December 12, 2008 No. 40/08-BD PORT RATIONALISATION STUDY FOR ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES TO GET CDB FINANCING The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a loan equivalent to USD431,000 to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to undertake a Port Rationalisation and Development Study. The importance to the economy of an efficient and modern maritime sector, as well as the need to provide adequate and appropriate port facilities for both passengers and cargo, make it necessary to examine port development in a state-wide context. This will be done with a view to meeting existing demand and projected increases in demand which are likely to result from developments during the first half of the twenty-first century. Physical facilities at Port Kingstown have deteriorated to the extent that all container/cargo operations, with the exception of banana-related cargo, have been moved to the Campden Park Container Port. Phase 1 of the project will consist of a rationalisation study, together with a master plan for port development in St. Vincent an the Grenadines. Phase 2 will consist of a framework of development plans for Port Elizabeth Harbour-Front in Bequia, providing for future landside and marine development at the port. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority will be the implementing agency.