We, the concerned people of Grenada, demand better governance for land use and project development. We call upon the government and the Planning and Development Authority to act in the interest of our communities and protect our shared natural and cultural heritage in La Sagesse, Mount Hartman, and Levera. Moving forward, we demand more inclusive sustainable development planning through the establishment of robust planning regulations to enforce the EIA process, including the need for proper public consultation, and the passage of a National Physical Development Plan - this is long overdue.

We appreciate the necessity of development in Grenada, and we do not intend in any way to hamper the economic potential of the country or jeopardize the creation of much-needed jobs, particularly in the rural parishes. However, this should not happen to the detriment of the country’s invaluable and finite cultural and environmental assets. Thus, in the interest of Grenada and Grenadians, we appeal to the Minister responsible for Planning and Development for the modification and revocation of the planning permissions for the developments mentioned above, following section 28 of the Physical Planning and Development Control Act 2016.

Already, we have seen the complete destruction of our natural habitats near Lance Pierre beach in La Sagesse. To construct this SixSense hotel, we have: 1) lost an entire mangrove ecosystem, 2) observed encroachment of this development on the main La Sagesse beach, 3) noted blocked public access to Lance Pierre, which is prohibited in Grenda’s law. Even with the numerous issues we raised with the Board of the Planning and Development Authority concerning an application by the same developers for a second hotel, our viewing of the public register confirmed that there is planning permission for said hotel in the remaining coastal vegetation near the river along the same beach of the nearly-completed Six Sense hotel.

It has become increasingly clearer that the Planning and Development Authority is not undertaking the required processes before approving projects. It is also becoming clear that developers do not wait for approval of their planned projects before they start the work of clearing mangroves, trees and other vegetation. International best practice calls for comprehensive EIA’s for any kind of development with adequate opportunities for public consultation and feedback. At present, no EIA’s have been done for the following:

1. Grenada National Resort in Levera: The present golf course under construction at Levera.
2. The Intercontinental Hotel at La Sagesse: The developers have submitted the same EIA used for the Six Senses hotel, which was publicly decried for being inadequate. This said EIA is being used as the basis for the approval for all future phases of development at La Sagesse. The developers have not even followed the recommendations of this existing EIA, or a follow-up marine study by separate consultants. Though they did pay for an archaeological assessment for Six Sense, these findings were not included in the application for IHC or its likely recommendations to conduct archaeological assessments in any other proposed development of the beach - this area is a known archaeological site.

This type of development ultimately devalues our social, cultural, and economic potential.

We call on the Government to put in place:

1. Safeguards for La Sagesse
   Halt all further works of the Intercontinental Hotel project undertaken by Range Development. Repeal or withhold building permission (as allowed for in the Physical Planning and Development Conrol Act ) until the developer has: 1) conducted anew EIA, 2) held meaningful, transparent stakeholder consultations with the community and experts, 3) and agrees to a memorandum of understanding on how to repair the damage done to the pond, wetlands and beach in the first phase of their development involving the Six Senses Resort. Enforce the existing recommendations of the EIA and subsequent benthic studies, which was conducted for Phase 1 of the La Sagesse project going forward, along with appropriate monitoring protocols. Ensure beach access to Lance Pierre throughout the development process (as is commonly done by other developments including Kawana Bay), and enjoyment of the area for the general public. Ensure, pursuant to the Museum Act, that archaeological assessments are conducted as part of this new EIA, and based on these findings, mandate that best-practice procedures are employed if full planning permission is granted.
2. Safeguards for Mount Hartman
   Prevent any development until full planning permission has been granted, guided by the completion of a thorough EIA with public consultations, which takes into account the revamped plans for a University Town and Resort and the nearby Grenada Dove Sanctuary. The conditions under which the permission is granted needs to be made publicly available for viewing, and active monitoring protocols must be enforced. Ensure thorough and peer-reviewed mitigation measures are developed and in place to mitigate all threats to the survival of the Grenada Dove and the National Park lands prior to any further development-related activities. Revise the development plans of Mount Hartman Estate, including removing the marina project from the development, to ensure that our wetlands and mangroves are minimally impacted. Destroying these wetlands is inconsistent with Grenada's commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect 30% of marine and terrestrial resources. Ensure, pursuant to the Museum Act, that archaeological assessments are conducted as part of this new EIA, and based on these findings, mandate that best-practice procedures are employed if full planning permission is granted.
3. Safeguards for Levera
   Halt the clearing of mangroves and forests in Levera National Park and at the construction site until an EIA, inclusive of public consultation, is undertaken for the development of the golf course. Require a new EIA for the main hotel development, which should be inclusive of alternatives and best-practice mitigation measures, since the current EIA was found to be wholly inadequate for a coastal development with such a massive footprint. Alternatives are a necessary part of this new EIA as the design is totally out of context for the ‘Pure Grenada’ - as mentioned by nearly all participants in the developers February 2023 consultation - and will cause compromise the integrity of the adjacent RAMSAR site and threaten the survival of nesting threatened leatherback turtles. Revoke all aspects of this development that encroach on the RAMSAR protected site. Ensure, pursuant to the Museum Act, that archaeological assessments are conducted as part of this new EIA, and based on these findings, mandate that best-practice procedures are employed if full planning permission is granted.
4. Public Consultations and EIA Transparency
   Further, we request that regulations be passed pursuant to section 22(4) of the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, to provide specific guidance and standardization on how EIAs should be conducted and to make public participation mandatory, which is not currently the case. We ask that the Planning and Development Authority makes planning permissions and conditions for all projects publicly available on an easily accessible government portal within the next six months. We request that planning permissions are made publicly available a minimum of 90 days prior to any development commencing. EIAs must be mandated to become publicly available information. This ensures that those conducting the EIA and those overseeing it can be held accountable. This is in line with section 69 of the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, which established legal precedents in the region and with the Escazú  Agreement that Grenada has recently ratified.
5. National Physical Development Plan and Coastal Zone Management Plan
   Finally, we implore the Government to establish a National Physical Development Plan and Coastal Zone Management Plan to implement an inclusive planning approach to national development, which ensures that the interests of our communities, equitable access to resources, and the integrity of our shared environment are safeguarded.

What is happening, and why are we concerned?

La Sagesse
At La Sagesse – listed as a Natural Landmark and Area of Cultural and Historical Interest – there has been extensive clearcutting of mangroves and other vegetation on the headland and around the salt pond, to build the 100-room, Six Senses Resort, which ironically is promoted as a sustainability brand. Before the extensive clear-cutting, La Sagesse Pond supported white and buttonwood mangrove, providing cover for the nesting activities of critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles. The beach is also a nesting site for the endangered Leatherback Turtle. A diverse array of some 80 bird species attracted birding tours. The area is a beloved recreational space for visitors and Grenadians alike. Under an older Parks and Protected Areas Plan, the area was proposed as a protected seascape to preserve it for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The entire southeast coast of Grenada, which encompasses this site, has also been proposed as a future marine protected area under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative. Ongoing work at this site has prevented access to the Lance Pierre beach to the south and also caused considerable damage to the main La Sagesse beach through the building of a culvert that has displaced a large extent of the southern portion of the beach. Under the more recent clear-cutting for the newer hotel, no archaeological assessments have been conducted, or mandated as part of the planning permissions, given that this area is a known Archaeological site.

Mt Hartman Estate
Mt Hartman Estate is home to our critically endangered national bird the Grenada Dove (with only about 110 adults remaining). With its unique dry coastal scrub ecosystem and biodiversity, Mt Hartman Estate is internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and as an Endemic Bird Area of the Lesser Antilles by BirdLife International and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The dry forest habitat is presently being cleared for a new resort development adjacent to the National Park by the THet Hartman Group Ltd., but this will have severe impacts on the park itself and threaten the survival of the Grenada Dove. Those two associated wetlands provide critical habitat for numerous species of resident and migratory shorebirds and waterbirds, including species of conservation concern. Communications with the Physical Planning and Development Authority indicate that they are apparently unaware of the project and have not given any permission.( is this correct are we speaking of the university etc project)There is no known EIA in progress. The National Park is an important tourism asset for the discerning high-end tourists, who have been visiting Grenada for the pristine natural assets it still possesses. More importantly, Mt. Hartman Estate provides invaluable ecosystem services to the environment and surrounding communities. Encompassing the largest expanse of black mangroves on the island as well as red mangroves, Mt. Hartman Estate provides a meaningful “nursery” for fisheries stock to the Woburn fishing community. The mangroves and wetlands act as a buffer zone for land-based pollution, a natural filter for water, they provide protection from storms and flooding. Tourist dollars cannot compensate for the mindless destruction of these essential natural habitats and the services and protection they render to our communities.
Ongoing work at this site has encroached onto both wetland areas bordering the small peninsula. Multiple buildings are being constructed in this area, overlooking the Mt. Hartman Bay.

Levera
The Levera wetland is Grenada’s only Ramsar site, designated as a Wetland of International Importance on May 22, 2012. Forest bordering the pond was removed to build temporary housing for workers even before an EIA was completed and planning permission granted.This was unlawful.This is a one billion U.S dollar resort to be funded by the Citizenship by Investment programme and constructed by the Singapore Heng Sheng (Grenada) Development PTE Ltd. The resort will consist of three 16/17 storey buildings, a water park and a golf course; the hotel development’s ESIA has been completed but has not yet been approved and the golf course has been approved but no EIA has been undertaken. A review conducted by GLA highlighted multiple flaws in the ESIA conducted for the hotel. Levera is a 500-hectare plus site that includes a variety of habitats: woodland, dry scrub forest, mangrove wetlands, beach, brackish pond, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Surrounded by red, white, black, and buttonwood mangroves, the large freshwater pond and beach area boast the most extensive diversity of birds on the island, with over 85 species documented on eBird Caribbean from 2006 to date. Levera Beach hosts the third largest nesting site for Endangered Leatherback sea turtles in the Caribbean region. There are also the remains of an Amerindian archaeological site that has only been minimally investigated. As reported in the EIA, 100% of consulted persons in the public were concerned about the archaeology, though no assessment was included in the EIA or an assessment recommended as part of the mitigation strategies. Tellingly, a recent survey of stakeholders done in 2016 in the communities in and around Levera suggests that less than 15% of individuals support hotel development. More than two-thirds support establishing a National Park and Recreational Area and have suggestions for how they would like to see their community involved through a "co-management" approach.

Bottom line: We are proud of Grenada’s unspoiled natural beauty and if you believe that these places are irreplaceable - then for love of country - please sign this petition.

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Footnote Resources

• Grenada Physical Planning Act (2016)
• Six Senses Project by Range Development
• BirdsCaribbean Expresses Deep Concern Over Three Damaging Developments in Grenada
• The Levera Pond Protected Area - A Stakeholder View by St. Patricks Environmental Community Tourism Association
• Review of Grenada National Resort EIA by Grenada Land Actors

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