The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC) signed a contract for US$120 million (EC$324.3m) at cabinet room on Tuesday September 12th, to signal the start of the Government’s National Road Rehabilitation Project.
Taiwanese Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines H.E Fiona Fan in her remarks at the contract signing said the agreement is testament to the longstanding relationship between our two countries.
Ambassador Fan said “more than one thousand (1000) Vincentians will be employed throughout the duration of this project.”
H.E Fan elaborated that “this commitment to local employment and skills development is a testament to Taiwan’s dedication as a faithful ally to foster growth and prosperity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in his address expressed his frustrations at not reaching the signing of the contract earlier. Gonsalves explained that the project will be done in phases; identified as Lot 1 and Lot 2 in the initial instance.
The Prime Minister said “road work is not cheap” and mentioned the cost of the repairs done to the roads from the corner of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) to the Layou Post Office, amounting to approximately EC$24 million. Gonsalves further stated that money has to be borrowed for road works, as revenue collected from motorists at the Inland Revenue Department is inadequate for the construction or complete rehabilitation of roads.
Prime Minister Gonsalves said, “This contract is not going to do all that is required to be done there but it would do most of it and the worst areas.” He also listed the roads that will be given attention under Phase 1 of the project.
They include:
Magum Road in North Windward
Colonaire Estate Rd. (Housing Estate)
Grand Sable Estate Rd.
Manawar Rd. (South Windward)
Peruvian Vale Rd. (South Windward)
Diamond Highway, (Diamond Bus Stop, improvement & realignment)
Mount Pleasant Rd. (Marriaqua)
Internal Roads in Calliaqua
Belair Middle Road (West St. George), and
Keartons Community Rd. (Central Leeward).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan have been allies since 1981. The Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC) has played a pivotal role in the construction and repairing of the Rabacca bridge, river training works following the volcanic eruptions of 2021 and the terminal building at Argyle International Airport (AIA).