The Grouping of Civil Society Organisations in Grenada is expressing concerns with recent publications regarding development plans for the State of Grenada

An extensive report by the South China Post was published under the headline China set to move into United States’ backyard with national development plan for Grenada

According to the report “The Chinese foreign ministry told the South China Morning Post this month that “China Development Bank, at the request of the Grenadian government, is helping them draft a national development strategy……….”

The report further states that “Wang Yingjie, a lead researcher involved in the drafting of the Grenada national development strategic plan had been finished recently and “should be in the hands of the Grenadian government already…”

“Beijing’s blueprint envisions the construction of massive infrastructure projects which includes the construction of a highway connecting the major towns on its main island and a railway line encircling it. The plan also calls for the building of deepwater ports that could accommodate a large number of cruise and cargo ships, a large wind farm to replace diesel-fueled generators and a modernised airport with more, longer runways. It also sees a future for Grenada as an offshore tax haven for foreign companies or individuals…”

The South China Post report claims that “A China-drafted development plan for Grenada would give Chinese companies better access to future investment and infrastructure projects.

The Chinese team warned in one document that the development envisioned by blueprint would not be achieved unless the Grenadian government took strong, effective measures to ensure and protect the interests of foreign investors.”

Civil Society members said they sought answers from the Government to the following questions – Is the implementation of Bejing’s blue print already underway? And are Chinese institutions and others discussing and planning for Grenadians?

The Grouping also asked government if   work undertaken and to be undertaken on the Western Corridor Road Project, Airport loan and airport works, and the Conversions of Reserves to National Parks are part of the national development plan for Grenada.

In a recent Interview on the GBN’s Beyond the Headlines programme Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Dr Keith Mitchell Prime Minister Mitchell was asked about the report by Host of the Programme Lew Smith and he admitted that what they did was asked for help in developing a national development plan.

“As you know Lew we were going around doing discussions internally and we asked the Chinese and they said they would prepare something … because they were the ones who took responsibility to helped us

Prime Minister Mitchell said that other countries and institutions regionally and internationally were asked for assistance.

“But the Chinese were the ones who accepted responsibility. We were seeking funding and the Chinese said that they were willing to provide at least a draft after consultations with persons in the country from various levels and you know we are holding discussions with rank and file persons in the country,” he said.
However the prime minister said that a national plan cannot be implemented without the people.

“Any national plan will have to be endorsed by the people of the country. So you can get advice and you can get recommendations from anybody including a government but the final decision in what sort of plan we have going forward have to be vested in the people of the country,” he said.

The Grenadian government announced its national strategic plan 2030 in November of 2014.

Goal of the Plan as outlined by Government is to create a path toward greater national consciousness & competitiveness; greater collective responsibility for our nation’s future; smarter & more effective planning for future generations; better use of our national assets & resources; empowerment of our people; development of competitive micro, small and medium sized businesses; a diversified economy built on the collective will of every citizen

The 2030 is expected to build on Growth & Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS); National Strategic Plan 2007; the 2015 Strategic Plan to Modernize the Public Sector; Strategic Plans of various Ministries/Depart; and Statutory Bodies & State owned Enterprises.