Prime Minister, Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, says the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) is critical to the further development of Grenada, particularly as the country seeks to position itself for the anticipated recovery in the tourism sector.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, questions have been asked about the timing of the project. At the ground-breaking ceremony for the project on Wednesday, Dr Mitchell said, “This is a necessary investment and the timing is right. The provision of the most modern and technologically advanced facility is crucial for the tourism industry specifically, and generally, for the economic growth and development of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”
The Prime Minister further stated that, “As a Government, we are duty-bound to provide safe, secure, efficient and world-class airport facilities and services that are consistent with international standards and which will in fact, support the economic development of our country. This is a responsibility we do not take lightly and it is in fact included in the mission statement of the Grenada Airports Authority.”
The Prime Minister cited the airport upgrade as a major project under the Public Sector Investment Programme, and noted too, that the country’s development thrusts must be spurred by a combination of public and private sector projects.
He said, “As we move forward, the growth of the country and its economy, is crucial for the provision of jobs and improving the lives of people. We are happy with the level of development we are seeing in both the public and private sectors and we expect to see some excellent opportunities for growth and development in 2021 and onwards.”
The airport upgrade and rehabilitation project is funded through a concessional loan from the People’s Republic of China, the first loan that Grenada has taken from China. The Prime Minister is confident that Grenada will be able to repay its loans and as such, there is no basis for the speculation that the airport will fall into China’s hands.
Dr Mitchell said, “The data shows that for the last 6 years, this Government has managed the country’s economy and fiscal affairs, most optimally, compared with any other Government, including past NNP governments. That is a fact, the data shows it and numbers don’t lie. We should have been far more worried in 2012 when the debt to GDP ratio was very high but now that ratio is just over 60%, therefore the additional loan is not a reason for concern.
Ambassador Zhao Yonchen of the People’s Republic of China also addressed this issue in his remarks and he too, expressed confidence that Grenada will be able to service its loan.
Minister for Infrastructure Development, Senator the Honourable Norland Cox outlined the general objectives of the rehabilitation project which include improving the landing and takeoff conditions for aircraft, lower airport operating costs for passengers and cargo and increased passenger comfort and convenience.
Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Honourable Clarice Modeste-Curwen, in her remarks, also underscored the importance of the airport upgrade project saying it is necessary for the maintenance of safety standards, the further development of tourism, and facilitating more efficient cargo operations.
Coincidentally, the ground-breaking ceremony for the airport upgrade project was held on the 36th anniversary of the official opening of the then Point Salines International Airport, later renamed in honour of the country’s revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop.
GIS
The thing is that China is doing good. and again it is a soft loan. Grenadians please dont be sensitive towards the Government and chinese because of false Propaganda. If you go in Canada you will see signs in French and Chinese and nothing is wrong with that! This is a soft loan of only a couple million dollars. GRENADA CAN AND WILL BE ABLE TO PAY IT BACK. SHUT UP WITH THAT BULLSHIT PROPAGANDA ABOUT FOREIGNERS TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY! ITS NOT TO SAY ONE GRENADIAN WOULD DO SOMETHING AS TO WHAT CHINESE ARE DOING! We have only become a nation of being bad minded complaining people! Guess what! Grenada’s airport is being upgraded to world and first class standards. That means bigger planes can come and more people will be coming into the country.
That means more revenue and a higher volume of airport traffic. Thanks to the Chinese this Airport is being upgraded because if it wasn’t for them the airport would have stayed the way it was until it had fallen apart. This Airport was built back in the 1980’s by the Great Maurice Bishop and the Airport Runway hasn’t been re surfaced since 2005. Something has got to be done and someone is going to have to do it! WHY COMPLAIN BECAUSE OF PROPAGANDA.
First of all. Half of the Buildings built in New York city and Toronto were built by the Chinese with Chinese material. Secondly China has some of the biggest Construction Companies in the world that Built bridges and Roads Infrastructure all the way from the Philippines to the USA. People need to stop being so Aggressive towards the way China is doing things.
Another sell out to the Chinese again Mr. Prime Minister,What atrocity have the Grenadian people committed against you? That you hate them so much as to sell their birth rights to foreigners? What wrong have they done to you so bad that it’s unforgiven and the only way of redemption for them is to sell them out to the Communist Government of China. Mr. Prime Minister why are you so heartless and wicked? The people put you there on many occasions because they trusted you, Is that how you’re paying them back by selling them to the Chinese? You and the rest of the party members are he devil advocates.
SAD TO SEE HOW YOU ARE SO BRAIN WASHED BY PROPAGANDA INTO THINKING THE GOVERNMENT IS EVIL. You have contributed nothing towards the growth and development of this country but just run your mouth on the government. Be grateful for what you have. Keith Mitchell built mostly all roads in the country and not with chinese money. He and the Government created jobs and installed street lights. You cannot even be grateful for the fact that you would be making twice more money than before but just run your mouth. you democracy should be taken away from you.
YEAH EXACTLY NEED TO SHUT UP WITH THAT BULLSHIT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST DOING DEALS WITH CHINA.
EXACTLY NEED TO SHUT UP. GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE THAN JUST DOING GOOD DEALS WITH CHINA.
Another sell out to the Chinese again Mr. Prime Minister,What atrocity have the Grenadian people committed against you? That you hate them so much as to sell their birth rights to foreigners? What wrong have they done to you so bad that it’s unforgiven and the only way of redemption for them is to sell them out to the Communist Government of China. Mr. Prime Minister why are you so heartless and wicked? The people put you there on many occasions because they trusted you, Is that how you’re paying them back? You and the rest of the party members are he devil advocates.
We are all slaves to who we owe.The hope is that the master has some compassion!!! I sincerely doubt ???
Wow. Will Grenadian citizens now be in the minority. What does the Government really know at about the Chinese government. Hope the powers that be don’t regret these decisions that are being made in the name of progress. Communism is communism. It never ends well.
Hey Before we lamb bast china for trying to help a country with lots of circumstances through out years of government with no sense of reality…and we all know who they are… Being grateful is what we should be doing….as a grenadian we haven’t done a lot to help this country at all… except to save our own ass….china’s government saw an opportunity and they capitalized..
Hmmmmm
Hope the health care system will be the next breaking grounds…smh
Yes. Grenada is now officially China’s stepping ground. It no longer belong to the Grenadian.
Great to see that works are being done on the Airport! it was needed to be done for years. Construction will be great. China has been doing very good with this country and its develop! Grenadians need to re educate themselves instead of Buying into these lies and rumors going around that Grenada is being sold to China. IT IS NOT. THIS IS THE FIRST EVER MAJOR LOAN THAT GRENADA HAS EVER TAKEN FROM CHINA! It is Great to see that the Development of this country is taking place. Thanks to the peoples republic of China we have Housing Projects and the National Stadiums. PLEASE END THIS BULLSHIT NONSENSE ABOUT GRENADA BEING SOLD TO CHINA. DO YOU HAVE ANY PROOF OR EVIDENCE THAT IT IS BEING DONE???? STOP BUYING INTO WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN DOMINICA AND JAMAICA. Grenada is a developing country. No developing country can be making progress without Foreign investment. Successful countries like Qatar and Singapore had people who didn’t buy into lies and rumors but went ahead and respected what the Government and foreign investment was doing for them! God Bless the peoples republic of China and the Government of Grenada for the development of this country. We cannot have dumb elements out there ending the growth and development of this country. MORE CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING AND MORE JOBS ARE BEING CREATED. WE NEED TO GET RID OF OUR THIRD WORLD MINDSET MENTALITY THAT WE HAVE. More tourism will expand so that we can become richer.
Fools die for the want of wisdom
The all-new and improved “Chinada International Airport”.
shut up we are a developing country! every country has an affiliation with china!! SHUT UP WITH YOUR CHINADA BULLSHIT. PART OF THE LOAN IS ALSO FROM THE WORLD BANK!
go educate yourself. this is grenada’s first ever loan. SHUT IT WITH THE CHINADA BULLSHIT
Yes. Grenada is now officially China’s stepping ground. It no longer belong to the Grenadian.