The architect supervising work for the YIDA project at Coconut Hall and Guiana Island has reported that eight miles (5km) of road, four lanes wide, are being constructed on the Antigua side of the project.
He told Cabinet that two lanes will be paved within the next two weeks; the planting of utilities below the surface will take place on the side where the other two lanes are to be paved.
In the face of criticism over environmental practices, the government said 70 acres of mangrove are to be preserved in a Nature Preserve.
YIDA is also building a ceramics factory, 500,000 square feet large.
A statement said much of the electricity to be utilized will come from solar and wind energy plants that will be constructed to power the industrial factories; they will be constructed at the southern end of the acreage.
A small tank farm, storing fuels, will also be constructed not far from the power plants owned by the Government.
Additionally, more than 2,000,000 square feet of factory space will be built on the site, creating more than 300 permanent jobs for Antigua and Barbuda citizens and residents.
“Job creation is the first priority of the project managers,” the government said.
It was revealed that one-third of the land will be set aside for manufacturing.
“A 40- to 60-acre area is to be set aside for a nursery where 100,000 trees will be nurtured; they will be transplanted all over the YIDA project in order to make the land very attractive. Green grassy areas will also be grown for a golf course, as well as near the shoreline, in order to preserve the high quality of the shoreline water.”
The government says five resorts are to be built on the site “and the YIDA group intends to be very good stewards, good neighbours, and good environmentalists.”
4 responses to “YIDA updates Cabinet on Guiana Island project”
Who is The mystery architect firm as the NO A was very specific in the criteria of who would fill this role.
Pigs are going to fly soon too! Watch you see.
What a disgrace. All this destruction of OUR land for 300 jobs? Three hundred???? To destroy all this pristine land? They have destroyed hundreds of acres of precious mangrove already. A few trees will not replace them! And do not lie to us by claiming that a GOLF COURSE is anything other than a rich mans playground that guzzles OUR precious water! Antigua does not need this. It is completely inappropriate. This is not an area to build industry! Use the empty space we have now! Build factories on Old Parham Road an Factory Road (when you finally fix them!). These beautiful wild places were deemed Environmentally Protected years ago. The Government is completely reneging on it’s commitments and on it’s responsibilities and it’s own manifesto. We will fight this new colonialism with every breath in our bodies. NO TO YIDA!
Very well said. When Antigua morphs into a Chinese colony and we are over-run with Chinese people and their culture our past, present and future Government Ministers will pack their bags and their families and live like kings somewhere else. The poor Antiguan will be left here with nothing to call his own. This is a sad, sad state of affairs for our children and grandchildren.