November 30, 2018 – Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell has received the report of the independent Salaries Review Commission. 

The commission spent the last few months reviewing the salaries of all parliamentarians in Grenada including Ministers of Government, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate and the Leader of the Opposition. Comparisons were also done with other countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. 

Thursday, Chairman of the Salaries Review Commission, Mr. Henry Joseph presented the report to Dr. Mitchell who said it will be considered by Cabinet and laid before the House sometime in 2019. 

In his wrap-up of the budget debate last Friday, Dr. Mitchell indicated that he intends to take action to improve the salaries of Government Ministers. 

The Prime Minister revealed that there is a difference of more than $20,000 in the salaries of some Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries, a situation which is not normal in relation to employers and employees. 

Meanwhile the Prime Minister has welcomed news that close to US $80 million will be invested in the Grenadian by Rex by new majority shareholders, Sunwing Travel Group. 

At a joint press conference this week, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunwing, Stephen Hunter announced the size of his investment and the fact that 60 rooms will be added to the hotel to bring the total inventory to almost 300. Mr. Hunter also announced that starting in December, Sunwing will also facilitate weekly flights from Toronto, Canada which are anticipated to bring an additional 30,000 passengers into Grenada. 

The hotel will be closed in April 2019 to facilitate the renovation. It will reopen in December 2019 as the Royalton Grenada; Royalton being a highly rated all-inclusive luxury brand around the world. 

With the addition of 60 rooms, new restaurants, spa and other services, the hotel will employ about twice the staff currently employed by Rex, a fact which bodes well for a further reduction in unemployment figures in Grenada. 

“I am extremely happy that Sunwing Travel Group will expand the property; there will be serious construction taking place which will provide an enormous amount of jobs for Grenadians,” Dr. Mitchell said. 

He added, “Government was always keen to see upgraded hotel operations at the site of the Rex Grenadian, knowing that the tourism product is vitally important to economic activity in the country. We also wanted to ensure that we could have expanded airline service into Grenada. Therefore, it’s like killing two birds with one stone and we are really excited to have this project come on stream.” 

Having had the opportunity to visit the Royalton in St. Lucia recently, and to witness first-hand the quality of facility and service, the Prime Minister is keen to have that level of luxury offered in Grenada. 

He said, “This is going to bring an added dimension to the country’s tourism product. It is going to increase the hotel room stock in the country. With Sunwing’s marketing experience, we expect they will be able to fill the hotel property almost year-round because of their direct flights into the country.”