CATEGORY:DEVELOPMENT ------------------------ INSIDE GRENADA TUESDAY July 10,2007 St. George's , Grenada – (Tuesday, July 10th 2007) - Efforts are continuing to make the Port Louis Marina one of the best in the world. A major part of this project is an extensive clean up of the Lagoon area. Port Louis Grenada has already spent more than $9 million EC dollars dredging and removing garbage, pieces of scrap metal, pilons, gas bottles, car parts and sunken and abandoned wrecks from the marina. The latest of the wrecks to be removed is the Hilda. Once a cargo boat, sailing the Caribbean Sea, Hilda became a casualty of time and Hurricane Ivan. In an effort to create an environmentally friendly and safe marina, Port Louis work crews have spent 12 weeks patching and welding the vessel in order to be able to float it and remove the Hilda from the area where it was wrecked. They were successful this week when The Hilda was towed out to sea and was sunk in open waters outside of the village of Mollinierre. The Hilda will now add to the many dive sites off of Grenada's coast. Marine experts working with Port Louis officials on the removal of Hilda say they expect the boat to encourage the growth of coral and form a reef. Marina and village Manager at Port Louis Danny Donelan explained the significance of the careful removal of The Hilda and pointed to the high regard the Port Louis team has for the environment. "We are spending millions to clean up the marina. We are doing this not only because we want the best and most beautiful marina in the world, but because we want this marina to enhance the environment and not degrade it," Donelan stated. About Port Louis Grenada – -------------------------------- Port Louis Grenada will be an EC$1.5 billion resort and spa maritime village development. The project will include; A world class marina with 350 slips and yachting facilities for yachts up to 100 metres, 36 estate lots for individual houses, 200 residential units varying in size and use from turnkey 3000 sq ft homes to more modest 900 sq ft village apartments, a 120 room 5-star hotel with all the amenities of a luxury establishment , a world class premier spa and well being lifestyle centre for Port Louis residents and other visitors to Grenada, a 120 room mid range hotel catering to the tourist market, revitalization of the southern end of the lagoon area including the reclamation and renovation of the seafront, proposed revitalization and augmentation of Pandy Beach to complement that of Grand Anse including water sports, beach extension, diving and other elements, Employment prospects of between 500-800 staff with excellent training and career opportunities for Grenadians. Within the Caribbean and West Indies, Port Louis will be a unique comprehensive village community of charm and character including a vibrant market with a waterfront of exciting activities.