Key Projects of Grenada

PPPs

Melville Street Development Project

Grenada’s largest public–private joint venture to date has seen extensive redevelopment of the Melville Street area of the capital, St George’s. A new terminal for cruise ships opened in 2005, with a welcome centre and shopping mall built alongside, which sees cruise passengers disembarking close to St George’s main shopping district, as opposed to arriving at the main harbour, which is further from the centre. The terminal was built by St George’s Newport Property Development Company Ltd, which is an 80:20 partnership between Zublin Grenada Ltd and the Grenada Ports Authority.

The terminal is part of a US$80 million project, which includes land reclamation and the dredging of the seabed to allow cruise ships to dock. A second construction phase will see further land reclaimed, with a mixture of retail and commercial property developed.

 

Grenada Replacement Hospital PPP

A new hospital in Grenada, which will improve the country’s health care facilities for residents and medical tourists, is to be designed, financed, built and maintained by British engineering firm Balfour Beatty under a public–private partnership contract. Located in the country’s capital, it will also serve as a teaching hospital in partnership with St George’s University. The project is Grenada’s first health PPP and is expected to be completed in 2015, when it will replace St George’s General Hospital.

 

Public-Private Partnerships

PPPs2

Until recently, there were few opportunities for the private sector to bid for government contracts in Grenada, with the exception of projects like the Melville Street Development Project and some smaller-scale initiatives. But the election of the New National Party in February 2013 has heralded a fresh approach, with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell seeing private-sector participation as key to job generation. The government is now seeking to liberalise the energy sector as well as looking for private sector partners for the building of hospitals and housing, as well as other major construction projects.
Prime Minister Keith Mitchell spoke specifically about public-private partnerships when he announced the 2013 budget, saying:

‘Government cannot build the new economy without the active participation of the private sector. In this regard, there are several development projects for which government is seeking public-private partnerships.’ He then listed forthcoming, and current, projects that require private sector partners. These projects centred on the building of new housing, an athletics stadium and a hospital as well as port and airport development. The government also intends to increase food production on state-owned land through the use of public-private partnerships