Grenada In Crisis
Is Anybody Listening?
Photo credit: Greg Homel
On May 22nd to 25th 2024 there will be a Caribbean Investment Summit in Grenada, held at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort. This summit is meant to explore investment opportunities in our region, and according to the press release from the Prime Minister of Grenada’s office, it will provide insights into Grenada’s Investment Migration programme.
The Prime Minister, the Honourable Dickon Mitchell, along with:
Thomas Anthony, CEO of IMA Grenada;
Richard Hallam, CBI Director of ORA Caribbean;
Brendon McGillivary, Executive Diploma in Banking, IM Cert.,
Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd.; and
Afi Ventour de Vega, Licensed Local Agent and CEO of Global Ser. Inc.,
….will be present to provide insights into Grenada’s Investment Migration programme.
As the public, how should we interpret this gathering? Our voices, if given the chance, would likely remind the administration of their pre-election pledges against mega resorts in Grenada. They promised to be eco-warriors, ensuring that Grenada's pristine environment would remain untouched. A report from the 1990s declared Grand Anse Beach was already saturated with development and that La Sagesse was unsuitable for further projects. And yet here we are. La Sagesse totally razed for a development that has since opened and another one well on its way.
We would raise the question as to why the Ramsar site in Levera had its boundaries changed to accommodate the so-called 'Grenada National Resort.' We'd ask for transparency on why the Planning Department approved the resort's golf course without requesting a new, updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), despite this being the proper protocol. We would challenge why the developers in Levera believe they own part of the beach and plan to use it for their golf course, despite its initial inclusion in the Ramsar agreement.
Aerial View of Mt. Hartman Estate showing recent excavation and deforestation, August 2020 Photo Credit: Reginald Joseph
We are losing our mangroves at an alarming rate; Levera, La Sagesse and Mt Hartman are three major mangroves in Grenada and all have been or are being trashed. Despite claims that we are planting more mangroves all the time, they do not do the work of well-established sites that have been around for more than a thousand years. And success rates for mangrove restoration are …not good.
The world is in climate chaos & crisis, how long can we close our eyes and keep prioritising for the tourist dollar? For the majority of the world, there has been a shift to eco tourism. Travelers and resort developers and managers, local and indigenous people have all stood to attention to champion sustainable tourism that favours their well-being. Why are we so behind the world at large?
On Thursday, we are hoping against hope that the real issues are discussed and our island's well-being is at the forefront of talks, not just revenue.
Resilience…sustainability…. seem to be the key buzzwords everywhere at the moment. What might this look like for Grenada and its people?
It should look like:
Upgrade to the sewage plant system would greatly benefit the country.
Prioritize developing local tools to become more water resilient (like water tanks for existing households & cisterns for new builds). There is a slow-creeping water crisis all over the globe. We are already being caught out.
Empower people to participate in renewable energy by offering assistance with solar energy access for households connected to the grid. This initiative is already in place in several advanced nations, where tax credits, incentives, and rebates are given to households making these green energy commitments.
Create small hubs for sustainable energy in different parishes, hence if one part of Grenada is affected by a power outage, the entire country does not have to suffer.
Enhance food security by investing in the hard work of our farmers and agricultural sector. Any country worth its weight in salt understands the importance of supporting it’s agricultural sector in feasible ways.
Upgrade our infrastructure, our public transport system, our healthcare and education systems as well.
We are hoping against hope these are the talking points on the agenda. Alongside how much money we could make by tearing down another delicate, thousand-year ecosystem for a posh resort. Around the globe, nations have leaders who prioritize local well-being by championing environmental protection, sustainable development, and controlling over-tourism.
For a PM that seemed so progressive at the start: we’re looking at your next move, PM Mitchell.
