A modern and state-of-the-art fisheries facility is on the horizon for the fisherfolk and community of Bequia. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines officially marked the launch and ground-breaking ceremony for the highly anticipated rehabilitation of the Port Elizabeth Fish Market.
The project is currently undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation process aimed at delivering a modern facility for local fisherfolk and market users. This strategic infrastructure initiative is being implemented under the European Union (EU)-funded Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission Biodiversity Support Programme for ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) Coastal Environments (BioSPACE).
Implemented under the leadership of the Fisheries Services, within the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience, the project is backed by a grant valued at $3.2 million. The primary goals of this intervention are to strengthen local fisheries infrastructure, improve post-harvest management capacity, and enhance the overall resilience of fisheries-dependent coastal communities across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
The BioSPACE programme itself is a regional initiative designed to support ACP Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal environments in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. Managed by the OECS and funded by the EU, the programme empowers OECS Member States to build climate resilience, protect marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and strengthen regional capacity through targeted technical assistance and policy development.
Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday highlighted that the works involve the complete and comprehensive rehabilitation of the Port Elizabeth fisheries complex. He emphasized that the upgraded facility is expected to significantly improve the lives of fisherfolk by addressing long-standing issues that have affected the local fishing community for years.
“This rehabilitation is part of the government’s plan to focus on people and projects that directly improve the lives of Vincentians,” Prime Minister Friday noted. He also assured the public that once completed, the facility will be properly managed to ensure it benefits the entire community, rather than a select few individuals.
The rehabilitation work officially commenced on June 19, 2026, with an implementation timeline of 240 days, targeting completion by February or March of 2027.
Minister of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience, Conroy Huggins, commented that the Bequia Fish Market project is one of three active fisheries projects currently underway. He stated that the initiative’s core purpose is to elevate the lives of local fisherfolk by rebuilding and strengthening infrastructure that had previously been neglected.
A collaborative steering committee is overseeing the project’s execution. The project’s Steering Committee (PSC) includes representatives from the OECS Commission, the Fisheries Services (SVG), and the Building, Roads and General Services Authority (BRAGSA). The contractor for the project is Hutchinson Construction Company Limited, and the Dominican-based EnviroPlus Consulting Inc. is serving as the design and supervising consultant.
