Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage salute the workers of Grenada on the occasion of May Day 2009. One year ago, on May Day 2008, the leadership of the labour movement embraced our request to participate in the May Day celebrations under the banner “ No Cottages on the Lagoon Park! Protect our Lagoon Park!!”, We sought to raise the awareness of workers and all Grenada of the threats to our Lagoon Park posed by the Port Louis developer, Peter DeSavary and the Port Louis marina owners, Camper and Nicholson. They had publicly stated their plans to reclaim an area of the Lagoon and to erect cottages and other marina related buildings on the Lagoon Park. Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage regrets that AFTER one year one election and a new government, this matter still has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the Grenadian people who wish to protect their Lagoon park and its panoramic view. We have been reliably informed that Camper and Nicholson, the new owners of the Port Louis marina, have made an application to fill in an area of the Lagoon, an area of approximately half-acre. We understand that an application has been made: • to fill in the Lagoon extending 90 feet from a point in the vicinity of Glean’s jetty right back to the vicinity of the former “turtle back man” where it will extend some 258 feet out. • to place boulders 90 feet out to act as a retainer to the fill, an area which will be called the fabrication area Our group remains fundamentally opposed to any plans to reclaim land and erect cottages and/or commercial buildings along the Lagoon Park, leaving only “windows to the sea’” for the general public. The people of Grenada know that a real estate speculator was handed Grenada’s prized assets for EC$1 - the Islander/Butler House property, Ballast Ground and the Lagoon water - one of the most beautiful spots in our country , of immense historical significance to us. The real estate speculator sold Port Louis marina including the Lagoon water for US$24 million. Our Treasury LOST US$6.24 million because of tax concessions. While our country continues to “haemorrhage” and the workers and people of this country have to dig deeper and deeper to pay our way, Port Louis and Camper and Nicholson have 25 years of tax concessions – property transfer tax, general consumption tax and customs service charge( all of which we the people still have to pay). There has been an election and we have a new administration. Regrettably, the issue remains the same. Our Lagoon Park is under threat! We call on the workers of Grenada to continue their vigilance to ensure that the people of Grenada are not deprived of their heritage. No to the reclamation of the Lagoon! NO TO WINDOWS TO THE SEA! From: Citizens in Defense of Grenada's lands and Heritage