INSIDE GRENADA JANUARY 02, 2008 By Lloyd Noel Over the years going back for sometime, we used to have a saying whenever anything unusual happened – “is Grenada we come from”. In other words, we had become so accustomed to strange happenings in these Isles – that we just took anything and everything for granted with no bother. But as we move away from “2K7” and into “2K8” – even the most seasoned and drama-oriented among us would have to admit, or reluctantly agree among those who seem to be always prepared to make excuses for the wrong-doers, that the situations and the occurrences in the Grenada of late have definitely become intolerable. As a people who have seen it all over the years – from Crown Colony, to Associated Statehood in 1967, to independence in 1974, to the revolutionary Government in 1979 to October 19th 1983, to a one week period of chaos and confusion from 19th October to the 25th October, to a period of Limbo from October 26th, 1983 to December 1984, and back to Parliamentary democracy of one kind or another from December 1984 to date – no one could complain that we have not seen and encountered our fair share of excitement. In fact, many would be rightly justified in seriously wondering – how our people could have withstood all the foregoing historical landmarks and trauma, and still remain the calm, collected, and tolerable people we have continued to be over the years. I suppose the easy answer would be, that as a people generally we do have much more than a mere pretence to being committed and dedicated Christians; and while we go off the handle at times – our activities and general behaviour are mostly inspired by and based on the teachings of Christ. It sometimes take extreme and extra-ordinary incidents and happenings to bring out the hidden dedication in our people – but the fact remains that it has to be there to be brought out eventually, and many would argue that after all that happened in the last couple years – the time has definitely come for people to rise up from their apparent slumber, and take the bull by the hands, as it were, and act decisively and definitely to bring about the necessary changes, to set the ball rolling towards rescuing our nation State and its people from further shame and disgrace. To say that last year was confusing is really putting it mildly, because some of the incidents and happenings were just mind-boggling – to the extent that even some of those die-hards, who can never see anything wrong or remiss in the actions and omissions of the powers – that-be, began to express serious concerns about the way ahead that their heroes were following. For more than two years the people were flooded with endless rhetoric by those in control, that some major developments were in the pipeline and ready for implementation across the Islands – and the heavy emphasis was on thousands of jobs for the unemployed. It seemed that at long last, the 2003 Elections promise of “if its work you want then work you will get” was coming home to roost. Instead of any development coming on stream, those highly praised tycoons – who were on their way to coming to save our people economically – they fraudulently drew down on the guarantees given to them in Banks by our Government, where loans were promised for the said developments, and our treasury had to add the stolen sums to our huge national debt. And out of the blue the “Port Louis projects” came out of the woodworks, as it were, and things started to move up and down the country but mostly in the South of the Island – at the Cinnamon Hill Condominium and the Lagoon Road Basin for a Marina. And while there were many concerns about the huge concessions and tax haven granted to the Developer – at least people could have seen things happening and many Grenadians actually at work on those projects at long last. In the case of the Lagoon basin Marina that was planned by Mr. De Savry of Port Louis – a number of persons of varying influence publicly expressed some serious concerns about the proposed development. And after a Television public programme in which Mr. De Savry and M.P. Boatswain were involved, with Mr. George Grant and a live public audience participating, it was subsequently announced that the Marina project would not be implemented as was fully planned, with some small buildings along the Lagoon road in front of Foodland. For the benefit of those who have not been in the area recently – after the Television show a wall fencing was erected from the Lincoln Ross Iron Works gap, alongside the road to where there used to be some old buildings with a Bar on the sea front. Then out of the blue, as per usual, a news item around the Christmas holidays on radio and Television announced that the Port Louis Marina Basin project was sold to another group of Developers (the name was given), who were experts in Marina Basin development, for some US$ 24 millions dollars. Just as the original sale and purchase – between the Port Louis group and others in Grenada and elsewhere overseas in England and the B.V.I. – was clouded in thick smoke-screens about the actual price paid and to whom-so-ever, so too, the quoted price above has been doubted by many persons who have spoken with me and who seem to have other information they did not disclose. But the bigger question remains to be answered – What is in the new deal for the people’s Treasury, and what further concessions were given to the new Marina development experts? I suppose we will have to wait on another Television programme hosted by Mr. De Savry, to get any answers about the new deal and how it will affect our heritage. So sleeping, and when you are awake, liming Grenadians 'scrunting' to make ends meet – you seeing how the chaos and confusion from last year, are already developing into even more baffling and highly smelling rotten deals to begin the New Year? And as per usual we will be told, that the latest economic saviour will ensure that progress will continue, because the new tycoons will be bringing another Billion dollars scheme to make us number ONE in the region and beyond, when it comes to Marina Development. But in reality, what is happening is that those highly praised developers are simply using those in control, and no doubt ensuring that their financial progress continue, while ripping off poor Grenadians and making Millions in profit – with not a cent going into the treasury, because the concessions and Tax haven are for quarter of a Century. Nothing else of any significance is visible, as we begin another New Year, and every time we hear and see those in control making public statements about the happenings – it is always a case of the details or the final arrangements not yet completed, and therefore nothing definite can be disclosed to John Public. I do not believe we are going to get any big surprise about Elections in the first quarter of this year – on the lines that took place in Barbados. Because the (34th) Thirty-fourth anniversary of independence is just around the corner, and with the Law for national Awards now in place – the powers-that-be will be handing out many of those, in an effort to soft-soak some supporters who are seen as wavering, and others who may be flattered upon receiving such recognition and then decide to “Let the progress continue” – in gratitude for being recognized. In addition thereto, the second phase of the National Stadium may come on stream by the Chinese early this year, to be completed in more record time as was the first phase of the Cricket section. And even more importantly, the first International games at the Cricket stadium since the World Cup would be staged there between the West Indies and Australia, in two One-day Internationals in May/June 2008. And if the cricketing gods were to keep on showering New Year blessings and good fortunes on our Team’s recent success in South Africa – so that the team remain undefeated with two Grenadians in the squad – I cannot see our Cricket loving Prime Minister risking the chance of being in control of our state of affairs, when the Australians visit for those two games, and with the added bonus of the sporting facilities completed. In those circumstances, therefore, I can see elections in late June or even later down in the New Year. I started this article by recalling our conventional saying of “is Grenada we come from” – whenever anything unusual takes place in our once peaceful and straight forward land; and a sad incident in Maran, St. John, ended the old Year with that statement again making the rounds. The news hit the airwaves and papers of the Christmas night shooting of one “Beharry” man by the chap known as “Pussy” from Blackbay in St. John. The police was soon on the scene, got the gun from the alleged shooter and detained him in police custody. That turn of events have taken place dozens of times up and down our Tri-Island State, whenever there has been such incidents over the years, and the Police makes a charge and then investigates. In this case, two days after the Chap was detained by the police – the further news spread like wildfire that “Pussy” was released by the Police and had gone to his home. Some statements were made by various persons in authority, that he was not yet charged and forty-eight hours had expired, so he had to be released although the matter was under investigation. Needless to say, I received dozens of calls or approaches on the street – by curious persons who could not understand why the new method of dealing with the most serious crime on the law books. And I must admit that I, too, was surprised by the turn of events. But what is worrying, in the context of the administration of justice, is that people are saying and feeling that “Pussy” received special treatment, because he is politically well connected. This puts the police and those in authority in a bad light – and the perception damages the concept, and dirties the streams of justice, which mandates – “that justice must not only be done but must manifestly be SEEN to be done”. But even though its Grenada we come from – DO have a happy and peaceful and prosperous 2008.