CATEGORY:LETTER ----------------- INSIDE GRENADA MONDAY October 08,2007 by Sandra Ferguson (The following is the text of a letter written to the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture, Hon. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, by Sandra Ferguson in connection with a USA Company looking for air services prospects in Grenada): October 8th, 2007 Hon. Clarice Modeste- Curwen Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Ministerial Complex St. George’s Hon. Minister, 1. Re USA Company looking for air services prospects in Grenada Greetings! I write to you in my PRIVATE, INDIVIDUAL capacity. Via the above-referenced article which appeared on page 13 in the Grenada Informer, issue of Friday, October 5th, 2007, we the people were informed as follows: • A US well-capitalized, private airline company is offering Grenada airlift services, including direct charter flights to and from Miami…..” • THE BUSINESSMEN MET AND HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,…..on the proposed venture which is intended to be of benefit to Grenada. • They say Grenada can become the hub for aviation activities with traffic for PRIVATE JETS and SMALL AIRLINES to and from South Florida. • Air Newco has shown a desire to SHUTTLE THE CARIBBEAN DESTINATIONS WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SEAPLANE ACCESS. • Air Newco is sponsored by Strategica Capital Partners, Nationwide Laboratories and JJK LLC. • While here, Keith St. Clair and Dr. Mark Grinsburg of Air Newco will be looking at possible sites for the construction of an aircraft maintenance facility and have already looked at areas in Pearls and Beausejour to determine what infrastructure is necessary to get the job done. • DR. THE RT. HON. KEITH MITCHELL WELCOMES THIS NEW INITIATIVE AND HAS COMMITTED HIS GOVERNMENT’S FULL SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT. • Dr. Mitchell has also encouraged the investors to make aggressive moves towards the fulfillment of this dream. Hon. Minister, something about this “smells” and THE SMELL IS OFFENSIVE. According to this article, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister has committed government’s full support to this proposed investment. Permit me the following queries: • WHO are these investors? • Has a BACKGROUND and other DUE DILIGENCE CHECKS been conducted on these potential investors? • Beside the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, WHO ELSE have they spoken to? Permit me also to observe, Hon. Minister, that IN THE MATTERS OF RELATIONS WITH INVESTORS/POTENTIAL INVESTORS, IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT OUR PRIME MINISTER’S JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED. Our nation is still smarting from the scandals and embarrassment caused by his “MISTAKES” – cavorting with and receiving monies/gifts from investors and business persons, who in fact turned out to be INTERNATIONAL FRAUDSTERS, some of whom are NOW IN JAIL: – (i) VIKTOR KOZENY, a.k.a the Pirate of Prague, Ambassador-at-Large, now in jail in the Bahamas, (ii) ERIC RESTEINER now in jail in the United States and who, according to the Prime Minister, sponsored an investment trip and from whom the Prime Minister collected his “damn money” (iii) VAN BRINK OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK of GRENADA - who bankrolled the glitzy NNP election campaign preceding the January 1999 elections and who died in jail in the United States awaiting trial for fraud. • Has a FEASIBILITY STUDY been conducted in relation to the markets that the air service proposes to serve? WHO HAS REVIEWED the feasibility study o behalf of the Government of Grenada? • What are the NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS of the operation of the proposed air service? 2. Re The re- activation of Pearls Airstrip: I also take this opportunity to express my concerns about the absence of TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY in respect of arrangements related to the re-activation of the Pearls airstrip. Via a GBN newscast of Thursday, September 6th, 2007, I learnt that the Pearls airstrip was being re-activated. I understood the chairperson of the Airport Authority of Grenada, Ms. Alexandrina Otway-Noel to say the following: • The Pearls airstrip would facilitate intra - island flights. • There was NO NEED FOR CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS at the airstrip. • There has been no decisions yet regarding: (i) the future of drag racing at Pearls airstrip (ii) the PERSONS who live near the airstrip • The re-activation of the Pearls airstrip was part of the agreement reached with the DEVELOPERS OF THE LEVERA PROJECT. These developers would be responsible for the operation of the airstrip. Hon. Minister, once again, a decision has been taken WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT as to how OUR PEOPLE will be affected. Our leaders have relegated us to SECOND CLASS, as obstacles in the way of DEVELOPERS. These so-called developers, who are really REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS, are being aided and abetted in the dispossession of we natives by an administration which was elected to serve and protect the interests of we the people. Again, Hon. Minister, permit me the following queries. • WHO are these developers? • WHY is this airstrip being turned over to their control? • WHO are the CLIENTS that this airstrip is intended to serve? • What is the ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACT of the re-activation of this airstrip? • WHO reviewed the proposal on behalf of the Government of Grenada? • WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS under which the Pearls airstrip is being turned over to their control and use? • I note that the Chairperson of the Grenada Airports Authority has advised that customs and immigration operations will not be necessary at this airstrip. Has this decision been taken after CONSULTATION with the Commissioner of Police and the national security experts? • Has Grenada sought the advice of its regional colleagues and the Regional Security System on this proposed action? Hon. Minister, as a concerned citizen, I wish to express MY STRENUOUS OBJECTION TO THIS PROPOSED PRIVATIZATION OF THE PEARLS AIRSTRIP. I believe IT COMPROMISES NATIONAL SECURITY and that Grenada may well be setting itself up to FACILITATE CRIME AND CRIMINALS of an ilk that it will not be able to handle. Hon. Minister, as Minister of Civil Aviation, I trust that you will not allow yourself to be RAILROADED into making and/or endorsing DECISIONS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF ADEQUATE DUE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES, since these decisions will have significant impact on the future of this island and its SECURITY. The Rt. Hon Prime Minister may be the “first among equals”. However, Madam, you are an ELECTED Member of Parliament. You have UNDERTAKEN to serve the best interest of the people of Grenada and I trust that you will hold yourself ACCOUNTABLE and RESPONSIBLE. We are a small, vulnerable island state. Our choices may be limited but it is our responsibility to make sensible, informed CHOICES. Given our vulnerabilities, there are also some issues that should be NON-NEGOTIABLE. A word to the wise is sufficient! I thank you for the opportunity to offer these concerns and comments. Best regards! Sincerely yours, Sandra C.A. Ferguson