by Reggie Peters
St. George, April 23, 2010 – Grenada’s Leader of the Opposition and political leader of the New National Party (NNP), Dr. Keith Mitchell, has received the backing of Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) in denying Grenada’s right to delineate and exploit the island’s marine resources.
In attempting to stop the April 21, 2010 signing of the Maritime Boundary Delimitation Treaty between TT and Grenada, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said that “The people of this country [TT] have a right to decide how the wealth of this country [TT] is to be utilized, foremost of which is the basic services which have been denied by this Government.” The TT government should “cease and desist” from signing this treaty, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar added.
Such statements by the TT Leader of the Opposition may be construed as implying that all the resources in the waters between the two states belong to Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr. Mitchell is so dead-set against Grenada exploiting its marine resources since he is not the one doing it, that he is prepared to seek and accept the support of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar, whose views suggest that Grenada should continue being dependent on TT. Such thinking is reflective of a myopic mindset, which pits big regional islands against small ones.
“The track records of the NNP and the NDC administrations speak volumes in terms of the difference in their approach to governance. For example, without any consultations or briefings, the NNP signed an agreement with Grynberg that gave him exclusive rights to Grenada’s waters. It was only when Grynberg took legal action that Grenadians got to know about an agreement.” one official noted.
Having not received what was requested from Grynberg, then minister of Energy turned to the Russians, who paid for the studies, in the United States, of a family member of one Minister of Government and committed money to the consolidated Fund, all of which was not deposited there.
Neither Mrs. Persad-Bissessar nor the Leader of the Opposition in Grenada can stop a process that is designed to directly benefit the people of Grenada. On several occasions the issue was raised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs both during his contribution to Parliament and at media conferences.
There was no question or contribution by the opposition on the matter. What therefore is anyone’s reason for opposing the signing of this treaty after having refused all opportunities to make an input in what should be a national endeavour? The most likely explanation is that given the possibility that the present NDC administration has succeeded in accomplishing in less than two years, a task which the NNP could not accomplish in 13 years, Dr. Mitchell and Gregory Bowen are now at a loss for ideas and words.
And now they are devolving — grasping at straws with their “wear black” and “let’s rally” cries – while the vast majority of Grenadians are celebrating the accomplishments of now knowing what really belongs to us as a nation.
The horse is now in its proper place — before the carriage — which is where it belongs. Now we can intelligently move forward with the process of exploiting our marine resources and negotiating contracts as we see fit, all to the beneficial development of our people and nation.
This treaty is the culmination of work done by a joint commission on maritime boundary delimitation that was established by the Governments of Grenada and TT. The commission’s objective was to create a secure and predictable basis for the exploration and development of the living and non-living marine resources in the maritime space appertaining to Grenada and TT.
It is now absolutely clear that Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Bowen are prepared to obstruct this nation’s progress by any means necessary, even if this means joining forces with a foreigner who believes that TT is giving away too much at the wrong time by signing the Maritime Boundary Delimitation Treaty.
Could it be that these two gentlemen are simply worried that with initiatives such as this one, the NDC would be guaranteed a second term in office?
To the advantage of the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, albeit to the disappointment of Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Bowen, the Treaty was properly executed as planned, in Trinidad and Tobago today.
Further, the NDC administration has made it known that it will continue to strengthen and develop its friendly relations with the government and people of TT, regardless of which party is in office.
Let the people’s voices be heard; let what is in the best interest of ALL Grenadians be done; and may the noise and groundless allegations of controversies within the NDC administration, be eventually recognized for what they are.
As a grenadian growing up in this beautiful island of ours, many leaders fail to sign this boundary with TT. as a time of hard economic problems in the island it is a major step taken by this administration. IT is very selfish on the NNP not to support this venture taken by the NDC.This is a venture that should benefit all of the people of Grenada and the sister islands. NNP is why things in this islander of ours are so difficult, they fail to plant food for us grenadian . We need to use what we have the land to feed our self.Plant a tree for national Green Day.