ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, July 23, 2014 – GIS: A developer from New Zealand is investing $30 Million US dollars in Grenada over a three-year period.

Kelly Glass is the new developer of the Clarkes Court Bay Marina, which is being expanded.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site, late Tuesday, marking the official start of work on the project.

Tourism Minister Alexandra Otway Noel said this project means an increase in jobs and a boost in the local economy.

“The expansion and further development of the Clarkes Court Bay Marina therefore means an increase in the levels of employment and an increase in very needed jobs,” Minister Otway-Noel said.

General Manager of the Clarkes Court Bay Marina Project, Connor Holmes, said their team had to go through a rigorous process to ensure that the environment is protected at all levels of development as the site is nestled between a Dove Sanctuary and a Marine Protected Area; home to a mangrove forest.

“It was not easy to take a site like this. This is Mt. Hartman Bay. We have the Grenada Dove Sanctuary, we have the Marine Protected Area, we have the mangroves over there. These are very important things that need to be guarded, safeguarded, looked after and managed,” Holmes said.

“All of these things meant there was a very very very rigorous process that we all went through to break ground here. We did a very very thorough EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). We went through a lot of effort, and planning [with the] environment, tourism [and] fisheries.”

Developer and investor Kelly Glass said the first phase of the project is on track to be opened in May next year.

Glass, who was encouraged to invest in Grenada by long time friend Lydon Rhamdanny, said he plans on building a world class Marina.“In this day of high speed communications and growth, private sector investors that have money must be dealt with in a professional and expeditious manner as there are many countries with development opportunities looking for investors,” Glass said.“My experience in Grenada has been excellent”.

Former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sir James Mitchell, who attended the launch, also played an important role in actually getting Glass to Grenada.

Grenada’s yachting sub-sector is estimated to be a $130 Million dollar industry employing more than 1000 Grenadians with 39 marine businesses scattered across the tri island state.