Page 4

Friday, February 23, 2018

Local NewsThe Grenadian VoicePPU: metal container users must
Editorial
Disaster can strike seek permission for development
anytime. Get ready! TA

fire at the Frequente Industrial park on Monday February 12
which destroyed 6 businesses, should serve as an eyeopener whenit comes to safety on the job and just how prepared we are for disasters. In an area where almost a hundred work places have hired almost
double that number of people, who all work in proximity, it is good thatthe management of the Park has promised that a lot will be done quickly
to ensure safety.
This also calls for attention to be given to the new housing developments and schemes where some of the homes are attached to each otherwhile the others are very near. This newspaper congratulates theGovernment for providing those low-income houses, to afford the working class to own a home. It is good that the efforts of Sir Eric Matthew
Gairy - our former Prime Minister continue to bear fruit as subsequent
Governments continue to provide these homes. However, as one visits La
Calome in Westerhall or even the settlement in Marquis, which by theway is a beauty to behold, the question stands out ‘what is the safety procedure in the event of a fire, or any other disaster?
Are there enough water hydrants, etc? Maybe the National Disaster
Management Agency (NaDMA) which is once again under an experienced head will see it fit to encourage simulation exercises so that everyone will be accounted for after the event; because as it stands, people
may not even know that there is an emergency situation which requires
them to move to safety. It may be too late when they do try to save themselves.

During last week, NaDMA launched a programme to outfit the shelters in a way to make them more accessible to persons living with a disability. This is a great move. It is our hope that when its all done, simulation exercises will be held for persons physically challenged to empowerthemselves as to what is required of them in a disaster.
Of great concern also are the malls which again, house many businesses in a concentrated area. Can anybody remember seeing emergency
exits? Most of the stores have one main door which is being used forboth entering and leaving. Then again, what about fire extinguishers?
Can we say that they are conspicuous as we enter shops, stores and evenschools and Government offices?
The Grenada Red Cross has put together first aid programmes thatcan be helpful in workplaces. Shouldn’t managers take advantage of thatand identify a few workers who, when so trained, can act as First
Responders? This most likely will save a life or two. The idea of this editorial is to get us to avoid taking safety for granted, in a world whereeven ‘climate change’ can cause problems for us.
Our neighbours in Trinidad were recenlty surprised by the eruption ofa volcano which last erupted in the 1800s.
There were also recent reports of over four earthquakes in the sea
between Venezuela and Trinidad. Maybe we can do with the old adage‘When your neighbour’s house is on fire, wet yours!’ Here in Grenada
there is Mt Saint Catherine which is most times sending up some kind ofsmoke. Then there is Grand Etang which is referred to as the sleeping
volcano. Simulation exercises were held in the past for Tsunamis; there isalso a sign on Grand Anse beach to run to higher ground if one suspects
a Tsunami is coming. All these are good efforts. However, leaving thechoice of higher ground to the public can be the source of confusion
since the choices may vary.
With all the coastline development, Grenada is still a tiny island ofroughly 134.6 square miles. It may make good sense to study the topography in a bid to identify official routes that can quickly take people tohigher ground in an organised way. This should help to alleviate some of
the confusion that comes with panic. NaDMA should be equipped with
the information of how far inland the expected wave will break. This will
avoid people being washed away by waves making their way back to thesea.
Maybe we can take a page from Japan where earthquakes are now partof the daily life of its people. One of our reporters were fortunate enoughto attend a course there, to observe just how that country prepares itself
for disasters. She pointed out that it starts with the schools where thestudents are taught ways to stay alive while very young. This creates acertain survival mindset as they grow older.
Such mindset is vital in avoiding panic and confusion and creatingorder when dealing with disasters.
Our Fire Department should also look into forging a relationship with
the Ambulance service when dealing with a fire of such magnitude.

he Physical Planning Unit (PPU)
is reminding
people that the erection and establishmentof metal containers as
a place of business, andfor the use of building
ones’ home must firstreceive permission
from the Unit before
engaging in such.
PPU Officer Kishore
Fletcher in speaking toThe Grenadian Voice
about this issue said
the action of erecting
these metal containers
is considered development and thus approval must be received
from the PPU before
anything can occur.

The reminder is partof the Unit’s ongoing
public education drive
to keep citizens abreast
about the PhysicalPlanning andDevelopment Control
Act number 23 of 2016.
He said, “even if you
just rest the containeron the land, it is development.”
He further indicatedthat the erection ofthese metal containers
across the island, is ofconcern to the Unit, as
it can be in violation oflegislation. Fletchersaid, “You can have acontainer and you canviolate the boundary
setbacks, you can violate the road setbacks.
If you are going to do
it as a house, you may
have to stay 6 feetfrom the boundary,plus your toilet facility
in the container which
you will need to have a
septic system for.”Fletcher indicatedthat failure to conformto the rules, carries afine of $50,000.
Additionally, he notedthat the life span ofthese metal containers
is another reason forconcern. “When someone takes it and uses it
for a dwelling house
which they intend toestablish for 20/30
years, we are not surethat this container isdurable for withstanding weather conditions,” he said.
The PPU Officer
said the Unit has
inspectors who arealways out in the field,
conducting regularchecks and if anything
is noticed, these offi-

Metal containers as a housein compliance. These
cated that generallypeople in turn, mostmany people haveoften will provide thebeen in compliance bynecessary documentaseeking permission
tion to the unit withinfirst before engaging inthe stipulated time
any kind of developperiod and have gotten ment.
Fletcher also indicat- approval. He added
ed that enforcement
Additionally, he statthat people have also
notices and warning
been taken to court for ed that owners ofletters have been
mobile caravans, also
engaging in illegal
issued in the past toneed to apply for perdevelopment.
people who were notmission.
Nevertheless, he indi-cers will first speak to
the individuals erecting containers to verify
that permission wasgiven before furtheraction is taken.

FOR SALE BY MORTGAGEE
UNDER IT’S POWER OF SALE:
There will be offered for sale by Public Auction at the Chambers ofLewis & Renwick, No. 11 Church Street, St. George’s on Friday the 09
day of March, 2018 at 12: 00 noon. The following property:
Location of Property: Snug Corner in the parish of Saint George
Area of Property: The lot contains by admeasurement 6,160 square
feet and is bounded as in the plan marked “D” annexed to an Indenture
made the 2nd day of September, 1988 between Alban Chase & Others ofthe One Part and Dickson Lewis Paul of the Other Part and recorded inthe Deeds and Land Registry of Grenada in Liber V14 at Page 552.
Use: Residential with a two storey dwelling house with a total floor areaof approximately 1,645 sq. ft. The ground floor measures 925 sq. ft. andcomprises of two bedroom self-contained apartment. The first measures
720 sq. ft. and comprises of three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen,dining room and living room.
Access: The property is located at Snug Corner in the parish of St.
George. Travelling from the direction of Spice Basket in Beaulieu
towards Grand Etang, one turns onto the concrete road on the right after
the shop painted yellow, continuing along that road, the subject property
is the first on the left hand side after the barbershop/hair salon.
Topography: Sloping
Services and Amenities: Electricity, water, telephone and cable
television
Reserve Price: ($ 288,593.00) Two Hundred and Eighty-eight Thousand
Five hundred and Ninety-three Dollars.
Conditions of sale: The sale which is pursuant to an Indenture ofMortgage made the 1st day of August, 2008 where recorded at theDeeds and Land Registry at Liber 32-2008 Page 74, will be subject toconditions to be read at the auction which include the payment by thesuccessful bidder on the day of the sale of (20%) twenty percent of thesale price.
Dated the 09 day of February, 2018
Sgd:
Lewis & Renwick
Attorneys-at-Law for theGrenada Building & Loan Association