Grenada looking to CARICOM for help to pay civil servants

Prime Minister Mitchell talking with the media

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent
Email: rc@caribbeannetnews.com

Thursday, March 10, 2005

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Following the devastation left by Hurricane Ivan in September of last year, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), via financial backing from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, is reported to have given in excess of EC$40 million. 

However, news coming out of St. George's indicates that the Mitchell Administration is now looking to CARICOM for additional financial assistance to help pay the country's civil servants.

During a telephone interview, a source in the Ministry of Finance told Caribbean Net News that the salaries of civil servants have been up to date for the past six months. The government is seeking to ensure that this continues, hence a request for an additional assistance for US$10 million in order to be able to continue paying those employed in the public sector.

Officials in St. George's point out that in addition to paying salaries, the government is burdened with rebuilding schools, repairing buildings, investing in housing, among other things.

Speaking with members of the media recently, Prime Minister Mitchell announced that China and Venezuela is assisting the country in replacing its housing stock. 

Work has begun on the construction of some 140 low income homes through a commitment from the government of Venezuela

"President Chavez did announce that he wanted to build a Simon Bolivar Village in Grenada and so we decided to put that in St. David's which was the hardest hit part of the country. We are indeed heartened by this initiative and so there will be a Simon Boulevard Village and as you know, President Chavez is a man of history," he said.

Mitchell also announced that the Chinese Government has also agreed to construct 2,000 low income homes in Grenada and a team of technicians and engineers from China, who will be working on the rebuilding of the National Stadium, will be bringing additional personnel to look at the construction of the 2,000 homes.

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