CITIZENS IN DEFENCE OF GRENADA’S LANDS AND HERITAGE

We witness with the gravest concern the secret and wanton disposal of our prized lands, sea fronts, Lagoons, national parks and forested areas.  We witness the scant regard that is being paid to ecological considerations and environmental regulations by our administrators and developers of these properties.

We notice that over time we have brought in professionals and knowledgeable persons - at great expense to the people of other countries and their financial institutions - to conduct extensive studies and propose definitive plans for our development.

We note that we have done the studies and plans, only to have every mindless investor/facilitator persuade our misguided, elected officials and ineffectual administrators to ignore or discard these studies - in order to facilitate the investors’/facilitators’ delusions of grandeur and their greed.

We also note that many of our people  have been lulled into a deafening silence with the promises of jobs, development and progress.

THIS CARNAGE OF OUR COUNTRY’S NATURAL ASSETS MUST STOP NOW!  Time is no longer on our side.  It is against this backdrop that “Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage” is born.  We need the support of all well meaning Grenadians now!!  Through public advocacy, education and sensitization programmes, we intend to stimulate discussion and action so that:

There is political will among the general public and the decision –makers for development strategies, policies and regulations which reflect a balance between the environment and development.

   1. Decisions will reflect an appreciation of the understanding that the environment is critical to the achievement of sustainable economic development.
   2. The Grenadian people will be empowered to influence the decision-makers
   3. There is sustainable use of our land, marine and other natural resources for generations to come.
   4. There is accountability and compensation from officials, administrators, investors, developers and facilitators of any sort.   Compensation should cover the restoration of the viability of all affected areas to their pre-development/pre-destruction stage.
   5. There are laws to make accountability and compensation binding not only on the officials, administrators, investors and facilitators but also on their assets and heirs until full compensation is realized.

Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage
April 28th, 2008