Government Information Service Newsletter - Vol. 2, Issue 7 - 2021

NEWSLETTER GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICE

Monday, Feb. 22, 2021

GRENADA RECEIVES SECOND SHIPMENT OF FIVE THOUSAND DOSES OF THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE DETAILS ON PAGE 02

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INSIDE PAGE 03

VACCINATED VISITORS STILL NEED TO BE QUARANTINED

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MASS VACCINATION OF FRONTLINE WORKERS

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GENERAL PUBLIC IS ADVISED TO INCREASE VIGILANCE DUE TO RECENT SHARK SIGHTING AND MUCH MORE...

GIS NEWSLETTER

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS

GIS DIRECTOR AG Leslieann Johnson PRESS SECRETARY Philomena Robertson NEWS DIRECTOR Rickisha St. Louis GIS REPORTERS Mina Booker Keville Frederick Carrema Lewis Delroy Louison Abigeil Mc Intyre Chrisan Mitchell Annette Moore Shere-Ann Noel June Paul Eugenia Peters Jazelle Sylvester Jermonne Adams DESIGN & LAYOUT Dwayne Francique EDITOR Annette Moore

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Grenada Receives Second Shipment of Five Thousand Doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine A second shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Grenada on Thursday, Feb. 11.

The five thousand doses, made available by the Government of Dominica, were received by Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shawn Charles, on behalf of the Government of Grenada.

Chief Medical Officer (Ag), Dr. Shawn Charles and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health (Ag), Dr. Francis Martin

This brings to 6,000 the total number of doses now on island for the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Dr. Charles told the GIS this will go a long way in assisting the Ministry of Health to provide coverage for all frontline staff.

He said, “I think, in general, my colleagues are pleased that we can have this added bit of protection in addition to the PPEs that they have been using to ensure that they are protected from this disease and, once we roll out the vaccination campaign, I am confident that we will have very good acceptance among the population.”

Charles explained that the recommended COVID-19 protocols remain in place as the vaccine will not prevent the disease but protect individuals from moderate to severe disease.

He is optimistic that with further sensitization, the general public will develop a better understanding of the COVID-19 vaccines and their importance like any other vaccine, in helping to protect lives.

He said, “It reduces your chances or almost eliminates your odds of dying as a result of having this disease if, for example, you have some predisposing condition that puts you at risk, but vaccines alone are not sufficient. We still need to wear our mask, we need to sanitize, we need to social distance in order to prevent the spread of this disease,” We still encourage persons to continue to obey the protocols in place which will go a long way in ensuring that Grenada continues to stay safe.”

Thursday’s delivery was again facilitated by the Regional Security System (RSS) aircraft.

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HEALTH MATTERS

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Vaccinated Visitors Still Need To Be Quarantined

Individuals travelling to Grenada who have taken the COVID -19 vaccine, are still required to be quarantined.

He hopes that very soon Grenada and the rest of the world can return to a state of normalcy.

Health Minister, Hon. Nickolas Steele, said not enough Grenadians have been vaccinated and may be at risk if visitors are not quarantined.

“As we proceed, we will be able to tell how much shorter of a period the virus lasts in someone who has been vaccinated as opposed to someone who has not and that will make the determination as the stop gap in-between to say before we have international levels of persons vaccinated, or within Grenada the 60 or 70 percent of the eligible population vaccinated, we can look at a two-day or three-day quarantine for somebody who is vaccinated, because the virus lasts less time there. That is what we’re looking forward to as a stop gap to then eventually COVID is no longer a threat internationally to us and therefore we can move past this who quarantine issue and we can go back to travelling freely.”

According to Minister Steele, the Health Minister vaccination does not prevent perHon. Nickolas Steele sons from getting the virus, however it prepares the body to fight against symptoms. gressively. So, persons coming in, while vaccinated, can still possibly He said, “People still need to be bring the virus into Grenada and, quarantined, travelling into Gre- until we get enough of our citizens nada, because Grenada has not vaccinated, in particular our frontspecifically had enough of its popline workers who deal with those ulation vaccinated as well. The vaccination gives the individual individuals, we are going to be at the protection from severe symp- risk.” toms of the disease, but like Polio, measles and other vaccines, it does The Health Minister is optimistic not prevent you from getting it - it that time will reveal the true sciteaches the body how to fight it so ence of the virus after vaccination. that it doesn’t affect the body ag-

HEALTH MATTERS

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Mass Vaccination of Frontline Workers

The Ministry of Health advises all frontline service providers that they can receive their COVID-19 vaccine at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort Convention Center, Grand Anse, St. George’s, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. from Monday, Feb. 22 to Friday, Feb. 26, 2021.

Frontline personnel include: - Law enforcement officers, (Police, Customs and Immigration) - Port/Dock - Airport workers - Hotel employees - Certified Taxi operators, Interested workers must present a valid company photo ID or an official ID inclusive of NIS, driver’s license or passport.

Access to the COVID-19 Vaccination station will only be allowed from the left side of the building closest to the parking lot.

The Ministry of Health advises that all COVID-19 health and safety protocols must be observed for the duration of the process.

The national vaccination process will be conducted on a first come, first served basis. #MOHCARES Get VAX..It’s Your #BESTSHOT #BeCOVID19Smart

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Grenada Re-elected as Chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization

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HEALTH MATTERS

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Integrated Water Resource Management

With the establishment of a National Water Policy and an International Water Resource Management Plan, the Global Water Partnership Caribbean is hosting a series of consultations as it prepares to roll out its communication plan geared at ensuring an affordable, secure water Grenada.

The Global Water Partnership Caribbean last week, begun stakeholder consultations on its National Integrated Water Resource Management Communication Strategy.

Officials from the Land Use Division and Global Water Partnership Caribbean have met with representatives from Government, farmers and farmers’ organizations.

The establishment of Grenada’s National Water Policy, together with the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, is geared towards ensuring that Grenada’s erations.” water becomes affordable and secure.

The consultations continued on Feb. 15 with Corporate Communication officers and members of the media.

Chair of the Global Water Partnership Caribbean, Trevor Thompson, said it is important that the resource of water is preserved for present and future generations.

He said, “Everybody has an equal stake in it. It’s not your water, my water, but our water and we have to manage it together so that we all can benefit and enjoy that water in a sustainable manner. That’s critical-sustainability.

It is not just for now, because some people can be selfish. They want it now; they don’t care about tomorrow, but we have to ensure that it remains there in its present state, its good quality state for present and future gen-

Chair of the Global Water Partnership Caribbean, Trevor Thompson

Managing Director of TP Smith Engineering, Terrence Smith, together with Dr. Everson Peters, is responsible for the revised version of Grenada’s National Water Policy.

Smith outlined the proposed Governance Structure of the Water Resource Management Unit, which will include staff from the Division of Land Use and the National Water and Sewage Authority (NAWASA) and will assist in the roll out and management of the local plan.

He said, “We’re proposing a water resources management committee operating under what we call a water platform. Under this, there will be a Hydromet sub-committee. We’re anticipating that the PURC will have a Water Resources Management Advisor and Regulations/ Legal Finance people and such. So, PURC employees go under the PURC. The WRM is a multi-stakeholder committee, the Hydromet sub-committee is a smaller, more focused committee that will be reporting to the Minister. Then we have the Water Resource Management Unit, which is being proposed under the administrative guidance of the PURC. The intention is that the Water Resource Management Unit will be a semi-autonomous body and the reason why it is proposed is that it will be administered under an existing entity to avoid having to create a totally new body.”

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General Public is Advised to Increase Vigilance Due to Recent Shark Sighting

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts, Fisher- The General public is advised to ies, and Co-operatives once again advise the gener- exercise the following: al public, visitors, and fisherfolk to exercise extreme · Do not panic; caution when venturing out to sea.

Please be advised that an aggressive shark was sight- · Be vigilant while bathing on beaches and exit the ed and caught within the marine environment of Dr. water immediately if a shark is seen in the water; Grooms Beach in St. George on February 16, 2021. · Refrain from catching or removing from the water, The shark, which appears to be twelve (12) feet long, any shark that is beached; and, has been identified by a marine biologist to be that · Refrain from consuming the meat from a beached of the Mako shark species. shark as the reason for beaching is unknown.

The shark appears to have beached itself for unknown reasons; however, there have been similar The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts, Fisheries occurrences observed with these oceanic shark spe- and Co-operatives, urges all seafarers and the gencies in neighboring islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, and eral public to note well the points listed above and Dominica in recent months. report any sightings of sharks to the Fisheries Division via telephone 440-3814 and the Coast Guard at 444-1931/1932.

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RGPF Receives New Motor Scooter The Royal Grenada Police has received a new motor scooter from Jonas Browne and Hubbard to assist the traffic department in easing congestion in St. George’s.

Inspector Randel Baptiste, who is in charge of administration and operations at Traffic Department, described the donation as timely.

He said, “We have become increasingly concerned about our ability to reach the scene of a vehicular accident, as quickly as possible, which in most circumstances will impact the flow of traffic. Our relationship with Hubbard’s has always been mutually supportive and cooperative and the fact that they have approached us proactively with this donation speaks volumes.”

The motor scooter will be used predominantly in the parish of St. George, as an addition to the RGPF motorcycle fleet, allowing for quick and easy access through traffic, as well as providing a very economical means of transportation.

AGRICULTURE CORNER

The GEF SGP UNDP Country Programme of Grenada invites suitably qualified and registered civil society organisations, including NGOs, CBOs, foundations, cooperatives, trade unions and associations, to submit a letter of interest to implement an apiculture project for a minimum of US$50,000.

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(vi) Prepare and submit all project reports in a timely manner to GEF SGP UNDP; (vii) Convene local and national meetings of the national Project Advisory and Technical Committee (PATEC) and keep all records of meetings and circulate them as agreed; (viii) Procure all local goods and services; The successful CSO will operate within an international project in- (ix) Liaise with six countries via the GEF SGP UNDP National CoorPlaque ofsix appreciation volving countries presentfrom the Caribbean and one from the Pacific dinator; ed to Prime Minister (Dominica; Grenada; Saint Kitts & Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent (x) Participate in all international and local meetings and workand the Grenadines; Samoa, and Trinidad and Tobago). shops organised by the project; and (xi) Undertake other associated tasks specified by the GEF SGP The local project is part of a strategic project in the thematic area UNDP. of apiculture and biodiversity and will be implemented by the aforementioned group of Seven Countries. This multi-country Interested organisations should be registered with the local govproject has the following goal: “To establish a sustainable apicul- ernmental agency and have at least one year of experience in raisture industry in Saint Lucia and identify and develop clear path- ing bees and harvesting, bottling and selling honey. ways towards developing the same in six Caribbean countries and one Pacific country.”

Each applicant must send a letter of interest to the GEF SGP UNDP National Coordinator at kadijah.edwards@undp.org. The letter of The successful organisation will work closely with the GEF SGP interest (LOI) should, at minimum, clearly state the experience of UNDP National Office, to undertake among other tasks, the organisation in project administration and management, presthe following: ent details of its current administrative structure and accounting (i) Establish and develop one apiary or expand an existing one; system and list the names and contact information of two referees. (ii) Establish and develop or expand one honey processing plant; Deadline for Submission of the LOI is February 22, 2021. (iii) Participate in all training organised via zoom or at selected locations; Address the LOI to The National Coordinator, GEF SGP UNDP at (iv) Train other small apiculturists to pass on the skills and lessons Public Workers Union Building, Tanteen, St. George’s. Grenada. learned; Send the LOI via email to Kadijah.edwards@undp.org by the dead(v) Establish a small project administrative unit, whose task shall line. include the procurement of services of competent project consultants, if needed; Only short-listed organisations will be contacted for an interview.

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AGRICULTURE CORNER

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Meet the Farmer – Richard Barry

Fifty-five-year-old Richard Barry started farming with a friend and, after falling in love with the craft, he decided to branch out on his own.

On a three-acre plot of land at Snell Hall in St. Patrick, he plants mainly short crops.

“I grow tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, sweet potatoes,” he said.

Barry said he sells most of his crops for himself and supplies to small vendors in Sauteurs, St. Patrick.

Richard said he is also into livestock farming, as he rears cows, sheep and goats.

Like many farmers, Richard said his best farming technique would be drainage.

“I like to make the drain, so that I can get easier access to the ground when planting,” he stated.

He said his farming does not come without its challenges. He speaks on some of the things that he is faced with.

“I have challenges with water and pests,” Barry noted.

He was a beneficiary of a water storage tank from the Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA).

“It will benefit me as long as the rain is falling. It would help me go a long way by using some drip lines. It is a great help for me and I appreciate that,” Barry explained.

When asked about the benefits of farming, Barry said, “It could help you pay your bills. It can have food on the table.”

In the next five years, Barry is hoping to own a piece of land to do his farming.

“I am currently on leased land. I have two more years before the lease expires. So, from there I don’t know where I am going to go.”

Things to note about Richard: - He does short crop farming - He is into livestock

Richard Barry

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AGRICULTURE CORNER

Uses of Paw Paw or Papaya

Paw Paw ,or Papaya, can be used in a variety of ways, as follows: Eaten fresh as a breakfast fruit combined with other fruits in the form of a fruit salad.

Green papaw can be baked and served as a vegetable, or filled with a savoury meat sauce.

Paw paw puree can be used in cakes, scones and fruit flans. Preserve in delicious relishes and chutneys.

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AGRICULTURE CORNER

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AGRICULTURE CORNER

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AGRICOM to Commence Project Support to Beneficiaries Grenada OECS Regional Agriculture Competitiveness Project (AGRICOM) commences project support to beneficiaries from February 2021.

AGRICOM has rolled out project support to its first batch of aggregators/agro-processors (AAs) in collaboration with their associated farmers/fishers (FFs), together called productive alliances. During the next 12 months, EC $7,732,586.18 in grant funding will be disbursed to 12 productive alliances consisting of approximately 230 farmers, fishers, and agro-processors.

On Feb. 11, 2021, four of the 12 productive alliances received first tranche disbursements valued at more than EC $720,000.00.

Asha Julien - Administrative and Communications Officer for the AGRICOM Project

Agriculture Minister, Hon. Peter David, said the Ministry and the Government of Grenada, by extension, is extremely pleased that the AGRICOM Project is now delivering tangible support to qualified beneficiaries.

He stated that the disbursement of funds comes at an opportune time, as many of the beneficiaries are dealing with the additional struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister David reminds project beneficiaries that the Government is investing loaned funds into their operations hence the onus is now on them to effectively use this support to improve their operations and generate real economic gains.

AGRICOM is therefore proud to reaffirm its commitment to deliver increased productivity and sales, market access, consistent and timely supply and income generation to men and women throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in the agricultural sector. This, in turn, will translate to competitiveness, employment and sustainable livelihoods.

BACKGROUND In Grenada the OECS Regional Agricultural Competitiveness Project (AGRICOM), is a six-year project (2017-2023), through financing agreement by the Government of Grenada and the World Bank [International Development Association (IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)] in the amount of US$ 4 million.

AGRICOM’s Development Project is to enhance access to markets and sales for competitively selected farmers and fishers, as well as their allied aggregators and agro-processors, in Grenada.

For further information, please call (473) 440-2708/3078 Ext. 62631, or email: agricom@gov.gd AGRICOM Communications Unit

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PROJECT UPDATE

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FLY Participants from Carriacou Training in Commercial Food Preparation

Fourteen participants of Project FLY on the island of Carriacou are currently involved in the practical component of training in Commercial Food Preparation.

The budding chefs are now putting into practice the theoretical knowledge and skills acquired.

The participants demonstrated the use of cutting tools and equipment used in preparing various dishes.

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PROJECT UPDATE

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Prime Minister Visits Willis Playing Field

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Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon Keith Mitchell, accompanied by Acting Coordinator of Sports, Kerlon Peters, and representatives from Hanover Construction Company Grenada Limited, visited the Willis Playing Field on Wednesday Feb. 17, 2021.

The visit was organised to update Prime Minister Mitchell on the progress of the upgrade work being done on the field.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

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NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NaDMA) MEDIA RELEASE INCREASED LEVELS OF SAHARAN DUST IN THE AIR

St. George’s, Grenada – Sunday 21ST February, 2020.

The Meteorological Office at the Maurice Bishop International Airport has issued a warning for increased levels of Saharan dust expected to affect the state of Grenada in the coming days.

According to the weather bulletin issued Sunday, a plume of Saharan Dust is expected to travel across the South Eastern Caribbean over the next few days.

Though the advisory forecast minimal impact, it highlighted that conditions can change over time and that 24 hour exposure can lead to moderate health concerns.

The Ministry of Health has encouraged the three vulnerable groups of people; children, the elderly and those living with respiratory and heart disease to have their medications on hand.

For people with Asthma ensure they have both preventer and reliever medications. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Medical Doctor Dr. Francis Martin is advising that the preventer medication be used before the dust arrives and if in need of further intervention, also use the reliever.

The Ministry also issued a warning for people living with skin conditions who may be susceptible to this condition to also be prepared.

Other precautionary measures that can be taken are: • • • • •

Avoid outdoor activity. If you must go outside, spend as little time outside as possible.

Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth to reduce exposure to dust particles.

Avoid vigorous exercise, especially if you have asthma, diabetes or a breathing-related condition.

Stay indoors Stay in air-conditioned premises and vehicles Asthmatic people or those who have a respiratory condition can develop the following symptoms: shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, or chest pain.

Other atmospheric impacts expected are discomfort when touching objects and increased disposition of dust on vehicles and other items.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) advises all to use every precautionary measure to guard against the harmful effects of the prevailing atmospheric conditions.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Oslyn Crosby Public Relations Officer, NaDMA on 440-8390/ 440-0838, or 533-0766 email: nadma@spiceisle.com / nadmapr@gmail.com .

NaDMA, the official source for all disaster related information in Grenada.

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NEWSLETTER GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICE

Monday, Feb. 22, 2021

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Road Construction Bid - Carriacou

The Public Works Division in the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government invites eligible contracting firms or contractors in Carriacou to submit bids for the construction of 340 feet of concrete road and slipper drain in Hillsborough.

Bidding documents can be collected at the Public Works Division Office, Main Street, Hillsborough, Carriacou.

The deadline for submission of bids is Monday March 1, 2021.

Relocation of Division of Co-operatives

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts, Fisheries and Co-operatives wishes to advise the general public that the Division of Cooperatives, previously located at the Grenada National Stadium, has been relocated to the 3rd Floor of the Ministerial Complex at the Sir Eric Gairy Botanical Gardens in St. George.

Therefore, all correspondence to the Division of Co-operatives must be sent to the aforementioned address. The Division can be contacted via telephone number (473) 440-6917.

The Ministry apologizes for any inconvenience caused and thanks the general public for their continued cooperation.