by Linda Straker
- Request from the Donald Trump US Administration received in August
- Lower House of Parliament rescheduled to meet on 28 October
- Grenada has previously received requests for national security matters from regional and international partners
Surrounding the request from the Donald Trump US Administration to install temporary radar at Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and military assets on or near Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell explained that his anticipated statement to Parliament will not be to inform about government’s decision, but will instead be an update, as nothing has changed since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the request.
“I will provide an update to the public in Parliament. When Parliament sits, it will be an opportunity to address the issue then, and so the entire country will have the opportunity to hear from me,” he told the host of his weekly Tuesday evening social media interactive programme called “DMs with the PM.”
The Lower House of Parliament was scheduled to meet on Friday, 24 October, but this has been rescheduled for 28 October.
When asked if he would provide a response to the request, which was submitted in August 2025, the Prime Minister said, “No! It’s really to provide an update. Nothing much has changed since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that we were considering the request. We are still doing so; it is a technical matter that requires a lot of technical people to provide us with guidance on what it is we are being asked to accommodate.”
Admitting that the public became aware of the request through media reports, he said that Grenada is in no rush to provide a response. “This request was made since August, and we are now in October. So if we were in a position to make a decision, it was August, September, October and if we wanted to rush to do, we could have done so.” The Prime Minister also holds the ministerial portfolio of Minister for National Security.
Elaborating on other past requests Grenada has received, he said that requests for national security matters is something that comes from both regional and international partners. “The fact is — and I think that is why people should appreciate whether it is the United States or any other country — there are always requests for us to cooperate on any number of areas, particularly when it comes to things like security.”
Giving an example of cooperation between Grenada and Trinidad, the Prime Minister said there are instances when the authorities will cooperate with Grenada when deporting people or providing intelligence on people. “There are times when the Trinidadian government will ask us to consider those requests and say yay or nay, depending on the nature of the request. When it comes to policing and security matters, there are always ongoing requests.” He said, “We have had requests from the French, for example, which ask us for permission to board a vessel carrying the Grenadian flag somewhere up in the Northern Antilles.”
Call elections now. I can’t wait vote this weak leader out of office.
Deconman use majority in parliament to change the constitution but don’t have the guts to openly reject the U.S military request.
The previous prime minister would have almost certainly said yes to the US and we would have probably only heard about it after the fact.
If this radar help stop the drugs coming into Grenada then it be welcome it I say.