Grenada has received a Canadian $4.8 million (US$3.8 million) grant from Canada for reconstruction efforts. The funds will go toward helping the local Agency for Reconstruction and Development implement projects and build a national database to keep track of international donations and the progress of reconstruction programs. The government established the agency in October to oversee recovery efforts after Hurricane Ivan devastated the Caribbean island of 100,000 people on Sept. 7. Canadian consul Kathryn Dunlop signed the agreement Friday with Richardson Andrews, the reconstruction agency's deputy chairman. Hurricane Ivan killed 39 people in Grenada and left a wasteland of ruined buildings. It also destroyed 60 percent of Grenada's nutmeg crop, the country's biggest income earner and the livelihood of one-third of its population. Total damage to the island was estimated at US$900 million. Canada has contributed Canadian $10.7 million (US$8.6 million) to help rebuild Grenada, Dunlop said. Reprinted from cnews.canoe.ca