-
Passed in-March 1976 by the Gairy Government with retroactive effec-t
to January 1st .1976, this Act stipulates. tha, where moneys remain
"dormant and unclaimed" in a bank's books for 6 years, these, moneys
-aust be transferred-to Government. Depositors .jIay.claim their
.oney from the Accountant General within one year, failing which, it
-:hall lapse to and become part. pf the revenues of Grenada."
continued -
__ _~
----
Week Ending I.1U._80 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Page 13
This Act also provides that "every bank shall maintain a deposit
with the Accountant General of an amount equivalent t9 five per
centum of the amount of its total deposit liabilities. (The rate
was subsequently increased to 10%). "Deposit Liabilities" are
defined as "liabilities in respect of all savings accounts and
includes fixed deposits and current accounts".
When the Act was passed, it caused concern in banking circles and
this concern was reflected in a change on bank interest rates on
fixed deposits. Up to that time, 6 month and 12 month period
deposits had enjoyed interest rates of 8% and 9% respectively, but
these rates fell drastically to a flat 22% payable on all fixed
deposits irrespective of the length of period up to 12 months.
Since then,,there has been a slight upward revision and current
interest rates are 3- for all fixed deposits for both 6 and 12
month periods. There is an additional 1% for deposits over
EC$25,000.0O for a 12 month period.
Opposed
The New Jewel Movement (NJM) opposed this Act. Calling it "The
5% Robbery Act", NJM pointed out the loss of interest suffered by
depositors and said, "no one is encouraged to save because the
sacrifice is not worth the returns on interest."
NJM held a series of meetings in 1976 to oppose the "crappism
passing for a new law" and reported there was then a run on the
banks with depositors lining up to withdraw their savings. The
Party also called on Grenadians to "keep the full pressure on."
"The idea is not to close the banks but to bring pressure on Gairy
to change this thiefing law. NOW 1", NJM said. "Let Gairy
know that people will keep the pressure on until he withdraws his
monkey law".
The Gairy Government did not withdraw this law and, to date, the
PRG has not withdrawn or amended it. And, informed sources say
that bank interest rates are unlikely to be increased as long as
the commercial banks (Barclays Bank International, The Royal Bank
of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia) are forced to maintain a
continued -
__ _
___~_ ____~~_~ __
Page 14 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 18.10.80
deposit with the Accountant General of an amount equilavent to 10%
of the amount of their deposit liabilities.
The Grenada Cooperative Bank has not been made subject to the
provisions of the Act but the Government owned National Commercial
Bank, which bought out the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
(CIBC) in January last, is subject to the provisions.
According to the statements of "dormant and unclaimed" accounts at
March 31st 1980, published in the Government Gazette, there was a
total of 906 such accounts at the four banks and these accounts
totalled BC$218,411.92. Barclays had the highest number of
accounts, 452, at the highest figure, EC$119,711.89. The Bank
of Nova Scotia was next with 321 accounts totalling BC$55,383.88
and the Royal Bank followed with 68 accounts totalling 2t$35,359.40.
The National Commercial Bank, with accounts taken over from CIBC,
had 65 accounts totalling EC$7,956.75.
Range
The range of totals of the 906 "dormant and unclaimed" accounts
is from several accounts at the Bank of Nova Scotia at two cents
each to one at Barclays for BC$12,114.39. This last mentioned
stands in the name of Evelyn Booxin at a London, England address.
Two accounts at the National Commercial Bank stand in the care of
Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. One is for EC$15.10 for Moco
enterprisess and the other is for EC$203.52 for the Jeremiah
Richardson Fund. Jeremiah Richardson, the anniversary of whose
.eath is commemorated as an Official Day on April 20th, was shot
by a policeman on Good Friday 1973.
'Inere is also,.an amount of EC$737.87 standing in araccount at the
koyal Bank of Canada in the name of the Government of Grenada,
Savings Bank Account.
(698 wor )
5--7T
Week Ending 18.10.80 THE GRENADA NE.SLf;ETTER Page 15
PROGRAMME AGAINST MOCO
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is assisting the Peopled
Revolutionary Government in funding a scheme to compensate banana
farmers for trees destroyed in the Moco disease eradication
programme.
Moco disease (Bacterial Vascular Wilt) was discovered in Grenada in
1978. Its symptoms include premature yellowing of leaves,
premature ripening of several bananas while the bunch is still on
the tree, and a black rot inside otherwise healthy looking fruit.
According to the Windward Islands Banana Association (WINBAN), there
is no chemical which can be applied to affected plants to cure them,
and control of the disease is difficult. Destruction of the
plants appears to be the only remedy and, where large areas are
affected, no bananas should be replanted for two years.
"Control of Moco", says WINBAN, "is a matter of life or death for
the Banana Industry n Grenada."
The Moco Eradication Programme started some three months ago and,
to date, over 17,000 banana mattss" (clumps of trees) have been
destroyed. Farmers will receive EC3 for each matt. Assistance
in implementing the programme is being given by the Grenada Banana
Cooperative Society and WINBAN.
(188 words)
WINBAN TO TIGHTEN QUARANTINE
The Windward Islands Banana Association (WINBAN) was represented at
a recent meeting in Puerto Rico of some 80 plant pathologists from
North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.
Purpose of the meeting was to discuss plant disease problems
affecting cultivated crops in the region, and the WINBAN
representatives were Dr J Edmunds, Director of WINBAN Research &
Development, and Dr D K Cronshaw, plant pathologist attached to
WINBAN Research.
- continued -
Page 16 .HE GPENADA IEWSLETTER Week Ending 18.10.80
Among matters discussed was the banana disease, "Black Sigatoka",
which, according to WINBAN, is now considered the most deadly
disease of bananas. "Yellow Sigatoka" (also called "Banana
Leaf Spot") is common in the Windward Islands, but "Black
Sigatoka", known in Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, has not hepn found in Grenada, St.Vincent, St.Lucia
,nd oaminica.
"To our knowledge", says a release from WINBAN, !'the Windward
Islands and Jamaica are free of the disease, but we must be very
vigilant And must tighten our quarantine efforts to prevent the
organism from reaching the islands.
WINBAN says its Research Department carries out regular tests to
determine whether the fungus causing "Yellow Sigatoka" in the
Windward Islands is becoming tolerant of the fungacides now in
use.
(97 words)
MATERNITY LEAVE LAW PASSED
The Peoples Revolutionary Government has passed a law which
ensures three months maternity leave for all women who work
regularly. For women who have worked for more than 18
months for the same employer, the law provides that two of the
three months leave shall be on full pay.
?
Copies of the law (which went into effect on Octobdr 5th) are
not yet available bit the Government Information Service (GIS)
4
says women workers must work on a regular basis f"r two days in
every week or four days per fortnight to qualify for maternity.
leave. "Daily paid workers", says GIS, "will be entitled
to one fifth of their annual pay."
(110 words)
~E
Liat Point To Point Passenger Traffic
June 1980
5t.Thomas STT
-t.Croix STX
-t.Maarten SXM
3t.Kitts SKB
4ontserrat MNI
kntigua ANU
3uadeloupe PTP
)ominica COM
4artinique FDF
St.Lucia SLU
3arbados BAR
5t.Vincent SVD
;renada GND
Trinidad POS
Total
STT STX SXM
1- 100
55
109
269
22
282
6
70
3
15
49
38"
93 124
17 14
74 288
3 9
40 89
2 2
36 33
25 25
SKB
303
129
96
35
679
18
23
5
22
36
MN I
.14
13
6
41
1102
2
16
4
14
15
ANU
317
61
233
765
1040
399
545
65
210
385
2
38
825 329 739 1346 1227 4060
PTP
5
2
1
12
4
260
251
6
DOM
58
46
45
22
14
627
327
157
3 109
10 404
8 4
712
1813
FDF FLU
10
2 101
13
6 15
6
56 249
6 89
125 108
414
308
260
BGI
21
24
12
46
19
322
88
376
286
1747
1634
1 38 1963
10 28 1804
179
774 .- 2705
SVO GQ0
2
5 42
27
2 8
4
11 45
2514 1597
90
74
1082 1329
6887 368% 3145
POS Total
B29
433
553
1393
1173
2 3988
14 988
25 1678
13 961
43 2667
248 7282
861 2955
1360 3326
2590
2566- 30816
2566 3 '0'816'
.t.Thomas
St .Croix
St.Maarten
St.Kitts
Montserrat
Antigua
Guadeloupe
Dominica
Martinique
ft.Lucia
Barbados
ft.Vincent
Grenada
Trinidad
Left hand column represents point of traffic
origin; top line represents destination.
Figures at right represent total traffic originating; figures at foot represent total traffic arriving.
7
9
Page 18 THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 18.10.80
NEWS SHORTS
EDF Funds Road Project
Preliminary work has begun on a road project which is to be
funded by the European Development Fund (EDF). This project,
under which the Eastern Main Road (a distance of some 19.5 miles
between St.Georges and the island's second town, Grenville,) will
be resurfaced, has been estimated to cost EC$11 million.
Culverts are now being repaired and overhanging trees trimmed, and
resurfacing is expected to begin early next year. The road
design is being prepared by the Ministry of Communications, Works
& Labour, and 4 Cubans are to give technical assistance on the
project.
.(100 words)
RFG Power To Be Boosted
The transmitting power of Radio Free Grenada is to be increased.
According to a release from the Government Information Service,
the present power is 1 kilowatt but GIS did not say what the
increased power will be or how soon it will be effected.
The increase in power will be made possible under terms of a
technical and scientific cooperation agreement between the Peoples
Revolutionary Government and the Government of Cuba. Cuba is
to provide technicians to install the transmitter and will give
scholarships to Grenadians to be trained to maintain it.
(93 words)
Project To Benefit Fishermen
The Peoples Revolutiopary Government is seeking EC$4..178 million
from the International'Fund for Agricultural Development to
finance a four year project to benefit fishermen..
The project will establish fish storage centres, sponsor formation
of fishermen's cooperatives and launch a EC$I million revolving
credit union scheme for fishermen.
The project is expected to begin in January next.
r .(63 words)
continued -
THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER
Retail Price Index Up
Retail prices in Grenada have risen 21.2% since January 1st 1980
and 459 since the Retail Price Index was established by Governmen
in January 1979. The increase in September over August was
4.1%.
... (33 words)
Basic Human Needs Project
Grenada is benefiting to the sum of US$1.7 million is a "Basic
Human Needs Project" being funded by the Agency for International
Development through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Under this project, 7 health centres and 4 schools are to be
rehabilitated. Two water projects and some road projects also
fall under this scheme.
Officials of the Planning Division of the Ministry of Finance and
of the Ministry of Communications & Works, recently visited
Barbados to report on progress of the project to Mr Edmund Valmont
CDB Director of Projects.
(94 words)
Argentine Ambassador Presents Credentials
Mr Juna A Lanari, Non-Resident Ambassador to Grenada of the
Republic of Argentina, presented his credentials to the Acting
Governor-General Mr Allan La Grenada, on Thursday 25th September.
(29 words)
Strachan Addresses UN General Assembly
Minister of Communications, Works & Labour, Selwyn Strachan, left
Grenada on October 8th for the United States where he was due to
address the 35th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
scheduled to be opened on October 10th.
(40 words)
TUC Represented at CCL Congress
Three members of the Grenada Trade Union Council (TUC) left
Grenada on October 12th for Barbados to attend the Seventh
Triennial Congress of the Caribbean Congress of Labour scheduled
continued -
Week Ending 13.10.80
Page 19
Page 20. THE GRENADA NEWSLETTER Week Ending 18,10.80
to run from 13th to 15th October.
The TUC representatives were Mr Vincent Noel, Secretary (Junior
Minister) for Home Affairs, Pr4sident of the Bank & General
Workers Union and President of the Commercial & Industrial Workers
Union (CIWU), Mr Septimus Forsythe, TUC President and Mr John
Ventour, Secretary/Treasurer of TUC and of CIWU.
(83 words)
Netherlands Ambassador Presents Credentials
Mr E G Manduro, Non-Resident Netherlands Ambassador to Grenada,
presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Paul Scoon on
Friday October 10th.
(22 words)
EDF Offers Incentive Bonus
The European Development Fund, which is providing funds for
construction of the Birch Grove Community Centre, has offered
EC$500.00 as an incentive for the best worker or workers on this
building project. The Peoples ;Revolutionary Government is
providing EC$6000 00 for labour on this project.
(46 words)
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