Grenada optimistic of tourism benefits from Portugal agreement

Foreign Minister Peter David. (File photo)

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, November 5, 2009 - Grenada's Foreign Minister Peter David is confident that the strengthening of relations with Brazil and Portugal could soon bring major benefits to the country's tourism industry and, possibly, the sector in other Eastern Caribbean countries.

Brazil is a former Portuguese colony and the two countries have a bustling tourism exchange.

David, who visited Portugal last week at the invitation of that country's Foreign Minister, said discussions were held on how Grenada and other Eastern Caribbean countries could become a stop-over for Brazilian and Portuguese tourists.

"The planes from Portugal fly over us in order to get to Brazil. Why can't some of them come in to the Eastern Caribbean - not only to Grenada, but also to places like St Lucia, St Vincent and Dominica?'' he said.

Another issue discussed during David's visit was Grenada gaining access to a small, portable computer that is widely used in Portuguese schools. 

Minister David, who signed a general cooperation agreement with his Portuguese counterpart, believes Grenada needs to examine the usefulness of adopting the computer as another teaching tool in our local education system.

While Grenada and Portugal have had formal relations for many years, it's the first time the two countries have signed a formal cooperation agreement.  It's in keeping with what David described as Grenada's attempt to strengthen and diversify its international relations.

In addition to the new initiatives with Portugal, and agricultural assistance from Brazil that has already started, Grenada will be looking to Singapore and India in the New Year for support in the area of information technology, the Foreign Minister said.

"We expect that in the near future that we'll see the results of these negotiations,'' said David, who has been invited to attend a two-day meeting later this week in Jamaica of the regional body known as the Rio Group.  Among Rio Group members is Brazil, which is sending a team of officials to Grenada in less than two weeks.