SVG Port Authority gets overseas help to assess ports in the Grenadines

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority (SVGPA), Carl James, said they have received support from Global Support Development to assess the ports in the Grenadines following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024.

James told the Agency for Public Information on Monday, July 22, 2024, that they lost most of the navigation aids in the southern Grenadines and the reinstallation of these navigation aids have started.

He said the Union Island Port is in good condition, and the Canouan wharf was not badly damaged, but some of the armour packings have eroded and they have made arrangements to have them redone. James also said they would be resurfacing the Canouan Jetty and, in the medium to long term, will be seeking to rebuild the Canouan Wharf. The designs are already available for this facility, and James pointed out that they will conduct additional stakeholder consultations.

James noted as well that the Mayreau wharf has sustained minor damage. “These are things we could rectify in a short space of time.We ensure that once we deploy a team in a week or two weeks, Mayreau Wharf will be optimized. Nonetheless, it is fully functional and useable”, the Port CEO said.

He said the Bequia Wharf where the ferries dock, is in good condition, but the tender jetty in

Bequia received a fair bit of damage.

“It is usable but we prefer not to use it in its current condition for safety reasons.”

James explained that Bequia has two wharfs to which they normally bring the cruise tenders; one is in Port Elizabeth and one in Hamilton. “The one in Hamilton is in pristine condition, so once we accommodate a cruise vessel, the one in Hamilton is there and ready to serve immediately.”

James said they will rectify the jetty in Bequia in October to provide service to customers. He added that they are looking at opportunities to enlarge the tender jetty in Bequia to accommodate larger tender vessels.

Also, that the SVGPA has an aggressive plan in place to complete all these port projects in October. (API)