including a caucus on the United States request to Grenada to allow Washington to install radar equipment and associate technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA), well-placed sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). According to the sources, the caucus meeting took place virtually on Wednesday, which lasted just over five hours and where the leaders received an update from the Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell. Grenada has confirmed that the United States had written seeking permission to install radar equipment and associated technical personnel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport. The government said that “any decisions on that matter will be made only after all technical and legal assessments are completed. “We wish to assure our citizens that any decision taken will be guided by Grenada’s sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, the travelling public, and the country’s economic well-being,” it added.

But former Grenada Senate president and trade unionist, Chester Humphrey, and former foreign affairs minister, Peter David, have publicly come out against such a request, with Humphrey saying he is prepared to lead a peaceful protest march. Humphrey said that the move by Washington is a precursor to launching a military strike against the Nicolás Maduro government in the Venezuela.

David, an independent legislator, said in a statement that while Grenada values its longstanding partnerships with both the United States and Venezuela, any actions taken must be rooted in diplomacy, mutual respect, and regional cooperation. (Jamaica Gleaner)