The Dickon Mitchell-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government at the Botanical Gardens plans to use some of the US$100 million soft loan from Saudi Arabia to tackle the sewer problem at the Ministerial Complex as part of a Smart City infrastructure project.
According to a well-placed government insider, the Ministerial Complex is not linked to any existing sewer system and only has a soak-away to take care of its sewerage from the hundreds of workers in the Gardens.
He said the intention is to use a portion of the Saudi funds lay pipes to link the Complex with Sewer Lines around the Kirani James Boulevard with the Waste Management system that was put in place about 15-years ago under a United States Agency for Development (USAID) funded programme at Islander Gap in Belmont.
He recalled that the project which was funded by the U.S government ran sewer lines only from Islander Gap into the tourism belt in the south of the island. He said the funds from Saudi Arabia will be used to expand that existing sewer system into two areas in the south – Lance Aux Epines and True Blue.
The official told THE NEW TODAY that as part of the plan, two sewer treatment plants will be built – one along the seashore behind the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) at Point Salines and the other one just outside the city in the Fontenoy area of St George North-west.
He said it will be located close to what is known as the “Bi-Way in Fontenoy where there was an old Sewer Pump station several years ago. “It got broken with the wave action, they are going to put another one there,” he added.
The official disclosed that a portion of the Saudi funds will be used to inject new life into the world famous Grand Anse beach and to tackle evidence of erosion there.
He spoke of plans to replenish the sand on the beach, as well as refurbish the Camerhogne Park in order to make Grand Anse beach more pleasing to the eye especially for users like visitors and locals, and to build lockers for small businessmen on the beach who rent out chairs.
In addition, repairs will be done to the Vendor’s market close to the beach which is used to sell items mainly for tourists. According to the government official, the funds will also be used by the Congress administration to enhance the ring wall around the Carenage.
“That Carenage Wall is going to be redesigned and rebuilt. The Carenage road is going to be lifted to address the issue of sea level rise. As you notice now when the tide is high the water comes over (the wall) and into the road more and more.
“So they are going to rebuild that wall. That wall is basically a shell – they are going to redesign that wall and build a stronger wall and lift the road to make the wall a little higher to prevent the water from coming onto the road when the tide is high.”
Another portion of the loan from Saudi Arabia will be used to tackle the severe problem of flooding in Grenada’s second largest town of Grenville due to heavy rainfall.
The government insider pointed out that the drainage issue in Grenville will be tackled, as well as extend the sea defense retaining wall, and redevelop the Grenville port to make it for multi-purpose use and not just for the boats plying the weekly Grenada/Trinidad route.
He said the plan on the drawing board is making provisions for an area to be allocated for commercial space in close proximity to where the boats will berth.