NEWS RELEASE

Minister of Agriculture Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries, Public Utilities and Energy Gregory Bowen and Mr. Nelson Louison met with Director General Mr. Bader Al-Humaidhi and other members of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in Kuwait City, Kuwait on February 15, 2005

Minister Bowen led the negotiations on ongoing and future projects in light of the rebuilding efforts after the damage done by Hurricane Ivan.

With respect to the ongoing $40 million (US) Coastal Defenses and Roads Rehabilitation Project (Third Phase) funded by Kuwait and OPEC, which includes the rehabilitation of the Cliff-Woburn-Woodlands ring, the following were secured:

  1. Extend the grace period to four years so that repayment commences late 2008;
  2. The reduction in Government of Grenada counterpart financing of $22 million (US) for the works from 50 percent to a minimum of 5 percent;
  3. A revised scope of works that would facilitate the shifting of monies to any road, bridge or coast line damaged by Hurricane Ivan.
Minister Bowen secured $10 million (US) in new funding for farm roads under the Agricultural Feeder Road Project from the Kuwait Fund. Additionally the Kuwait Fund and the Government of Grenada are finalizing additional funding from OPEC for this project. These roads include Windsor, Palmiste, Concord, Mountain Road, Grand Fir, Bel Air, Red Mud/ Fountain, Morne Repose, Mt. Rich, Lud Bur, La Mode, Mt. Parnassus, Grenvillevale and Hopevale are among the roads identified for attention under this project.

"The expected outcome is a $15 million (US) farm/feeder road project, $10 million from the Kuwait Fund and $5 million (US) from OPEC. This will go a long way in boosting the agricultural output through increased accessibility and opening up of new productive farmlands," Minister Bowen said.

Minister Bowen also secured a disbursement of $250.000 (US) to be used to repair areas suffering infrastructural damage.

A grant of $500,000 (US) was also secured for an investigative study to correct the slippage phenomenon in the Clozier/Florida/Maubouya, areas in St. John’s.

"Land movements have seen schools, roads and bridges in these areas destroyed," Minister Bowen said, adding, "and now the Western Main Road is being affected."

While in Kuwait, Minister Bowen paid visits to the Saudi Arabia and Qatar Embassies in Kuwait to follow up on Grenada’s request for assistance after Hurricane Ivan. Meetings were held with Ambassador Ahmad H. Al-Yaya from Saudi Arabia and H.E. Jobar Bin Ali Al-Dosari from Qatar. Both expressed great interest in Grenada and discussions were held on deepening relations, as well as the procedure for accessing funds from the two countries, in addition to the requested assistance.

The Saudi Arabia Fund, one of the largest in the Middle East, gives 63 percent of the 14.5 billion riyal in foreign aid and as grants. Eleven percent is given to multilaterals, five percent as contribution to international organisations and 21 percent as loans.

Minister Bowen also met with nationals in London on February 17 on his return trip to Grenada, during which discussions focussed on housing, agriculture and concessions on building materials.


Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries
February 22, 2005