The official commissioning of the G-CREWS water assets at the Princess Royal Hospital grounds in Belair marks a historic milestone for climate resilience, delivering critical infrastructure that secures the vital lifelines of Carriacou and Petite Martinique against the rising threats of climate change.
Declaring a new era of water security for the sister islands, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs & Local Government Hon. Tevin Andrews extended deep appreciation to the international funders and dedicated project stakeholders who collaborated to bring the comprehensive project to fruition.
Reflecting on the painful lessons of the devastating 2010 drought that crippled local communities, Minister Andrews noted that the introduction of 2 massive 100,000 imperial gallon water storage tanks, strategically located at Mt Royal and Belair, will drastically improve long-term water storage capacity, ensuring that the sister islands are heavily fortified when faced with natural disasters.
The project’s successful, cross-sectoral impact on essential services was further reinforced by Minister for Health Hon. Phillip Telesford. He spoke directly on the positive, protective impact the infrastructure has on the public health system, detailing the completion of critical upgrades to rural healthcare delivery.
These updates included the construction of dedicated water cisterns at both the Windward Medical Station and the L’Esterre Medical Centre to maintain sterile and reliable clinic operations year-round.
Further expanding on utility advancements, Acting Manager of the National Water and Sewerage Authority (Nawasa) Todd LaBarrie updated attendees on ongoing water production expansion efforts. He announced that technical teams are actively working to further secure the islands’ output capacity, confirming that the setting up of an additional desalination plant is currently ongoing on the island to complement the newly commissioned storage assets.
Addressing the economic and sustainability pillars of the initiative, Project Development Specialist Natasha Joseph provided a briefing on The Challenge Fund for Agriculture, which was executed and managed by the Grenada Development Bank (GDB).
She shared that 18 farmers from Carriacou and Petite Martinique have already benefited directly from the program, receiving modern irrigation and drip lines, climate-resilient shade houses, and specialised water systems designed to shield local food production from erratic weather patterns.
Marion Geiss, Head of G-CREWS (GIZ), commended the steadfast partnership and efficient technical coordination that drove the initiative. She celebrated the successful commissioning ceremony as a monumental achievement in the strategic regional master plan to build a climate-ready, self-sufficient nation.
The G-CREWS project is jointly financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) under its International Climate Initiative (IKI), and the Government of Grenada (GoG). Over 7 years, the Government of Grenada, the Grenada Development Bank and the National Water and Sewerage Authority (Nawasa), in partnership with the German Development Corporation (GIZ), have implemented the project’s 5 components.
The project aims to enhance climate resilience in Grenada’s water sector through a comprehensive transformation at various levels, fostering a paradigm shift for overall national resilience.
Officials and partners toured the newly commissioned facilities and witnessed firsthand the operational infrastructure designed to safeguard the islands’ resources.
Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs
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