From the Office of the Prime Minister ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, 2009_ Acting Prime Minister Michael Denis Lett says he is pleased that the international community continues to recognize the Grenada government’s management of the national economy. “It is clear that important institutions, such as the IMF, have recognized that this administration is serious about protecting workers and their families, especially in this time of global economic crisis,” he said. The acting Prime Minister was responding to the latest commendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has described the impact of the global economic downturn on the Grenada economy, as worse than that of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily. According to the September 25th, 2009 statement from the Head of the IMF Mission to Grenada, Mr. Phillip Young, “Grenada, like the rest of the ECCU and the Caribbean, has been hit hard by the global economic downturn—a negative shock more devastating than the recent hurricanes in terms of employment and growth.” This factual commentary by Mr. Young, conflicts significantly with the misleading, unfounded comments by the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, who mis-quoted the IMF and its most recent report on the Grenadian economy. The statements are unfortunate, mischievous and are designed to undermine the Grenadian people’s confidence in the government’s ability to manage the economy. The IMF, in fact, further states that “the authorities are to be commended for their strong economic and financial management of the Grenadian economy during these turbulent times. Policies have put particular emphasis on protecting employment opportunities and mitigating the impact of the shock on the most vulnerable members of society, while still aiming to keep the economy on a path toward debt sustainability.” It must be pointed out that millions of dollars provided to Grenada by Trinidad for the upgrade of the Coast guard, was used by Dr. Mitchell’s New National Party Government to pay salaries of government employees, prior to the elections of 2008. This was at a time when the effects of the global economic recession on the national economy were not as severe as now. As outlined in the IMF report, the government has, so far, met all its commitments and obligations. The Grenada government will continue to make every effort to meet its commitments, particularly to its employees, in a timely manner.