by Linda Straker
- Official China trip concluded on 17 January 2025
- HengSheng Group LinkedIn page indicated Grenada delegation arrived at noon in Dubai on the same day
- Citizenship by Investment meeting was scheduled for London from 20–22 January
On Friday, 24 January 2025, Press Secretary Neila Ettienne refused to confirm that Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell detoured to Dubai following his official trip to China, however, a social media posting by the company whose event he attended, as well as people who were at the event, confirmed that he was in Dubai attending the 2024 Year-End Summary Meeting and 2025 New Year Party of the Hengsheng Group.
Responding to WhatsApp text messages seeking confirmation from the Office of the Prime Secretary about the places Prime Minister Mitchell visited following his China trip, Ettienne only referred to the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) meeting scheduled for London from 20–22 January.
The news release dated 20 January said that the Honourable Andy Williams Minister for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation will continue to act as Prime Minister until Honourable Dickon Mitchell returns to state on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.
When specifically asked, “Did he also visit Dubai?” Ettienne’s response was: “This is the official details, which I’ve shared with you,” referring again to the 20 January 2025 release which informed the public that following the official trip to China, Prime Minister Honourable Dickon Mitchell participated in the “Future of Citizenship by Investment” event at Wilton Park, London on 20 January.
When asked if there was an unofficial detail? No reply was provided.
Ettienne was also asked if the Prime Minister had indeed returned to the island as assured in the release and when. The Press Secretary confirmed via WhatsApp text that the Prime Minister was back on island but did not confirm his return date. Neither the Office of the Prime Minister nor the Office of the Press Secretary through the Government Information Service (GIS) provided information about this trip to Dubai.
The official China trip concluded on 17 January 2025 and according to a post on the HengSheng Group LinkedIn page on 17 January 2025, at noon, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, along with his delegation arrived in Dubai.
“After a brief rest at his hotel, the Prime Minister held a meeting with Yuanfa Li, Chairman of Hengsheng Group. During the meeting, Chairman Li presented a detailed report on Hengsheng Group’s market promotion efforts and project construction progress in 2024. He also sought the Prime Minister’s continued support for global market promotion initiatives in 2025,” said the post on 23 January.
The Hengsheng Group is the Grenada National Resort project developer in Levera. At the reception, Prime Minister Mitchell gave remarks describing the 500-room hotel project as” full of ambition and aspirations.”
Besides the postings by the Heng Sheng Group, there are also photos of the Prime Minister at the Dubai event on CBI Consultant Vivian Davids’ Facebook page.
The other members of the Prime Minister’s delegation to Dubai were Teddy St Louis, Chief of Staff or Advisor to the Prime Minister; Lessey Arkera, Prime Minister’s Executive Secretary; and Ziya Rahaman, Consul General of Grenada in Dubai.
