by Linda Straker
- GCF has approved millions in grants for Grenada’s water sector resilience and other projects
- EC$10 million would be spent in Carriacou to improve storage and distribution
- Grenada to benefit from EC$54 million grant from GCF for the Enhanced Direct Access Project
The board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved millions in grants for Grenada’s water sector resilience and other projects that are linked directly or indirectly to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
The island’s water supply is expected to improve as a result of a grant of US$42.16 million. Other sectors will benefit from on a project estimated at US$20 million for the integrated physical adaptation and community resilience through an enhanced direct access pilot in the public, private, and civil society sectors of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Grenada.
The announcement of the funding came after the GCF Board meeting earlier in March. However, most Grenadians learned of it on Sunday when Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell told thousands in the final election campaign rally for his New National Party.
He also explained that additional grant resources to finance the water project, amounting to EC$8.3 million, has also been secured from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.
“This means $125.5 million – grant money; no payback; no interest; no burden on the national debt – will be spent on improving the water supply and working through NAWASA,” he said.
Dr Mitchell said that this project will introduce a complete paradigm shift in the water sector of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and will contribute to system-wide climate change resilience in the water and sanitation sector.
“The project will benefit the entire population through improved water governance, ensured and improved supply, and raising awareness. At least 50% of the beneficiaries are likely to be women. This is a real project; with a real plan; with a real source of funding; that will affect real people,” he said.
Providing a breakdown of how the grant will be spent Dr Mitchell said that more than $20 million for different communities in the parish of St Andrew; EC$23 million would go towards improving the water system at Les Avocats-Petit Etang, all of St David. Areas as far south as Marian in St George will have their systems upgraded.
“We are spending $16 million to improve the water systems in Vendome too, which also covers water projects in Mt Moritz and Chantilly. In the south of the island, another $10 million will be spent on storage and distribution also, from Morne Rouge,” he said. He disclosed that EC$10 million would be spent in Carriacou to improve storage and distribution, including the installation of a 50,000-gallon storage tank, and the expansion of pipelines throughout the island.
In the parish of St John, a heavy investment of EC$7 million will guarantee the improvement and reliability and quality of the supply, including a new pipeline from Doctor Belle, and improved storage facilities in the reservoir there.
In St Patrick, $15 million is earmarked for a complete overhaul of its supply, storage and distribution systems, while in the parish of St Mark EC$7 million will be used primarily on the Tufton Hall system that serves the entire parish.
“Grenadian patriots, these are not promises. We are getting funding through agreements already reached to help better the lives of ordinary Grenadians. Our international partners have worked with us – and as a nation and as a people we shall be forever grateful,” Dr Mitchell told the thousands in attendance at the final rally and those listening via various broadcast medium such as television, radio and online.
Grenada is also to benefit from a grant of EC$54 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the Enhanced Direct Access Project, which was jointly submitted by Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, and Dominica, and approved by the GCF Board at the meeting ended 1 March 2018.
Under this project, the public sector and communities will be able to access grant resources for climate change adaptation related activities and investments.
“We are in the process of negotiating for hundreds of millions more for climate resilience projects in the towns of St George, Grenville and Sauteurs. That funding will tackle such issues as flooding and building structures,” he disclosed.
With all these damn fools around handing out money to “stop/mitigate climate change” why does not Grenada frame a project to improve the deplorable road system in this context?