ST. GEORGE'S, GRENADA, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 -GIS: The National Athletic Stadium, the St. Patrick Roads Project and the Agricultural Feeder Roads phase 2 are among major projects to be undertaken by government in 2014.

Prime Minister Mitchell while presenting the 2014 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure on Tuesdayoutlined the projects.

He said government’s focus is economic growth and short and long term employment by building human capital and maintaining infrastructure.

Dr. Mitchell said the Chinese government has agreed to build an athletic and football stadium for Grenada at a cost of approximately $68 million.

“There will be several employment opportunities as government has requested that local labour be used as much as possible” said the Prime Minister.

The contractor is already on site, actual work will start next month and construction is scheduled to be completed by August 2015.

The new stadium is expected to hold a capacity of 7,000 persons.

Meanwhile, the St. Patrick’s roads project seeks to rehabilitate 16 kilometres of road from Duquense to Sauteurs and from Mt. Fendue to Pointzfield at an estimated cost of $27.0 million.

Designs are already completed and funding has been secured from the OPEC fund for international development ahead of the start of construction next year.

The construction of a new building to house the Grenada Parliament will cost approximately $30

Million.

Government has secured additional grant financing from the United Arab Emirates to co-finance this project with Australia.

Seven firms have now been shortlisted and a tender for this project will soon be launched.

Three roads in the parish of St. David’s- Laura Estate, Mt. Tranquil and Morne Delice to Mount Gazo is almost complete.

 In 2014, construction activity will commence in all other parishes.

Under the MAREP programme government has allocated $4.25 million bringing more jobs into rural Grenada.

Carriacou’s Princess Royal Hospital Water Project and the Top Hill senior citizens home will be done under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).

The water project for the Princess Royal hospital will be completed this year at a cost of $400,000, while construction has begun on the critical and long-awaited Top Hill senior citizens home at a cost of $1.3 million.

Other projects under the BNTF include, repairs on three medical stations: Petite Martinique, Vincennes and Paradise.

Work will also be done on several other social infrastructure projects including the Non- Pariel pre-school and

St. Paul’s Multi purpose centre.

The budget provides $10 million for road maintenance including debushing.

In addition, $6 million have been allocated for asphalt works to support this programme while $5 million dollars have been earmarked for concrete works to provide roads, drainage and retaining walls.

Under the school rehabilitation project, $28.5 million will be used to fund the renovation of a number of schools.