RAYNEAU GROUP OF COMPANIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR RICHMOND QUARRY PROJECT

Rayneau Group of Companies (RGC) Ltd has received final permission from the St Vincent Planning Authorities to proceed with their operation for a stone quarry in Richmond, St Vincent. Heavy equipment has begun to clear lands to enable access to the area where the quarry will be sited.

Richmond - foothills of the La Soufriere volcano 

Ralph Gonsalves

It is reported that there had been an earlier proposal for a quarry at Richmond from some French people which didn’t get very far. There had already been environmental impact studies, and as a result RGC was given the green light for the project.

 According to Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, the investors (Rayneau Group of Companies Ltd) have met all legal requirements. "The report from the Environmental Impact Assessment Study could be accessed from the Ministry of Agriculture." He said.

 Desperately wanting to know about the investor coming into his constituency, Minister of Tourism and area representative Carlos James paid his own way to St Lucia to see firsthand the operations of RG Quarry and by extension Rayneau Group of Companies.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on a NBC radio show remarked, “We need very badly, this particular quarry because a lot of the capital projects are being held up because we don’t have the material for construction of roads, and big capital projects and also housing...".

However a few North Leeward residents are unhappy with the late disclosure on the stone quarry. The residents whose livelihoods will be adversely affected, say they are in full support of the project; but they were equally dissatisfied at the manner in which it was thrust upon them.

As a result Government officials, including Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar and Minister of Tourism and area representative Carlos James, met with farmers and residents of Chateaubelair and FitzHughes. Also present at the meeting was Richard Branch, representing Rayneau Group of Companies Ltd, other government officials and representatives from the Medicinal Cannabis Authority.

Residents at meeting

Around 50 residents of Chateaubelair and Fitz Hughes turned up at the Chateaubelair Government School to receive information and air their grievances about the quarry which will be operated by Rayneau Gajadhar, CEO of the Rayneau Group of Companies. 

Taking into consideration the residents' concern, the PM issued this statement. “Naturally, people will get compensation for their crops; there is no question about that. But it would be good to see if we can get alternative locations in respect of any lands”

Mr Rayneau Gajadhar, CEO of Rayneau Group of Companies (RGC) Ltd has given the assurances in a number of areas such as the construction of a pier with changes to the original design to accommodate pleasure craft and fishing vessels.

Richmond is situated on the Northwest coast of St Vincent at the foothills of the La Soufriere volcano. Rayneau Group of Companies has been granted a Thirty-Year mining license and the quarry is expected to start operations within six to twelve months.