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HOME	FEBRUARY 26th, 2005

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Outspoken St. George's businessman, Andrew Bierzynski is not happy with the decision of protesting lawyers to walk through the streets of the city on Wednesday.

Bierzynski said that the lawyers who are protesting the impending appointment of Jamaican attorney, Hugh Wildman to the post of Attorney-General should not have taken to the streets of St. George's on Wednesday morning when tourist were visiting the island.

The businessman operates the popular Best of Grenada Limited, which provides tour services to many visitors via the popular Rhum Runner and other vessels. Bierzynski told reporters as he witnessed the protest of the lawyers that he had no difficultly with the action but felt that it was sending the wrong message.

"I have no difficulty with the lawyers protesting but it is injudicious of them to protest on a day when we have a cruise ship in port. Those of us (in the) tourism industry are concerned with the message they are sending", he said.

According to Bierzynski, there will be no cruise ships in the Port of St George (Thursday) and that would have been an ideal day for the members of the legal profession to demonstrate. "They are impacting on our tourism industry and we in the tourism industry cannot afford this", he remarked.

Bierzynski was asked by journalists to respond to the question of the real reason behind the lawyers' protest. He said: "I have no problem with the protest but they should not jeopardise those of us in the tourism industry and send the wrong message to the tourists that are coming".

"Conduct your demonstration. I have no problem with that, but not at the risk of impacting on the tourism industry, where some of us make a living. It's the wrong message", he added. According to Bierzynski, he agrees with the fact that the legal practitioners are trying to make an impact, but reminded them that it should not be at the expense of those people involved in the tourism industry.

"Make your impact tomorrow but today is not the day. It is bad for business and right now we need to bring the economy back. "I have no problem with the lawyers demonstrating, that is their choice. I support them in their demonstration. If they wish to demonstrate go ahead but not at the risk of impacting on our business".

When it was suggested to Bierzynski that most if not all of the tourists are accustomed to peaceful protest in their country, he replied: "That may be so in their country but the impact of a demonstration in a tiny economy like ours post-Ivan is not good. It sends the wrong message".

Tourism is expected to play the lead role in the revival of Grenada's economy following the widespread destruction to other sectors of the economy by the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September.