By Admin. Updated 7:07 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Scores of residents in the Central Leeward community of Layou have turned up at Layou Government School for an important consultation on the proposed Jackson Bay Development Project.
Community members will hear proposals and plans from Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves and Member of Parliament for Central Leeward – Orando Brewster.
Located in the Central Leeward town of Layou, the Jackson Bay Beach was earmarked to benefit from an EC$I million enhancement project – funded by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology Hon. Camillo Gonsalves during his presentation of the Appropriation Bill (2023 Budget) in Parliament on January 9, 2025.
In addition to the clean-up and beautification of Jackson Bay Beach, this project will establish amenities for visitors and vendors, facilities for fisherfolk and install crossings and river defenses.
The Jackson Bay Beach Development Project is a sub-component of the overarching Aesthetic Improvement of Layou Barrouallie and Calliaqua Towns Project – which, according to Minister Gonsalves, will “leverage the Imminent arrival of resorts at Buccament, Mount Wynne and Ratho Mill to beautify, neighbouring towns and make them more attractive to nationals and tourists alike.’
This overarching Project resides within the Ministry of Urban Development, Energy, Airports, Seaports, Grenadines Affairs and Local Government.
According to the Ministry of Urban Development, the proposed interventions are:
- Construction of a food vending area & Improvement of the vending fadllity close to the sea defense wall
- Installation of storage lockers for fisherfolk
- Construction of one (1) large gazebo with shower and washrooms at the northern end of the beach
- Development of a picnic area (benches, cooking/grilling ared)
- Creation of a Took out point’ at the existing jetty (inclusive of seating) Construction of a three-foot high wall at the back of the primary school to secure the premises
- Construction of a wooden pedestrian bridge across the river
- Dredging and clean-up of the river
- Strengthening of the coastline north of the jetty toward the river mouth for protection against wave action erosion
Clean-up of the beach, the are behind the sea defense
wall and the access road to the beach - Installation of solar lamps to improve lighting along the sea defense wall
- Painting of the sea defense wall
- Placement of bins in designated garbage collection zone
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