New Task Force to Assist in Urban Development

Cabinet has recently endorsed the composition and membership of the Urban Development Task Force proposed by Urban Development Minister Hon. Rene Baptiste. {{more}}

The Membership of the newly created Urban Development Task Force is drawn from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Employers Federation, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Trade Unions, the CWSA, Vinlec, the Physical Planning Department, the Traffic Department, the Kingstown Board, the Roads Department / Ministry of Transport and Works, National Properties Ltd, the SVG National Trust and the Ministry of Finance.

The Ex-Officio Officers are various Cabinet Ministers from the respective ministries. The Task Force is chaired by Hon. Rene Baptiste-Minister of Urban Development; the Permanent Secretary in that Ministry is secretary to the body, which will have a life span of 15 months in the first instance.

The main function of this new body is to prepare to hold consultations throughout the country on matters relating to the Development, Renewal and Revitalization of Kingstown. The work of the Task Force will culminate into the formation of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC). Two large projects are anticipated to be handled by the UDC – The Kingstown Drainage Project and The Heritage Square Redevelopment Project.