Grenada's business organisation expresses concern

by Leroy Noel

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

ST GEORGE‘S, Grenada: Almost four weeks after the passage of Hurricane Ivan the Terrible over this island Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has yet to meet personally with the business sector umbrella body.

The Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce had asked for a meeting with the Grenadian leader to discuss what is said to be critical issues but he instead sent a representative.

One member of the Chamber told Caribbean Net News that the business community, which provides jobs to hundreds of Grenadians, was the hardest hit by the hurricane and has suffered millions in losses. He believes that it is disrespectful of the Prime Minister not to give the importance the Chamber deserves and added that it is an error that he would regret.

The Chamber member emphasised the Prime Minister as Minister of National Security failed to protect businesses after the passage of Hurricane Ivan. The police officers were all at their barracks and were not sent to protect business places, although there was no electricity in the capital St George's.

It was not until members of the Trinidad Defence Force arrived here that the looting was brought under control and several local police officers were caught among the looters.

Several senior police officers admitted that the force was without direction for several days and that there was no plan as was seen in Jamaica when Prime Minister Patterson declared a state of emergency even before the passage of the deadly hurricane.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version