New revelations suggest that the explosion at the Gravel and Concrete Corporation’s quarry in Telescope, St. Andrew, may not have been accidental.
The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) is now investigating the possibility that the July 1 blast was the result of a malicious act, potentially carried out by an employee of the state-run company.
According to sources close to the investigation, video footage obtained from a worker’s mobile phone has become a central piece of evidence. The video reportedly shows explosive material being burned and captures the moment of detonation.
Investigators believe the person filming may have been concealed at the time. One working theory is that a detonator was deliberately thrown into the fire, out of view of police and company officials.
Under Grenada’s standard operating procedures for the handling and disposal of explosives, detonators and explosive material must be transported separately, with detonators always under police supervision.
However, on the day of the explosion, no officer accompanied the vehicle transporting the detonators from Point Salines in the south of the island to the quarry site in St. Andrew—a trip of roughly one hour. Instead, police traveled in a separate vehicle, leaving the detonators in the custody of a civilian driver, a direct violation of safety regulations.
While the investigation, led by the Criminal Investigation Department in Grenville, remains ongoing, the Gravel and Concrete Corporation has acknowledged responsibility for the consequences of the blast.
General Manager Arthur Ollivierre has taken steps to assist affected residents, committing to repair damaged homes and replace destroyed belongings.
That process began within days of the explosion. Contractors have been employed to repair roofs and replace windows, and within three days of the incident, Ollivierre and other company officials personally delivered new televisions to residents whose devices were destroyed by the blast.
The explosion, which was felt miles away and shook neighbouring parishes, resulted in no reported fatalities. Still, residents in the Telescope area have described being deeply shaken by the incident.
From clinging to infants to fearing the world was ending, those closest to the site recounted terrifying moments when the ground shook, windows shattered, and panic set in.
At a recent community meeting hosted by the Corporation, residents shared their experiences and demanded answers about the cause of the explosion.
“Knowing what really happened is important for us to heal,” one resident said.
In response, Ollivierre assured the community that future explosive disposals would be handled exclusively by police, under tighter safety controls. He confirmed that the investigation is pointing toward deliberate sabotage.
“The chances of something like that happening again are zero,” Ollivierre said.
“Going forward, it has been made clear that any such material will be handled strictly by the police. They have personnel who are more thoroughly trained in explosive disposal. So the chances of this happening again are slim to none.
“Also, the rumour that explosives were buried on site is completely false. There was nothing buried there.”
To support residents in coping with the trauma, the Corporation facilitated a community mental health session led by Dr. Josh Hector, psychiatrist and Director of Mental Health in the Ministry of Health. Dr. Hector explained that residents may be experiencing acute stress reactions and emphasized that such responses are normal in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event. “Exactly what you’re feeling right now, we expect it,” Dr. Hector told attendees. “It may last one to three months. If it continues beyond that, you may need professional intervention. Everyone copes differently.”
He added that those with physical damage to their homes—like missing roofs—could be especially vulnerable to prolonged stress or lingering fears of another explosion.
Dr. Hector and his team also held individual sessions with residents whose accounts indicated they were having a particularly difficult time coping.
Concerns were also raised about possible long-term health effects from inhaling fumes after the blast. In response, Ollivierre said that, based on inquiries made, the police had advised that the fumes from the explosion would have no lasting health impact.
As investigators continue their work, the community of Telescope remains on edge, seeking both accountability and reassurance that such a traumatic incident will not reoccur.
Calistra Farrier
