Save the Drill Yard: Stop the demolition and demand a professional heritage review
The Issue
From: The Grenada National Trust
To: The National Insurance Board (NIS), the Government of Grenada and, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Affairs and Culture.
Urgent Action Needed:
On July 26, 2026, the Grenada National Trust (GNT) secured a critical, yet temporary, interim High Court injunction to temporarily halt the demolition of the historic Drill Yard on Young Street, St. George’s, Grenada. This demolition was scheduled to proceed immediately, citing public safety concerns. While the GNT agrees that public safety is a priority, we believe that immediate safety can be secured through temporary measures - such as fencing, barricading, warning notices, and securing loose material - without the irreversible destruction of this irreplaceable heritage asset.
Why the Drill Yard Matters?
The Drill Yard is not just an old building; it is a vital piece of Grenada’s national story. Its walls, some of which date back to a 1740s French Palais, it is historically linked to Fort George, the Grenada National Museum, and the wider historic district of St. George’s. The Drill Yard walls hold memories of:
- Grenada’s early court and prison history.
- Military use and colonial administration.
- Fedon’s Rebellion and the history of enslavement and resistance.
- Significant archaeological material that may lie beneath its foundations.
Vision for the Future: An Asset, Not a Liability
International precedents prove that even severely deteriorated masonry can be saved; for example, House No. 1284 in Zanzibar was stabilised and remains in use today. Sites like the Old Melbourne Gaol in Australia and the Former Supreme Court in Mauritius have been successfully adapted for tourism, education, and civic life rather than being demolished. The Drill Yard has the potential to be transformed into a National Art Gallery, a landscaped urban park, or craft studios that generate tourism income and serve as an educational resource for all Grenadians.
Our Demands:
We call on National Insurance Board and the Government of Grenada to:
- Grant a 120-day pause on all demolition activities.
- Allow for a professional assessment by preservation engineers, archaeologists, and heritage specialists.
- Explore a government-led solution that removes liability from the National Insurance Board while protecting the site for future generations.
- Uphold the statutory heritage process, ensuring the Grenada National Trust is properly consulted as required by law.
How You Can Help?
By signing this petition, you are telling the authorities that Grenada’s heritage is not a liability to be cleared, but an asset to be cherished. The GNT has already incurred US$15,000 in urgent legal costs to protect this site. Your signature supports our fight to establish a national standard for protecting all of Grenada’s threatened heritage.
Please sign today to stop the demolition and demand a comprehensive professional review!
The Grenada National Trust
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The Issue
From: The Grenada National Trust
To: The National Insurance Board (NIS), the Government of Grenada and, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Affairs and Culture.
Urgent Action Needed:
On July 26, 2026, the Grenada National Trust (GNT) secured a critical, yet temporary, interim High Court injunction to temporarily halt the demolition of the historic Drill Yard on Young Street, St. George’s, Grenada. This demolition was scheduled to proceed immediately, citing public safety concerns. While the GNT agrees that public safety is a priority, we believe that immediate safety can be secured through temporary measures - such as fencing, barricading, warning notices, and securing loose material - without the irreversible destruction of this irreplaceable heritage asset.
Why the Drill Yard Matters?
The Drill Yard is not just an old building; it is a vital piece of Grenada’s national story. Its walls, some of which date back to a 1740s French Palais, it is historically linked to Fort George, the Grenada National Museum, and the wider historic district of St. George’s. The Drill Yard walls hold memories of:
- Grenada’s early court and prison history.
- Military use and colonial administration.
- Fedon’s Rebellion and the history of enslavement and resistance.
- Significant archaeological material that may lie beneath its foundations.
Vision for the Future: An Asset, Not a Liability
International precedents prove that even severely deteriorated masonry can be saved; for example, House No. 1284 in Zanzibar was stabilised and remains in use today. Sites like the Old Melbourne Gaol in Australia and the Former Supreme Court in Mauritius have been successfully adapted for tourism, education, and civic life rather than being demolished. The Drill Yard has the potential to be transformed into a National Art Gallery, a landscaped urban park, or craft studios that generate tourism income and serve as an educational resource for all Grenadians.
Our Demands:
We call on National Insurance Board and the Government of Grenada to:
- Grant a 120-day pause on all demolition activities.
- Allow for a professional assessment by preservation engineers, archaeologists, and heritage specialists.
- Explore a government-led solution that removes liability from the National Insurance Board while protecting the site for future generations.
- Uphold the statutory heritage process, ensuring the Grenada National Trust is properly consulted as required by law.
How You Can Help?
By signing this petition, you are telling the authorities that Grenada’s heritage is not a liability to be cleared, but an asset to be cherished. The GNT has already incurred US$15,000 in urgent legal costs to protect this site. Your signature supports our fight to establish a national standard for protecting all of Grenada’s threatened heritage.
Please sign today to stop the demolition and demand a comprehensive professional review!
The Grenada National Trust
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Petition created on July 28, 2026