Grenada's PM brushes aside coup fears

Monday, October 4, 2004

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Grenada's Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said here Friday he did not believe anyone would try to overthrow his administration while he is away from the hurricane-ravaged Caribbean state, making an appeal for international aid.

"While I believe there are elements who may still wish they might be able to take over government by force and survive, I think they are living in a fool's paradise. They don't have a ghost of a chance of succeeding," Mitchell told reporters.

"We don't wish to have any upheaval in Grenada, and we hope and pray no one will try anything," he added.

In 1979, a rebellion against the government of Sir Eric Gairy resulted in Maurice Bishop becoming prime minister. But Bishop himself was killed in a palace coup in 1983 that sparked a US-led invasion.

Mitchell was due to fly to Washington Friday to seek international aid for his island, devastated by Hurricane Ivan early last month.

Late Thursday, he met with Trinidad and Tobago opposition leader Basdeo Panday, who promised that his United National Congress party will send food to the devastated CARICOM state.

Meanwhile, Len Ishmael, director general of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, is urging political parties on the island to put aside their differences and focus on rebuilding the country.

Ishmael, who recently led a team to assess damages, said unity was needed at this crucial time in Grenada. His mission produced a comprehensive report which outlines a long recovery and rehabilitation process for the island.

It put overall damages at over 850 million dollars, which represents the gross domestic product for two years.

The report will form the basis on which regional officials will appeal for funding to rebuild Grenada at an international donor conference in Washington on Monday.

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