Construction
F
Infrastructure
ELECTRICITY
Grenada Electricity Services Ltd. (GRENLEC), a
private limited liability company is the sole provider
of electricity for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite
Martinique. Voltage consists of 220 volts, single phase,
50Hz cycles and 400 volts, 3 phase 50Hz cycles.
WATER
The National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA)
provides clean, safe pipe borne water from a series
of catchments, river and deep wells. Bottled water is
also available.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Grenada boasts of a modern-state-of-the-art
telecommunications sector with 2 major companies
servicing the islands needs. “FLOW” provides Mobile,
Cable, Internet and Fixed-line services, whilst “Digicel”
provide mobile telecoms and business internet to the
region.
Corporation with 52 postal stations and six sub-offices
including express mail service. Harbour Light of the Windwards - Christian station
MEDIA Grenada Trade Centre Radio - Private FM
There are no daily newspapers. There are however
5 newspapers that are published on a weekly basis
and several other news journals, all in English. There
are 3 television stations and 13 radio stations. All are
privately owned and operated, with the exception of
the Grenada Broadcasting Network, of which the
Government owns 40 percent and the Caribbean
Communications Network 60% . Secret Harbour Radio - Private FM.
THE PRESS
The Grenada Informer - weekly
The Barnacle - monthly
The New Today - weekly
The Grenadian Voice - weekly
The Grenada Informer - weekly
HEALTH Carib Update - weekly
Grenada offers access to numerous doctors and
clinics (both private and public) located throughout the
islands. TELEVISION
There are 4 Government owned hospitals: General
Hospital (St. George’s), Princess Alice Hospital (St.
Andrew), Princess Royal Hospital (Carriacou), Mt. Gay
Hospital (St. George’s) and three private hospitals.
There are also many qualified and experienced private
medical doctors, dentists and optometrist.
GIS - operated by Government Information Services
GBN TV - operated by Grenada Broadcasting Network
MTV - private station
Channel 6 - Flow Grenada
RADIO
Klassic Radio - operated by GBN
POSTAL HOTT FM - operated by GBN
A full postal service operated by the Grenada Postal Spice Capital Radio - private FM station
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Voice of Grenada - private FM station,
EDUCATION
Grenada’s educational system is modeled largely on
the British educational system. The majority of schools
are Government-owned or assisted, and hence free
education is made available for children between the
ages of 5 and 16. There are several privately owned
primary schools and one privately owned secondary
school. There are 184 schools in Grenada, including
120 pre-primary schools, 23 secondary schools and
1 tertiary institution – T.A. Marryshow Community
College; a branch of the Extra Mural Department of the
University of the West Indies (U.W.I.) which is located
in the town of St. George’s. The St. George’s University
(SGU) is a world renowned offshore medical school.
ROADS
Grenada has a comprehensive road network that
allows any part of the island to be reached within
two hours from St. George’s. Public transportation
is available from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Taxi services,
vehicle rental agencies, airport ground handlers and
Aviation Services are also available.
ollowing the passage of Hurricane Ivan,
Which scored a direct hit on the Island of
Grenada in Sept. 2004 a number of con-
struction weaknesses and shortcomings were
revealed with reference to how houses and other
buildings are constructed. This was further com-
pounded by the passage of hurricane Emily the
following year which clearly demonstrated that
the cost of repairs will always be higher than the
cost of doing it right in the first place. Houses
that were repaired or reconstructed post Ivan
in adherence to the Building Code remained in
tact, while those that were quickly repaired us-
ing pre-Ivan methods suffered more extensive
damages. Considering that following Ivan, it was
estimated that 90% of the housing stock was
damaged. The housing market had an urgent
need to rebuild itself. Since then the Government
of Grenada has made considerable efforts, in
association with the Agency for Reconstruction
and Development and the Housing Authority of
Grenada, for all stakeholders to adhere to the
regulations of The Grenada Building Code.
There has also been a formation of the
Construction Association of Grenada which
serves to enhance awareness among
contractors and others in the private sector
about the importance of adhering to the
Building Code, and avoiding shortcuts that can
only result in more expenses for homeowners
in the future.
The formation of the Construction Association of
Grenada has also served to enhance awareness
among contractors and others in the private
sector about the importance of adhering to the
Building Code, and avoiding shortcuts that can
only result in more expenses for homeowners
in the future. Government has also launched the
Construction Quality Assurance Project, which
will provide Training for all stakeholders as well
construction.
• Improved procedures for construction
permit review and Planning Unit and other
agencies involved in the development
approval process.
•
Improved policies and procedures for home
construction loans/disbursement approvals
and site inspective implemented by
mortgage financing institutions.
• Legislation for certification of building
professions, and regulations for the
implementation of building standards;
and lastly but very importantly. The
implementation of a public information
strategy to sensitize homeowners and all
concerned of the benefits of the
Construction Quality Assurance mechanism.
Construction activity remained strong throughout
2006 and 2007 but does contrast with the
exceptional high growth of 91% in 2005, when
the bulk of the country’s restorative work
was undertaken. The Government’s housing
recovery programme continued (with funding
from the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago,
and Venezuela, and from the domestic National
Reconstruction Levy), resulting in an additional
500 homes built and 300 repaired. In addition,
the rebuilding of the sports stadium progressed
in preparation for the hosting of the CWC 2007
cricket games. Related to these preparations,
work on upgrading the road and bridge network
accelerated during the year. Public investment
also focused on upgrading key infrastructure
within the main urban centre, St George’s,
including a new cruiseship pier and commercial
centre.
PROCEDURES, TIME, AND COSTS TO BUILD A
WAREHOUSE IN GRENADA
1 Obtain location plan from Land & Survey
Office: According to the
Grenada
Building
Code, a location
plan showing ‘the
name and position
of the existing roads, fixed and easily identifiable
points such as streams, road junctions, bridges
and nearby houses’ must be obtained from the
Lands and Survey Office before submitting the
application for a development permit. The process
takes 1 day and there is no charge.
2 Obtain Development Permit from Land
Development Control Authority (LDCA). The LDCA
sends copies of the documents to Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Works, a structural engineer,
and an architect at Physical Planning Unit (PPU).
All these bodies review the plans and send
recommendations to PPU, which then prepares a
report to the Development Control Authority (DCA).
The DCA (aka the Board) meets to decide whether
the plan passed or failed. If it failed, comments are
sent to the client for resubmission. If it passed, the
permit is issued and construction can begin. If
nothing is built on the site for 1 year, the client
needs to resubmit the application. This process
usually takes 90 days and costs EC$3,000.
3 Request and receive final inspection from the
Land Development Control. The Authority must
inspect the warehouse upon completion of
construction. The final inspection to obtain the
Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued ‘until
the necessary Certificates of Approval in respect
of electrical works have been issued by the
Electrical Inspector’. This takes14 days at a cost
of EC$170.00.
4 Obtain Certificate of Occupancy from the Land
Development Control Authority (LDCA) According
to the Grenada Building Code, a new building ‘shall
not be occupied or a change made in occupancy
or the nature of the use of a building or part of
a building changed until after the Authority has
issued a Certificate of Occupancy’. This takes 7
days at a cost of EC$5.00.
5 Receive temporary electricity connection.
This should take 1 day at no charge.
6 Obtain Electricity Inspection
SECURITY
Grenada enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the
western hemisphere. The Royal Grenada Police Force
is responsible for civilian protection and defense.
Grenada is also a member of the Regional Security
System of the Eastern Caribbean. BG
www.businessgrenada.com
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