Grenada PM speaks to the people for the first time

PRIME MINISTER Dr Keith Mitchell spoke to the people of Grenada yesterday — the first time he has done so since the ravaging Hurricane Ivan. This was made possible on GBN Radio which got its communication system working again on Thursday night. He later told the TT media that he met with Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Thursday afternoon at his residence in Happy Hill. He said Manning spent two hours with him because Manning had to depart for the airport. “He risked his own life and safety to come there to see me. I am very happy about that. I have asked him to coordinate the regional effort to assist Grenada get back on its feet. As chairman of Caricom, I asked Mr Manning to assist me in that regard. This will be done in collobration with Mr Edwin Carrington.”

Mitchell said he received calls from all over the world yesterday. He got calls from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell. “Mr Powell called on behalf of the President and said that a meeting was held and a decision was taken to provide relief to the people of Grenada. He did not say what sort of relief or the amount the United States will be providing. Mitchell confirmed that the limited State of Emergency was agreed to on Thursday by his Cabinet. He said there has been tremendous support from the people of the country. “There have been some who want to score political points at this time in our history.” Mitchell said he was surprised to hear that he had collapsed and that he was hospitalised. “You see what I mean, they want to create chaos and panic in the society. I am feeling fine physically, but I can’t be happy when I see the state of my country.” Mitchell, 58, admitted that foodstuff and other items were sent to Grenada, but it was a matter of time before the re-building starts.