CATEGORY:LETTER ------------------- INSIDE GRENADA WEDNESDAY June 6,2007 by Sandra Ferguson The Willie Redhead Foundation P. O. Box St. George’s Dear Sirs, Re Port Louis Project Thank you for the information circulated via the programme, Sundays with George Grant re meeting of representatives of the Willie Redhead Foundation with the developer of the Port Louis project, Mr. Peter de Savary. Via the programme aired on Sunday, May 27th, I learned that parties had met for a second time and that the following undertaking had been given by Mr. de Savary: • Plans for Port Louis development would be revised – the Lagoon would not be filled in. • For those concerned about losing the view, there would not be as many buildings as planned. The new plans would be presented to the Physical Planning Unit for approval. The WRF had also asked to see the revised plans. • The matter of the artifacts was being addressed. The Foundation was lending its assistance to the developer in contacting Guadeloupean archeologist Henri Petit-Jean Rocher for preliminary discussion re the retrieval of artifacts and Mr. de Savary would be footing the bill. • The WRF had been advised by Mr. de Savary that he had bought the plans from the former developers of the site, Poole-Capital. According to Mr. de Savary, these plans had been approved by the Physical Planning Unit. Permit me the following comments: • If the plans posted by Mr de Savary were plans approved by the Physical Planning Unit for Poole –Capital, then we must conclude that the people of Grenada are being SHORT-CHANGED big time by the Physical Planning Unit. Or is it that Mr de Savary was SHORT- CHANGED by Poole-Capital? We must VERIFY whether or not these plans WERE IN FACT THE ACTUAL PLANS that had been presented to and approved by the Physical Planning Unit. It is not unheard of in Grenada for some developers (both local and foreign) to present one set of plans for approval and have another set for actual implementation. • Can I enquire about the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT? Has Mr. de Savary shared this with your organization? Perhaps your representatives could advise Mr. de Savary THAT PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND DEBATE is an essential part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process, given that the Lagoon area is “people’s property”. • Ownership of the Lagoon: Perhaps, Sirs, you can also take the opportunity to clarify to Mr. de Savary that he cannot OWN the Lagoon. That is people’s property which CANNOT BE SOLD TO AND/OR OWNED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL. • I am also concerned, Sirs, that the Lagoon which is the land-locked harbour/haven for fishermen and other boat owners in times of emergency, seem to have been given over to the TOTAL CONTROL AND USE of Mr. de Savary with very little regard to these other users. • There is no comfort in the apparent concession that the Lagoon will not be filled in and that there will not be as many buildings as planned. That Lagoon Park area is PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, probably the only green space left in St. George’s, to be enjoyed by we the people. It must not be SOLD to any private developer who will then afford us “windows to the sea” while he builds townhouses and villas for rent and sale. OBJECTIONABLE!! • There are also other objectionable aspects of this project: (i) Relocation of the public access to the Pandy Beach. (ii) Seeking to DISPOSSESS LEGITIMATE LAND OWNERS of their property in the vicinity of Pandy beach in order to build a 5-star hotel. (iii) Establishment of a FULLY GATED COMMUNITY for club members of Port Louis Club in the vicinity of the old Islander Hotel/Butler House. (iv) The FISCAL INCENTIVE PACKAGES afforded this developer which is the final insult and injury heaped upon the people of Grenada. The Government of Grenada has not only given away our property but the fiscal incentive package has also given away the rights to revenue that should be earned by the Treasury. Since the Treasury will not be paid, we the people really have to ask who was paid or who is going to be paid facilitator’s fees? I fully appreciate, Sirs that these comments/concerns may go beyond the mandate/concern of the Willie Redhead Foundation. Nonetheless, I think it important to bring them to your attention. Best regards! Sandra C.A. Ferguson c/o P.O. Box 750 St. George’s