by Linda Straker
- State entered into a 25-year lease agreement for development of Annandale waterfall
- Lease to be reviewed every 3 years to ensure developer compliance
- Under new arrangement, small admittance fee will be charged
9 months after announcing that Government will be commercialising one of Grenada’s main tourist attractions managed by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Minister, Clarice Modeste has confirmed that the state has entered into a 25-year lease agreement for the development of Annandale Waterfall.
“What we do have is an agreement for a lease of the facilities. There are 2 young Grenadians who have come up with a proposal to enhance what is going on at Annandale and to change it, in keeping with environmental guidelines. So that there will be moderate changes but it is still environmentally friendly,” Modeste said while confirming that the attraction was not sold to any private entity.
In October 2019, Modeste announced during one of the weekly post-cabinet briefings said that government was in the process of finalising a lease agreement that will see the waterfall in Annandale becoming a commercialised entity. Withholding the names of the company, Modeste on Wednesday said that the announcement of the names will be done in a formal forum. She disclosed that the company was selected by a committee that comprised persons attached to the Department of Forestry and other relevant stakeholders.
In the 2019 news conference, Modeste explained that government on 2 separate occasions had issued calls for proposal to commercialise the site, and on each occasion, the same 2 entities submitted bids.
Sharing limited information about the lease, Modeste said that it mandates that the lease be reviewed every 3 years to ensure that the developers are complying with the terms of reference, and any work such as planting or cutting down of trees must first be approved by the Department of Forestry.
At present, there is no admittance fee to use the facility for locals but under the new arrangement, Modeste said this will change and a small fee will be charged. “There might be some small sacrifice that one will have to make.” She referred to Annandale Waterfall as a national asset that must be enjoyed by both locals and visitors.
“Any asset we have must be shared between locals and visitors,” she said, pointing out that if locals are stopped from utilising such a national asset this can impact visitors, because visitors normally enjoy mixing and mingling with locals.
Where is the transparency in all this/?
Who will be attending the forum where the names will be announced?
Why are these people treating Grenadian property like politicians’ personal assets?
The treatment of the people by the government in spite of the many positive exploits by talented Grenadians still renders Grenada a stagnant nation.
How much of the lease money is earmarked for the treasury of Grenada? Disclose the identity of the lessees for a modicum of transparency. Grenadians have to right to know who’s controlling their natural resources other than the people they voted to be on control of said natural resources
As Afro caribbean nd resent visitor to the very lush n beautiful Island Greenz, On my visi I went to to the falls n many other parts while bussiness women my self n embrace upgrading revenvation n property development However not everything should be about money nd if so then put a Mentoring system I’m place…. –
1) Do not over Promise with their policies then under deliver with its service n access
2)Dont use tactics by stating “it’s in the best intrest for the country n it’s people” Yet its local pple may not benifit
3) Perhaps Govt t should have clear, concise, nd transparent about their policies. I hoping to return in the near future God willing My Vist lasted a long time For what I observe its untouched by over property development and its Natral n Rural is part of the its natral beauty beauty tourist attraction
Lastly in my estimated opinion if a charge must be applied then why not charge the Tourists and not its ppl. Greadain born n bred or Grenadian citizens Apparently a simular projects are in the pipeline for Jamica. Politics vs Politricks
Why do we have to pay for something that rightfully belong to the people of Grenada?Why is the government still taking citizens as fools and feeding us a set of lies?They protect themselves by the fact that they can claim that the Grenadian public was informed of the privatization of the waterfall but really and truly they have withheld in depth information from us.They just skimmed the surface. Yet they have the audacity to say we have to pay to enter!!!!!God forbid but the way our little island is being sold leaves us uncertain of our children’s future. Pretty soon our people might become slaves on our little island.
Agreed. It should be transparent. Why the withholding of names – to be announced on a FORUM?
Happy if it’s young Grenadians that are involved. Hope preference wasn’t given to party supporters.
Talking about environmental considerations… Why wasn’t LaSagesse project transparent? Has the minister seen the destruction of LaSagesse beach and Nature areas?
Why wasn’t environmental impact studies done and the community involved?
Too many ‘plans’ are under the table.
We, the people, are never privy to what’s going on in our country and are treated like imbecile children
Annandale falls is one of God’s gifts to Grenada and its children. It can not be owned. I will not pay a fee to see what is inherited.
Once to do with Grenadian a plan should be displayed for the citizens to view and comment. Too many deals are made under the table, thus the people are saying Grenada is for sale, put the cards on the table for all to see. Let them look up at you as a leader, not down at you.
Private enterprise are essentially there to make money! Selling points always start with the statement a modest change!! And invariably end costing the local people access.
This venture stinks of the Government giving away Gold for a bag of beads!!!
Just because it says young Grenadians doesn’t mean it is by blood. It could very well be foreigners who paid for citizenship. I would love to know who these people really are
You are 100% correct. Wonder why they didnt provide names.
Yea you are so right . After 3 years it can be put up to the highest bidder a chinese ?a Russian? Anyone . That’s the reason the government always saying no money because they not investing in assets clearly the government can develop these tourist attractions by putting proper toilets bars and restaurants. It just doesn’t make sense the way these sites are in Grenada. No proper access nothing to attract and keep more visitors. When you go to a site it’s just ah it looks ok then turn around and go. Why cant one stay a couple hours and wine and dine ?.
Are the 2 Grenadians blood tied to any one in this decision making process? Is nepotism a factor? Why the secrecy? Where is the transparency? What do the citizens receive from this privatization? How do they benefit from this? Too many unknowns….
Agreed