UNION CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF ITS WORKERS

President General of the Grenada Manual Maritime and Intellectual Workers Union (GMMIWU) Bert La. Touche has expressed fears for Grenadians and members of his union who are employed in the tourism sector on the island.

La. Touche told a public meeting of the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) in Birch Grove last Sunday, that the New National Party (NNP) administration of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has violated the rights of citizens by selling Grenadian passports.

Over five years ago the Mitchell led administration had embarked on what it has described as its Economic Citizenship Programme. The nation was told on several occasions by the Grenadian leader that persons engaged in the Programme will have to stay and invest in the country and create job opportunities for nationals.

However, this programme was suspended in October 2001 following the September 11th terrorist attacks on Washington and New York after concerns were raised about national security. It has also resulted in the Canadian government imposing Visa restrictions on Grenadians entering Ottawa.

Immigration officials there have expressed concern about non nationals mainly from Middle Eastern countries coming into Canada with the aim of entering the US with Grenadian Passports. La. Touche who is also Vice President of the GULP accused the government of putting locals especially those employed in the tourism sector at risk when they decided to sell Passports.

According to the GMMIWU president, due to an embarrassing situation for the government,  it has now being revealed that there are Iraqis on the island who have purchased passports under the programme. Last month Immigration officials in Barbados deported an Iraqi family to Grenada, after they attempted to enter that country to obtain a United States Visa at its Embassy in Bridgetown.

La. Touche charged that Grenadian passports under the programme could have landed in the hands of terrorists who are now posing as tourists and may be residing in some of the local hotels on the island. "We are concern about our workers at the Rex Grenadian Hotel because what happened in Bali could happen here," La Touche warned.

The GMMIWU President General was referring to an incident in the tourist resort close to Indonesia where 187 people lost their lives and 300 injured  in a night club bombing. He charged the NNP with selling passports to get campaign money even after they announced the suspension of the programme after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

La. Touche wondered exactly when the Iraqis were able to purchase their Passports since the programme should have been suspended two years ago. According to the GMMIWU President General, the Keith Mitchell led government can be perceived as anti America since they have been associating  with countries such as  Libya which are hostile to the US.

"We will never vote for them (NNP) again. Now is the time to stand up for Grenada because all of us are in difficulties" La. Touche stated.