By Deanna Isaac CARRIACOU - The economic landscape of the 13-square-mile island of Carriacou is about to change with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the development of a free port and container port project on the island. The MOU was signed on Thursday, February 25, between the Grenada Government and the Brazilian company, Urbaniza. Senator George Prime, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, signed on behalf of the government. A free port for Carriacou has long been talked about by previous governments. Against this background, the Minister described the MOU signing as “significant’’ and “critical’’ step in building an economy for sustainable development in Carriacou. It is estimated that the project, which will include a 15 acres functional container port catering for commercial vessels of between 20,000 and 40,000 tons, will create more than 1,000 jobs in the first year of construction. The free port, which would lead to the marketing of Carriacou regionally and internationally as a business centre, will also incorporate warehouses on a 150,000 square foot area and a duty free shopping mall. Dr. Christiane Bromeny signed on behalf of Urbaniza.