Business sector in Grenada still worried
by Leroy Noel
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
ST GEORGE¹S, Grenada: The trauma experienced
by the business sector in Grenada as a result of multimillion dollar losses
sustained after Hurricane Ivan, has prompted a meeting to discuss security.
A cross section from the business community met recently to discuss what
measures could be taken so that mass looting as experienced in the aftermath
of Hurricane Ivan should not occur again. The
businessmen agreed that the lack of security was mainly responsible for their
losses especially in the capital. The
admission made by the police Commissioner Fitzroy Bedeau that some of his
police officers may have participated in the looting “but are human too and
suffered losses like anyone else” has created a level of distrust between the
police and the business community. It was
suggested at the meeting that mechanisms be put in place to have some form of
security if similar circumstances should arise again.
According to a businessman who does not want to be identified, “The idea of
forming a security company to protect our business is a complex one and we
were advised to wait and see what measures will be put in place by the state
before going further with this idea,” he stated.
In a bid to allay the fears of the businessmen, Guyanese police and army
personnel were invited to assist Trinidadians and members of the Regional
Security System (RSS) and the local police in providing security.
Several big businesses in the country have admitted privately that they do not
feel comfortable with the level of security provided immediately after the
hurricane and have sent a clear message to the powers that be that they are
not prepared to risk their investment due to poor security.
In response, Minister of National Security and Prime Minister Dr Keith
Mitchell has placed the former Chief of Staff of the defunct People¹s
Revolutionary Army (PRA) Einstein Louison to head the security ministry. The
PRA was the military arm of the then Peoples Revolutionary Government headed
by former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. All
eyes are on Mr Louison to see whether he will be able to put the mechanisms in
place to allay the fears of the business community..
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