There are several outstanding issues which have yet to be aired regarding the NAWASA project in Concord following the release of the Environmental Social and Management Plan (ESMP).
These are highlighted below:
- Despite the fact that the ESMP has now been released, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has yet to be shared with the stakeholders of the Concord Community. As per protocol established by laws regarding Planning and the Escazu agreement, the E.S.I.A of any major project should be discussed with the affected parties of the said project and engagement on the implementation of the E.S.M.P.
- The Disruption of regular operations at the Concord Waterfall for 9 months. Due to the project’s plan to upgrade the size of the pipelines (see ESMP) the road to the waterfall will be impassable to vehicular traffic for the duration of the project and on some days to foot traffic also.
This would mean that for the 2025-2026 Tourist Season, the vendors and other dependents of the Concord Waterfall eco-tourism site would be unable to garner any income for this season. When the issue of financial compensation was brought before representatives of the project’s stakeholders, such as NAWASA and the present administration at a community meeting on the 20th June 2025, the community were told that no compensation would be given as that would mean it could be asked for (by) every affected area in the south of the island also.
However, the areas in the south would still be able to operate as per usual with the exception of a few traffic delays.
- The destruction of the Concord Waterfall: The project proposes to increase the raw water intake from the Concord Water System Network from an average of 600,000gal daily to 1,385,806gal according to the ESMP completed in March of 2022.
Again, the question yet to be answered is what will be the effect on the waterfall itself, will the reduction in water flow render the site as not worthy of an eco-tourism site and ultimately leave the vendors with no livelihoods?
In its analysis of adverse impacts, the ESMP states:
(i). Adverse impacts to riverine ecology and ecosystem health – a MAJOR ecological/social significance
(ii). Reduced flows over the Concord Waterfall, affecting aesthetic appeal & related livelihoods, was also cited as of Major significance and yet no one thought it was important enough to consult with the local community and the vendors.
Members of the community requested a meeting with NAWASA when they started hearing rumours about the project, but were referred to Tourism to make their inquiries with very little response.
When members of the community attempted to raise some of these issues/concerns at the aforementioned meeting, one response from the Parliamentary Representative was that they were ungrateful as she had already commissioned street lighting all the way to the waterfalls.
As some members commented, they were not consulted about this and were not asked if this was a priority. They also questioned why it went all the way to the waterfall since no one traverses that last piece of road at night, only the hunters, do they need street lights?
If there had been some consultation, the PR would have found that maybe ensuring a phone signal at the site would have been more productive as this would enable communication in an emergency.
This brings into focus once again the importance of consultation with communities when they are affected by construction projects of any kind. This has been reiterated by our signing of the Escazu agreement which highlights the need for communities to have a voice in sustainable development at all times.
The above reflects the views of Grenada Land Actors