ST. GEORGE ‘S, Grenada: Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell says a deal with China will come sooner than some people predict. “Clearly I think there is no doubt in mind that when the results come in…and its going to be very soon .. it’ going to be (substantial),” Prime Minister Mitchell said in his first full interview since his return from Beijing. Dr Mitchell was speaking in an interview Tuesday, a day after he made his national address on the controversial visit. “I find it very strange that any individual that has any brains will want to come out and say that they would get nothing. I would think especially if you are a politician you are going to find that you’re going to eat your words,” Mitchell said in speaking of people who said the visit was a disaster. “I know as far as Grenada is concerned we are going to be in a better position,” he said. Prime Minister Mitchell had said in his address that Grenada and China have reached agreement, but he could not yet divulge the details. This gave rise to some skepticism, along with a report published in a Barbados newspaper written by journalist Ricky Singh that said the visit had failed because Grenada’s aid demands were too high. The report quoted the Chinese ambassador in Bridgetown, though Foreign Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod said the official had denied making the statement. Mitchell said the newspaper report was “unfortunate.” “I had a lot of respect for Ricky and still do, I think he may have been misled by someone who probable may have used him,” Mitchell said. “He should know me well enough to know that I would not take a decision like this without a clear understanding that there are going to me tremendous benefits for the country,” he said. “I am not going to risk my entire political future and all the work I have done on a decision like this without having very concrete feelings that there will be tremendous benefit.” Mitchell acknowledged that there are some concerns even among his supporters about the principle of the country’s move towards China, but he said he has acted very transparently with the Taiwanese. “I don’t think any country that broke relations with Taiwan in recent times did in fact proceed during the process leading up to that as Grenada has done in contacting the Taiwanese),” he said. “Assuming that (the break in relations) happens we would have done everything (to keep them abreast),” he said. “People would be amazed with the level of the conversations I have had and with the level of openness with our Taiwanese friends.” “I had a distinct feeling they took us for granted. They certainty did not believe that this little prime minister from Grenada was brave enough to take a decision like this,” Mitchell said. “It seems to me what people are saying is that I have no right as prime minister to explore alternative arrangements for the country. I have not done anything but to explore alternative opportunities for the country,” the Grenadian leader said. ”I think you should do if you are a wise person is just wait and see,” he quipped. He hinted that the Chinese will take over the rebuilding of the Grenada sports stadium, turning his back on a 48 million dollar offer by the Taiwanese. Mitchell said the Chinese are likely to spend more on the project. “There is a commitment to even broaden the stadium activity to much more than what the Taiwanese had committed… its going to be a new Queens Park, and there is going to be tremendous development there,” he said. Reprinted from Caribupdate.com