One – Mr. Barry Collymore, who verbally identified himself as a director of SAVVYS at Mt. Cinnamon, was very irate with the contents of a recent Sentinel article published on Grenada Broadcast website about four weeks ago, entitled “De Savary’s cottages reappear as a project of the Blue Economy”. This article was also published in the print media a week or two later.

In order to appease Mr. Collymore’s concerns, he was invited on Monday Feb 27, 2017 to meet with the president of the Willie Redhead Foundation – Mr. Tim Byam and the immediate past president – Mr. Norris Mitchell to resolve the matter. At the meeting Mr. Collymore took offence to the term “real estate speculator”, in reference to Mr. De Savery’s business ventures in Grenada at the time; that is, somewhere about 2006/7, as there was no evidence of any corresponding amount(s) paid into our local treasury. He also pointed out that the narrow strip of land surrounding the lagoon and between the lagoon and the Kirani James Boulevard earmarked for De Savery’s cottages which was previously “acquired” from the Govt. of Grenada by Port Louis – now belongs to Camper and Nicholson as part of the “deal”, with all its concessions, when the sale of the marina for $24.0 million US dollars from De Savery Port Louis to Camper & Nicholson Marina was executed.

Collymore further advised that building cottages along the lagoon has since been omitted from the Port Louis development portfolio, and that this condition must be adhered to by the new owners – even though it is clearly shown in the BLUE ECONOMY brochure dated April 1, 2015, and that Dr. Angus Friday – Grenada Ambassador to the Unites Stated and Mexico and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States based in Washington, one of two key advisors to the Govt. of Grenada who is  spearheading the Blue Economy initiative would be so advised, in order to have it removed from any future publications of the Blue Economy brochure.

Although Mr. Collymore did not put his concerns in writing as he was advised to do, the said article was again published a week or two later on the NOW GRENADA website, which (again) prompted him to take issue with the manager( of Now Grenada), who informed Mr. Mitchell by telephone of Collymore’s concerns, when the above scenario was related to him. It should be noted that there were a few unflattering comments about the proposed cottages and related issues on the NOW GRENADA website.

In the meantime Ambassador Friday had arrived in Grenada and sought to clear the air by arranging a meeting with the tWRF executive, which was held on Tuesday March 21, 2017.

The meeting with Ambassador Friday proved extremely useful. It became apparent that Dr. Friday’s vision of a progressive Grenada found congruence in a number of natural and cultural developmental issues of concern to the foundation. He confirmed that cottages along the lagoon shown in the 2015 Blue Economy brochure was an oversight and would be removed, and that Quarantine Point, which was earmarked for the Blue Marine research headquarters would remain a green recreational space for all Grenadians. The matter of St. George’s – our capital city, as a unique Caribbean townsite was highlighted. The city on a hill, located between the mountain and the sea, its topography and its Georgian architecture were recognized for its economic and tourism potential, together with the need for urgent restoration of Fort George and York House, at the top of the list.

“Dr, Friday congratulated the immediate past president for his book” Dynamics of Urban St. George”, and recommend as a follow-up, the production and publication of a coloured brochure, highlighting the important historic landmarks of St. George’s, as an educational and tourism guide.

The other recommendation was a Project Proposal for the enhancement of the “Historic Village” which includes the Western end of the Carenage with the Financial Complex, the Library, Monckton, and Young Streets including Hubbard’s H.Q, Courts building, the Tunnel, the Museum complex and the Old Drill yard compound.

The aim of this project is to promote awareness and to assist in preserving and protecting what has remained of a city described in 1988 by CARIMOS – The cultural arm of the Organisation of American States, “as a monument of the wider Caribbean”. We can however no longer boast of this designation, due to the lack of heritage appreciation by our post independence political directorate.”

The ambassador expressed his desire to keep in touch with the foundation in the quest to further reinforce the pillars of co-operation for a better (much better) GRENADA.

KIRANI JAMES BOULEVARD  –  In need of upgrading to a Mini-park.

A Willie Redhead Foundation Presentation  (www.willieredheadfoundation.org)            March 31, 2017