US Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, Mary Kramer says that Grenada"s greatest challenge following the passage of Hurricane Ivan is promoting and believing in itself.
Kramer was responding to a question posed by a local journalist as regards what she sees as the greatest challenge facing Grenada following the passage of Hurricane Ivan two years ago

She said that Grenada needs to look at the resilience of its people and have the strength to move forward, as well as expand business ventures, promote its tourist attractions and improve the infrastructure for visitors who frequent the island.

She observed that the people went through a terrible trauma but was able to bounce back with resilience and strength. The U.S envoy noted that Grenadians are bouncing back with confidence and relief, adding that the country is back to where it was pre-Ivan.

According to Kramer what needs to be done now is to plan on how best to go forward. The Ambassador has been serving Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines since January 2004.

Kramer described her last moment as the country"s Ambassador as a "bitter sweet day for me". She said that she became closer to Grenada following the passage of the hurricane and is impressed with the rate the country has been able to bounce back with the help of some friends.

She said that Grenadians must be proud of their resilience following the devastation brought on by Ivan. As she vacated her post, Kramer introduced her replacement for the Spice Isle, Karen Jo McIsaac as the new Charge d"Affaires for the Embassy in Grenada.

The incoming diplomat said that she is already impressed with the warn welcome received on her arrival and was looking forward to working and living in Grenada. A career Foreign Service officer for 22 years, McIsaac last served on the Venezuela desk in the office of Andean Affairs.

She has served in Venezuela, Ecuador and the former Soviet Union, as well as a wide variety of offices in the Department of State in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mrs McIsaac worked in the mortgage banking industry.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees at Cornell University, a Master of Arts at Indian University Bloomington and a second-level degree in Applied Economics at the Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.