Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez has provided insights into ongoing dredging operations near Crabbes Peninsula and St. John’s Harbour, which are crucial for accommodating larger vessels.
The dredging project, initially awarded to the local firm Blue Ocean—an entity in which the government holds a significant investment—has seen collaboration with Dutch Dredging for the removal of hard rock encountered at both sites.
He told Cabinet that to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the dredging process, a further survey has been commissioned. This survey aims to accurately assess the volume of rock that must be excavated before work commences, a necessary step to avert any potential delays.
The current holdup in the dredging process has already had repercussions, particularly affecting the transportation of cement to the storage facility at Crabbes.
With the construction industry experiencing a surge in demand, the timely delivery of cement is critical. Industry experts stress that these delays could impact ongoing and future construction projects.
As the situation develops, stakeholders are hopeful that the completion of the dredging will soon enable larger vessels to access the facility, thus meeting the increasing needs of the construction sector.
Please remind me of how many years this dredging has being going on for and the rock is still there?