Known for its spices and a 1983 invasion by the US, the tiny Caribbean island nation of Grenada has been given a comprehensive infrastructure and development blueprint by China.
Beijing’s plan sees the construction of large projects on the island, home to around 100,000 people, including a highway connecting major towns and a railway encircling it.
Deepwater ports for cruise and cargo ships, a large wind farm and a modernised airport with longer runways are also envisaged.
Developed by the China Development Bank at the request of the Grenadian government, the plan is complete and "should be in the hands of the Grenadian government already", a researcher who helped draw it up told The South China Morning Post.
According to the Post, the plan also sees an economic future for Grenada as an offshore tax haven.
Thirty-four years ago the US under President Ronald Reagan drew international condemnation for its invasion of the island, involving some 7,000 troops, which followed violent upheaval in Grenada’s People’s Revolutionary Government.
A focus of tension in the run-up to the invasion was Grenada’s plans for a new airport, which the US claimed could be used by Soviet aircraft.
The Chinese foreign ministry told the Post earlier this month that the Grenadian government "assumed the primary responsibility for the development of their own country" but that China was "willing to provide necessary assistance to their economic and social development upon request".
According to the plan, an economic centre would be built around the capital, St George’s (pictured), with a central business district, industrial zone and cargo transport hub.
Grenada’s central mountainous area would be left as a national park but five other districts would be dedicated, to renewable energy, agriculture and fruit processing, fishing, general tourism and medical tourism.
Image: St George’s, the capital of Grenada (Wikimedia Commons)
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Its evident that this NNP misfits would not stop until Grenadian have no country to call their own!
We want our country to develop for the betterment of our people- educationally, economically, socially and medically but we do not want development to be at a detrimental cost.
There is already tremendous mistrust about China’s real intention in being so involved in the development of black countries. People are wondering whether their involvement is their way of working towards the colonisation of our country where in reality it would be their people and China that would reap the rewards and not us. Developent in our country needs to involve and be for the benefit of our people. We need reassurance that China and the Chinese will not be taking over our country like it/they seems to be doing in places like Jamacia and numerous countries in Africa. Previous colonisation have already left a negative mark on our people in more ways than one so we don’t want any more of that in the name of ‘development’
I am very pleased to see Grenada taking ownership for its development and eventual diversification towards economic development in the Caribbean Region. It is time that the Caribbean Community take this vantage position and increase their GDP and standard of living. Well done. Who else will follow in the Caribbean region? Will it be Trinidad and Tobago?
Take it slow Grenada development is good but if it’s not monitored it could be a bad thing I love your country I actually own property there and I just don’t want to see the country spoiled. Grenada today reminds me of Jamaica back in the 60s peaceful loving people low crime which is why I purchase property in Grenada
Grenada is a beautiful country with brilliant engineers and architects. Grenada should employ their homegrown scholars to improve the infrastructure which will further beautify the island. I think the deal with China is not the best thing for Grenada to do right now. Don’t go around the world looking for a pretty girl who lives next door! Just my opinion. Use your organic skills and labor.