Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says his government has not yet made a decision on a request by the United States government to temporarily install a radar at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and to deploy U.S. military assets on or near the island.
Speaking during his DM with the PM program on Tuesday night, Mitchell said he welcomes the ongoing public debate surrounding the proposal and will make a formal statement to the nation in due course.
“Nothing much has changed since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that we were considering the request. We are still doing so,” he said. “It is a technical matter and requires a lot of technical people to provide us with guidance on what it is we are being asked to accommodate.”
The prime minister said the public first became aware of the request through media reports, but noted that the matter has been under review since August. “If we were in a position to make a decision—and if we wanted to rush to do so—we could have done so,” he added.
Mitchell emphasized that Grenada regularly receives cooperation requests from foreign partners, especially in security-related areas. “Whether it is the United States or any other country, Grenada receives requests to cooperate on any number of areas,” he said.
A group calling itself the Coalition for a Zone of Peace—which includes lawyers, educators, trade unionists, and religious leaders—has urged the government to reject the request, citing concerns about regional security. Former Senate President Chester Humphrey has said he is prepared to lead a peaceful protest against the proposal.
Regional leaders recently discussed the security buildup in parts of the Caribbean at a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting earlier this month, with the Trinidad and Tobago government declining to endorse a joint regional position on the issue. Port of Spain has since reiterated that it views the U.S. operations as part of broader efforts to combat narcotics and human trafficking in the region.
Mitchell explained that Grenada’s consideration of the radar request is being guided by both legal and technical reviews. “It is a request from the U.S. Southern Command from a military perspective. Grenada has no military, so it is not something we are immediately familiar with,” he said. “That immediately makes it a type of request which we have to consider carefully, weighing the pros and cons.”
Acknowledging the historical sensitivities surrounding the Maurice Bishop International Airport, Mitchell said he understands why the issue has stirred strong emotions. “After all, the media reports came out in October, and October is significant to Grenada’s history,” he said.
Still, he said he welcomes the vigorous national conversation on the issue. “It shows the vitality of democracy, it shows that freedom of speech is alive and well in Grenada,” Mitchell said. “If we had decided without informing the public, without a discussion with the public, it would have been a different thing.”
He assured that any eventual decision will be based on sober, fact-driven assessments. “We will continue the process of legal and technical engagement, and if we even get to that point, we will then consult with the public as to what is the appropriate decision to be made,” he said.
Mitchell reiterated that Grenada maintains “excellent relations with every country in the Western Hemisphere” and said differences in opinion on particular matters are part of normal diplomatic relations.
“I have no issue with the debate—everybody giving their opinions on the matter,” he said, noting that when he addresses Parliament on the issue, he will expand on the same points discussed during his broadcast.
