VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0509/01 1202134
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 302134Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4611
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1698
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000509 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2017 
TAGS: PGOV GJ
SUBJECT: CODEL ENGEL'S VISIT TO GRENADA 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The April 13-15, 2007, visit of CODEL Engel 
to Grenada was a great success.  Grenadians, including 
government and opposition leaders, and resident American and 
local business people, were pleased with the opportunity to 
exchange views with the delegation and hopeful that the visit 
will result in tangible benefits for the country and the 
region.  Representative Eliot assured local officials, and 
via a press conference, the people of Grenada, of continued 
U.S. interest in, and engagement with, the region.  Prime 
Minister Keith Mitchell thanked the United States for its 
assistance following Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005). 
 He also raised with the delegation GOG concern about 
criminal deportees and a lack of USG college scholarships for 
Caribbean students.  Deputy Prime Minister Gregory Bowen 
hosted a dinner for the delegation, which was attended by a 
number of Cabinet members and government officials. 
 
¶2. (C) The CODEL was able to view the results of the USG's 
USD 46 million assistance program for Hurricane Ivan 
reconstruction at two locations.  In addition, the Chancellor 
of St. George's University (SGU), Dr. Charles R. Modica, 
agreed to delegation members' request to look into additional 
scholarships for minority and women students from their 
congressional districts; the members toured the SGU campus. 
On April 14 the CODEL hosted a lunch for local business 
leaders followed by a press conference.  Because changes in 
the CODEL's schedule did not allow for a separate meeting 
with Grenada's opposition leaders, post invited opposition 
head Tillman Thomas and the opposition Member of Parliament 
from South St. George's, Glynis Roberts, to the lunch. 
Immediately following the lunch, CODEL members held a press 
conference for local media.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (C) Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, 
Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY), led the congressional 
delegation to Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago April 13-16, 
¶2007.  Members of CODEL Engel included: Rep. Eliot Engel 
(D-NY) and Mrs. Engel, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-NY), Rep. Maxine 
Waters (D-CA) and Ambassador Sidney Williams, Rep. Sheila 
Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY); staff 
assistants Jason Steinbaum, Eric Jacobstein, and Mark Walker; 
Bethesda Naval Hospital staff physician Dr. Paul Florentino; 
and other military support staff. 
 
USG Post-Hurricane Ivan Reconstruction and Assistance 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4. (C) The delegation's program started April 14 with a visit 
to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), which 
USAID/OFDA helped to bolster following Hurricane Ivan in 
¶2004.  NADMA continues to receive USG support for both 
equipment and training, especially through foreign military 
financing (FMF) funds now scheduled to be eliminated for the 
Eastern Caribbean.  NADMA Director Sylvan McIntyre described 
the operation for the delegation and explained that the USG 
is the only major donor to his organization.  McIntyre gave a 
tour of the facility. 
 
¶5. (C) Following NADMA, the delegation toured the Richmond 
Hill Home for the Elderly, one of only two such facilities in 
Grenada.  The Home cares not only for senior citizens, but 
also for the severely physically and mentally handicapped. 
USG funds, in conjunction with the Pan-American Health 
Organization (PAHO) and Canada's development agency (CIDA), 
helped replace the roof on the patients' side of the 
building.  The tour highlighted for the delegation the 
continuing need for supplies such as adult diapers and 
wheelchairs as well as additional construction. 
 
St. George's University 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Dr. Charles R. Modica, the Chancellor of St. George's 
University (SGU)--a medical school founded by Modica and 
others for students who do not get into U.S. medical schools- 
-met with delegation members and conducted a tour of the 
university's Grand Anse campus.  SGU provides USD 17 million 
in scholarships to Grenadian students to attend college and 
has created an undergraduate program specifically for them. 
According to Modica, students from around the world are also 
taking advantage of the educational opportunities at SGU.  He 
has reached out to African countries as well and at the 
moment 40 students from Botswana are enrolled in the medical 
school. 
 
¶7. (C) Rep. Barbara Lee asked about the numbers of 
African-American students at SGU this year, since the numbers 
were low last year.  Rep. Jackson Lee asked if the university 
was reaching out to African-American and Latino inner city 
students to bring to medical school.  SGU's Dean of Students, 
Dr. Ted Hollis, explained that SGU set up a pre-med program 
that helps to bring students up to the level at which they 
can handle the medical school program.  This three-year (one 
in the educational services program and then two at the 
medical school) program was designed for Grenadian students 
who come into SGU with weaker schooling from the local 
educational system, to ensure they get the help they need to 
complete the medical school program.  He suggested that 
students from other countries could use this program as well. 
 Modica offered to set up pre-med and medical scholarships 
for students in the members' congressional districts and have 
the university's recruiters target those areas.  He said that 
he wants the students who receive scholarships to promise to 
return to the areas they are from to work for an 
as-yet-undetermined period of time.  Modica promised to 
follow up as soon as possible to sort out the details. 
Another concern raised by several members of the delegation 
was the lack of good nurse training in the U.S.  Nurses can 
earn more working for hospitals than by teaching.  Hollis 
briefly described SGU's efforts to develop a nursing school 
which they hope to have fully functioning soon, with 
instructors from around the world.  Following the discussion, 
Modica gave the group a tour of university facilities, 
visiting lecture halls, the library, and labs.  The tour 
ended at SGU's moving memorial to the 23 American service 
members who lost their lives during the 1983 U.S.-Caribbean 
intervention since, about which Modica observed, "They did 
it, at least in part, for us." 
 
Government of Grenada 
---------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Prime Minister Keith Mitchell met with the delegation 
at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium, where he was 
watching one of the Super Eight games.  He joined them in the 
President's box, an air-conditioned room behind the stands, 
with a flat screen TV showing the game.  The PM welcomed the 
group, saying he was very pleased that they had chosen to 
visit Grenada.  Mitchell made a pitch for Caribbean 
scholarships; repeating as he does for  every official U.S. 
visitor his fond memories of Reagan-era scholarships, 
observing, "When the Wall fell, the scholarships left too." 
The other main issue Mitchell raised was criminal deportees. 
He acknowledged that the United States has the right to 
determine who can remain in the country, but complained that 
"they come to Grenada without notice and cause trouble." 
Mitchell provided the example of two villages at each other's 
throats where he negotiated a truce and then discovered that 
a youth, deported from the U.S., had started the dispute. 
Mitchell also asked for help developing programs to deal with 
them, e.g., training, rehabilitation, as well as counseling 
for family.  (COMMENT:  This is the only concrete example of 
a deportee engaging in criminal behavior upon his return to 
Grenada that Mitchell has ever provided us.  Grenada receives 
about 50 deportees from the U.S. per year, both criminal and 
non-criminal.  The GOG is notified at least twice during the 
process, once in Washington when the Grenadian embassy is 
asked to provide travel documents and again 10 days prior to 
the deportation via dipnote from post to the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs & International Trade, and by fax to the 
Commissioner of Police.  There appears to be a breakdown in 
communication among the GOG entities.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶9. (C) Chairman Engel told the Prime Minister that this trip 
was his first abroad after becoming chairman of the House 
International Relations Committee (HIRC) and his first to 
Grenada.  He expressed his desire to strengthen the ties 
between the two countries, noting the long history of 
friendship and cooperation.  The other members of Congress 
raised the following issues: 
 
- Rep. Waters noted the importance of cooperation on drug 
interdiction, adding that other Eastern Caribbean and CARICOM 
nations had expressed concern about possible impingement on 
their sovereignty.  She said the Congressional Black Caucus 
understands these concerns but also wants to work with the 
countries to ensure effective drug interdiction. 
 
- Rep. Lee told Mitchell her primary concern is to increase 
trade between Grenada and the U.S. west coast.  She 
encouraged the Prime Minister to focus more on California as 
a destination for people and goods. 
 
- Rep. Jackson Lee said she is embarrassed by U.S. 
inattentiveness to the Caribbean.  She suggested Grenada 
reach out to Continental Airlines to consider Grenada as a 
destination to increase direct flights from various parts of 
the United States to Grenada, including from the Southwest. 
Lee asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & 
International Trade draft five points on issues of concern to 
Grenada, e.g., human resources, cultural exchange, homeland 
security, and send the list to Congress to improve the 
dialogue.  Rep. Lee also told the PM that they (Congress) are 
aware of the deportee issue. 
 
- Rep. Clarke mentioned that she was not on the HIRC, but 
appreciated Engel reaching out and including her on the trip. 
 She added that her congressional district in New York has 
the highest number of Grenadians resident anywhere in the 
United States. 
 
Chairman Engel summed up by acknowledging that the issue of 
criminal deportees is one they have heard from a number of 
different Caribbean countries.  He will be happy to look into 
it.  Engel also mentioned that assistance is important for 
the region and that his committee will be looking into a 
number of different options. 
 
¶10. (C) Deputy Prime Minister Gregory Bowen hosted a dinner 
for the delegation at True Blue Bay Resort and Villas April 
¶14.  Also attending were Minister for Education and Labour 
and member of parliament for St. John's Parish, Claris 
Charles; Minister for Health, Social Security, the 
Environment, and Ecclesiastic Relations, Senator Ann 
David-Antoine; Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Culture 
and Performing Arts, Brenda Hood.  Minister of Finance and 
Planning Anthony Boatswain and the Junior Minister of 
National Security, Einstein Louison, though invited, did not 
attend.  Chairman Engel and Deputy Prime Minister Bowen 
exchanged toasts to mutual friendship and continued 
cooperation. 
 
Other Activities 
---------------- 
 
¶11. (C) CODEL Engel hosted a lunch for local business people 
at their hotel, including a number of American business 
people resident in Grenada.  About 20 were invited, including 
members of the local branch of the Chamber of Commerce, 
University administration, energy-related companies, 
Grenada's Tourism Board, several artists and hoteliers. 
Because of changes to the CODEL's schedule, which made a 
separate meeting with leaders of the main opposition National 
Democratic Congress (NDC) impossible, Embassy Grenada invited 
two NDC members to attend the lunch.  (NOTE:  The opposition 
took advantage of their invitation to bash the government on 
an April 15 local radio program.  An opposition leader--not 
one invited to the lunch--told the program's host that the 
GOG had stood the Embassy up.  Charge later told the two who 
had attended the lunch (Tillman Thomas and Glynis Roberts) 
that she was surprised to hear this on the program and hoped 
to clear up any misunderstandings by letting them know that 
the government was not invited to the lunch.  In fact, the 
opposition representatives had only been invited because we 
could not find any time on April 14 to fit a separate meeting 
with the opposition into the CODEL's schedule and we thought 
it important to give them the opportunity.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶12. (U) CODEL Engel held a news conference immediately after 
the lunch.  Reports were carried the next day on radio and 
television and in the following editions of the three major 
newspapers (all weeklies). 
GILROY