(By Javin Jacobs) – The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (GOSVG) has undertaken the Sandy Bay Coastal Protection Project for which Smith Warner International Ltd. in association with Environmental Solutions Ltd. has been contracted to the Ministry of Transport and Works to execute an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
The GOSVG will need to support future engineering designs by demonstrating a thorough Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) that not only safeguard against negative impacts of the proposed project on the environment and communities but also encourages the participation of and benefits to all stakeholder groups.
The proposed coastal defense will reduce the vulnerability of the community and its infrastructure from extreme events (tropical storms and hurricanes), and day to day erosional action. The coastal defense will also protect the windward highway, the only line of communication to and from the village, which will benefit residents and visitors. This project will play a major role in ensuring the survival of a largely self-dependent rural community against the increasing impacts of climate change.
A Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) is being developed, as a component of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), to determine and define activities to be undertaken by the project in response to the differential priorities, needs, and interests of men, women, boys, and girls.
The GEAP would serve as a monitoring tool to anticipate, mitigate and manage both the potential negative impacts and opportunities presented by the proposed project for different groups and individuals within the affected site area. The principles and criteria of social inclusion and environmental sustainability are paramount to the GOSVG.
The general public is invited to attend a very important and informative meeting to be held at the sandy bay primary school grounds on Sunday 25th of August 2019 @ 3 pm.
This meeting is to discuss and to get views in form of an open forum from the community and other stakeholders on their concerns and needs in the following areas: employment, health and education and disaster relief, with Dr Siddier Chambers of the environmental solutions limited (esl) of Jamaica.
Transportation will be provided to and from the event from Sion Hill Sandy Bay and overland. Refreshments will be served.
