We, the residents of Woodford and surrounding areas, urgently call on the Government of Grenada to intervene and stop the illegal operation of Rayneau's industrial plant, located dangerously close to our homes.

 Rayneau, a St. Lucia-based construction company, is known for  completing the Moliniere Road. However, the company has unlawfully erected an industrial plant on Woodford Estate, with no prior notification to, or consultation with, the residents. Nearly a year has passed, and we are now discovering that the owner, Rayneau Gajadhar, did not apply for the necessary permissions before constructing the plant. In June 2024, the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) directed Rayneau to cease operations, but he chose to ignore this directive and continued construction.

Rayneau's defiance of the PDA has placed the health and safety of residents– not leaving out the environment - at serious risk. We believe the role of the Planning and Development Authority is not only to regulate land development in Grenada but also to protect the rights of citizens to have a say in development initiatives that are earmarked for their community.

Unfortunately, in this case, the community was denied that opportunity. When Rayneau belatedly applied for a permit to operate a concrete batching plant in November 2024 - weeks after it was already built - the community had no opportunity to raise concerns about the plant's potential impact on our health, safety, and environment.

Health and Environmental Risks:

The location of this batching plant is in clear violation of regulatory standards. According to international guidelines, concrete batching units should be located at least 1-2 kilometers away from residential areas due to the significant dust, noise, and pollutants they generate. The closest home to the plant is approximately 300 feet away - 10 times closer than international standards allow.

Furthermore, the plant is situated near a river that has been dredged by Rayneau without the proper permissions. This river could potentially be used in the concrete mixing process, but the excavation of  which has raised significant concerns about flooding, landslides, and road slippage when the rains come.

Already, residents are attributing a major road slippage on the farm road which runs near the plant to the excavation of the area by Rayneau. We also worry that runoff from the plant could end up in the river and nearby sea, contaminating the ecosystem - issues that would have been addressed in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), had one been done.

Threat of Additional Pollution:

There are further alarming reports that the company may install an asphalt plant next to the concrete batching unit. Asphalt plants are known to release harmful emissions, which can travel up to two miles, causing serious health risks such as respiratory issues, liver damage, and even cancer. This is an unacceptable danger to the community.

In addition, the Perseverance Dump, located less than a quarter mile from the plant, already poses significant environmental hazards. For over 30 years, residents have complained about the dump, which holds not only household waste but also hazardous materials like old tyres and derelict vehicles. They have also complained about the fumes from fires deliberately set to reduce garbage pile up and get rid of mountains of tyres.  The nearby Halifax Bay, with its oil-contaminated boat wrecks, has polluted the area so badly that we have no safe access to our neighbourhood beach – whether for bathing or fishing. 

 The Need for Immediate Action:

We recognize the importance of infrastructural development for economic growth, but it should not come at the expense of the rule of law or the well-being of our communities. Rayneau's development does not promise significant local employment. The company has been known to hire workers from India and South America, and it has faced complaints about its treatment of local labour.

We demand that the Government take swift action to halt Rayneau's operations and prevent further damage to our environment. Efforts must be made to stop hiding behind "private property" distractions when clear violations of the law are occurring and residents' rights to live in a safe, healthy environment are being jeopardized.

Rayneau has a history of disregarding regulations in other Caribbean countries, including St. Vincent, and it seems that they are operating with impunity in Grenada. At the rate they are building—without local laws holding them back—time is of the essence. The plant is already operating illegally, and the noise emanating from it is unbearable.

This is not a political issue; it is a national issue - one of sovereignty, rule of law and the right of Grenadians to live decently - in a clean and safe environment. We are calling on everyone—both in Grenada and abroad—to sign this petition and help us convince the Government to immediately halt Rayneau's activities and remove the plant from our community.

Sign this petition to demand the Grenadian government enforce its laws and protect our community from Rayneau's illegal plant.

Additionally, send an email to the decision-makers listed below to let them know the urgency of this matter:

Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Minister for Infrastructure. Email:  pmsec@pmo.gov.gd

Hon. K. James, Minister for the Environment. Email:  minister@cre.gov.gd

Hon. Claudette Joseph, Attorney General. Email: minister@llca.gov.gd

Hon. Adrian Thomas, Minister of Tourism. Email: minister@moa.gov.gd

Hon. Philip A. Telesford, Minister of Health. Email:  minister@moit.gov.gd

Mr. Kenrick Fullerton, Chairman, Planning and Development Authority.Email:  chairman@planningauthority.gd