The Government of Grenada has awarded a contract valued at EC $5.1 million, to Caribbean Civil Group Limited to undertake a geotechnical study at Molinere.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Implementation recently concluded extensive negotiations with Caribbean Civil Group Limited, to undertake the Geotechnical Investigation and Detailed Designs for the Molinere slippage and the Western Main Road Corridor.
The contract provides 4 months for the completion of the geotechnical study and the design work. Cadastral and topographic surveys will commence along the entire corridor, on 1 October 2020, once good weather permits. Government engineers continue the weekly monitoring of the road slippage and document the extent to which the damage is still occurring. The statistics will be provided as part of the baseline data to the geotechnical firm. In keeping with the terms of the contract, Caribbean Civil Group Limited will use specialised equipment to undertake non-destructive testing to determine the geology of the area. The data generated from the sub-surface investigation will then be analysed by national and regional materials laboratories. Following this process, the firm will present the findings of its investigation. This will determine where the road will be reconstructed.
Residents of the affected area and the general public will be invited to stakeholder consultations during the entire process. The environmental and social impact assessment and management plans will also be prepared along with the detailed designs and other documents prior to construction. All of these activities are expected to take place during the 4-month period stipulated for the detailed designs.
The ministry anticipates the cooperation of residents. The general public is asked to refrain from vehicular traffic in the Molinere area.
The ministry will ensure that bi-weekly updates are provided once the firm begins its work.
GIS
While consultation on the progress of the evalutation of the Moliniere road slippage is welcome it is my understanding that letters were delivered to the immediate residences informing them that they ought to be preparing to move. This is the first step shown as the Government having no sympathy for the community. There were no community discussion on what the Government is thinking and what action would be taken to compensate the villagers. This is not good enough. This is not the way to treat the poor people of the area. These people lived in the area to my knowledge for at least 10 generations. Please, in these time of uncertainty I expected a Government to be more sensitive and caring to the people of Moliniere.