CATEGORY:BUDGET DEBATE
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By Wallace J.A
Inside Grenada correspondent
Tuesday December 19,2006


TRADE CENTER, Grand Anse (Dec.18): Hon. Nazim Burke, the shadow Finance Minister of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in responding to the budget presentation made by Hon. Anthony Boatswain, stated that he does not believe that Grenada is once again ‘open for businesses’ under the ruling New National Party (NNP) government. In fact, he expressed the view that the country might be 'open for monkey business’ instead – a phrase that he repeated throughout his presentation.

The opposition parliamentarian spoke about what he considered to be the NNP’s poor track record of managing the economy of the country, their many broken promises to the Grenadian people and the allegations of corruption that have been leveled against the Prime Minister and his deputy.

Mr. Burke thought that there was some merit in the Government’s plan to render financial assistance to students from the ‘outer parishes’ who attend the T.A. Marryshow Community College, but felt that the proposed plan was discriminatory in nature, since it does not take into consideration poor students from St. George’s going to the other parishes to school, or even those in St. George’s who have to attend schools within the parish.

Other issues dealt with my Mr. Burke in his presentation were the ‘Brief Case’ issue involving the Prime Minister; the deal worked out with Grynberg and his petroleum company with respect to the exploration rights to Grenada’s oil and gas reserves, the allegation made by Grynberg that the current Deputy-Prime Minister had solicited a bribe from him and Government’s intention to have Hugh Wildman confirmed as Attorney-General of Grenada.