Grenada is most likely to follow Antigua and reject a request made by the U.S government of President Donald Trump to place a radar system at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) as Washington builds up a military presence around oil-rich Venezuela.
A source close to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government told THE NEW TODAY that the 3-year old administration is heading in this direction.
He said that a major player in the final decision will be Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dickon Mitchell who is currently out of the island but expected back home on the weekend.
The U.S request was reportedly mentioned at a Cabinet meeting with ministers told about the talks to be held with a high-ranking army officer.
Acting Prime Minister Lennox Andrew was due to meet Wednesday with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Admiral Alvin Holsey in which the issue was expected to be discussed.
The top U.S army officer also met with some members of the High Command of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) and National Security Advisor, Willan Thompson, a former acting Commissioner of Police.
According to the source, the Grenada government is taking its time on the request and might give an official response early next week.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua made it clear that his Eastern Caribbean island has no interest in hosting foreign military installations or participating in any form of military activity.
“I can assure you that Antigua and Barbuda has absolutely no interest in hosting any form of military assets here in the country,” Browne told reporters.
The Antiguan leader said the twin-island nation is “happy” not to have any military bases and intends to keep it that way.
Holsey visited Antigua and Grenada this week but did not meet with Grenada’s Dickon Mitchell who was away on an official visit to some African nations.
The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados referred to the trip being undertaken by America’s top Commander as part of Washington’s effort to strengthen regional security cooperation and promote stability in the Caribbean.
Grenada had earlier confirmed that it was reviewing a U.S. request to install a temporary radar system and deploy technical personnel at MBIA.
An official bulletin from St George’s said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the proposal was being evaluated by the Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs, and Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the Grenada Airports Authority and other relevant agencies.
“The Government of Grenada is carefully reviewing the request in accordance with established national procedures,” the ministry said in a statement.
“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.
The Trump administration has dispatched a number of military assets off the coast of Venezuela in what it said was the fight against narco-trafficking in which it implicated President Nicolas Maduro.
Several critics believe that Washington might be planning an invasion of the island to bring about regime change.
The US has doubled to $50 million a reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, accusing him of being “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.”
The pro-American forces in Grenada are fearful that if the Congress government rejects the offer that Trump might retaliate to hurt the island’s vital tourism sector with action taken against American students at St George’s University (SGU) and the two major carriers to the island, American Airlines and JetBlue.