The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Hon. Godwin Friday, has announced a proposed US$50 million initiative aimed at strengthening water security and climate resilience in the Caribbean island state. The announcement follows bilateral discussions held on the margins of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where regional leaders met to discuss development priorities and cooperation.
The proposed project, led by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, focuses on improving water infrastructure and addressing supply challenges across the multi-island country. Planned measures include the modernization of desalination facilities, expansion of water storage capacity and upgrades to distribution networks to improve the reliability of water services.
The programme will also include the construction of six new water storage tanks in Georgetown and Kingstown Park. These investments are expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to store and manage water resources, particularly in areas where supply can be limited.
Around US$40 million of the total financing is expected to come in the form of grant funding from the Green Climate Fund, which supports climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives. The project aims to improve resilience to climate variability while ensuring more reliable access to water for communities and businesses.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Prime Minister Friday said: “This project will fundamentally transform water security in our country, particularly in the Grenadines, where reliable supply is essential for residents and tourism development.” He also noted that the current cost of transporting water represents a significant economic burden and a barrier to expansion in the hospitality sector.
