The Government of Grenada has made significant strides towards the implementation of its transformational agenda during the first 100 days in office, including the realisation of several campaign promises.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance the Honourable Dickon Mitchell attributed early successes to the collaborative and diligent efforts of Ministers and staff throughout the various ministries, noting the challenging times within which the new administration took office.
“Our transformational agenda is not ‘pie in the sky,’ but one that is hinged on a shared vision for a sustainable, equitable and prosperous Grenada,” Prime Minister Mitchell said.
“A hundred days after our inauguration, I am pleased to report that our new administration has been able to lay some key cornerstones for this future that we collectively wish to see. Most notably, we were successful in easing some of the “pain” that has plagued Grenadians for years.”
Achievements highlighted at the 100-day milestone include:
- Removal of School Fees
- Fees removed at pre-primary, primary and secondary school levels
- Payment of Docked Salaries
- $1.2 million paid to 1,721 affected teachers and other public officers
- Payment of Pensions
- $60 million approved to facilitate pension and gratuity payments by 30 November 2022
- Twice monthly payment of Salaries
- A sandbox approach is currently being pursued to ensure a seamless nationwide rollout by March 2023
- Cost of Living Relief Measures
Petrol Products:
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- Reduction in the Petrol Tax from $5.50 to $0.00
- Maintained fixed price of $40 on the price of the 20-pound LPG
Electricity Consumption for Domestic Consumers:
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- Zero-rating of the VAT up to 500 kWh until 31 December 2022
- Removal of Environmental Levy up to 500 kWh until 31 December 2022
Freight Charges on Duties and Taxes for Imported Goods
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- Freight charges adjusted to reflect 2019 freight costs until March 31, 2023
- Extension of COVID-19 Relief Structures
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- Extension and Expansion of the SEED Programme to include Carriacou and Petite Martinique
- Extension to Temporary Unemployment Benefits
- Up to $30,000 in Grant Funding and Training Support for Businesses
- Increased Airlift Agreements
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- Twin Otter Aircraft between St Vincent, Carriacou, and Grenada
- Year-round flights from Toronto to Grenada on Sunwing Airlines
- Weekly direct flights from Germany to Grenada on Condor Airlines
- Additional British Airways flight from the UK to Grenada by November 2022
- Ease of Travel
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- Removal of the ED Card for departing passengers
- Increased automated airport kiosks from 4 to 10
Prime Minister Mitchell reiterated Government’s commitment to deliver on its mandate of transformation and called on all Grenadians to do their part to support nation-building.
“It is only by coming together, with a genuine desire to help one another and to pull our weight as responsible citizens, that we will sustainably move forward as a country and assume our rightful place among the global community of nations.
GIS
As a responsible and respectful government, what you boasted about as your greatest accomplishment so far is just a rehash of others’ previous efforts. The gap between what you imagined you are doing and what you have done is a clear indicator of your weakness.
Gloating over such accomplishments is frightening. Stop-gap measures and misguided policies will not strengthen an economy or improve the lives of people, and the freight cap will only enable the business class and not the struggling masses. Everyone knows that the nature of business is expansion and profit and not the upliftment of the poor. So, you see, you have done nothing to gloat about.
Shouldn’t be black AND white. Not in Grenada. Ask Arley.
I’ll applaud when they reform CBI program and Planning Authority, but truth is, they just as corrupt as the last boss. Watch the La Sagesse fiasco last week. Millions of dollars from selling our passports are spent on derelict hotels that rip out century-old mangroves, just as storms are increasing and sea-level rising. But they like that money, of course. They can’t resist no more than Keit could
Lacking:
Stringent laws that will criminalize the activities of corrupt public officials.
It should be illegal to attempt to corrupt public officials and illegal for public officials allow themselves to be corrupted. This should be black and white with no gray areas.
Minimum jail time of 36 months.
It’s time rid all ministries and statutory bodies of corruption.