Kingstown St. Vincent June 10, 2026-A new sand harvesting operation in North Leeward is expected to reduce the cost of construction materials in the Grenadines while generating revenue for the state-owned Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA), according to the agency’s chief executive officer, Kem Bartholomew.
Speaking about the project at the mouth of the Roseau Dry River, Mr Bartholomew said the operation forms part of BRAGSA’s strategy to create new revenue streams while supporting infrastructure and development needs across St Vincent and the Grenadines.
He said material extracted from the site will be supplied to Canouan, Union Island, Bequia and Kingstown, improving access to aggregate and other construction materials.
“The community of North Leeward will benefit. The cost of material in the Grenadines will be reduced. BRAGSA financially will be more sustainable, and it will contribute significantly to national development,” Mr Bartholomew said.
The project involves harvesting and processing volcanic sediment deposited following eruptions of La Soufrière volcano.
Mr Bartholomew described the operation as a means of making productive use of material left behind by the eruption while helping to meet growing demand for construction supplies.
The BRAGSA chief said the initiative had already generated significant revenue, with an initial sale valued at approximately EC$3.8 million.
According to him, the proceeds from that transaction enabled the authority to purchase equipment needed to undertake the operation, including a front-end loader and screening equipment.
“We ourselves do not have the resources to buy the front-end loader and the sifter and so forth. That came from this initial sale,” he said.
Mr Bartholomew said the Roseau project was identified through a five-year strategic plan that highlighted investment opportunities capable of strengthening BRAGSA’s financial position.
Before work began, the authority obtained approval in principle from the Physical Planning Unit and conducted surveys, designs and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
As part of the process, a community consultation was held on 8 April at the Golden Grove Learning Resource Centre, where residents raised concerns about potential effects on fishing activities, dust and noise.
Mr Bartholomew said those concerns were taken into account during the planning stage of the project.
He noted that a temporary ramp associated with the operation was modified to minimise disruption to fishers operating in the area
“The temporary ramp that we created was adjusted, the distance into the sea, the alignment, so that we do not affect that fishing as far as possible,” he said.
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment also resulted in the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan, which outlines measures to address issues such as dust and noise during the operation.
Mr Bartholomew said BRAGSA would be required to adhere to those guidelines as the project moves forward.
He also pledged that the authority would work alongside community representatives and residents to identify initiatives that could directly benefit North Leeward.
According to BRAGSA, the project is expected to improve the availability of construction materials, lower costs in the Grenadines, strengthen the agency’s finances and contribute to wider national development.