United States to build Coast Guard base on Canouan

The Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines has accepted an offer from the United States Government, through the US Department of Defence, to construct a coast guard base on the Grenadine island of Canouan.{{more}}

The government will provide a parcel of land on the western side of Canouan for the construction of the base, while the US Department of Defence will provide the sum of US$650,000 for the project.

Earlier this year, a team of officials from the local Coat Guard, the US Department of Defence and the Ministry of National Security, visited Canouan to look at the site for the base.

Under the project, an operations centre, and a barracks to house 20 persons, will be constructed, along with a pier sufficient to allow for six feet of water depth at low tide.

The US Department of Defence has said that tender documents for the project will soon be in the public, and that all bids will be evaluated by the US Naval Facilities Engineering Department, with selection based on price, contractor reliability, and the adherence of the proposed project to the statement of works.

The United States government is making available to St.Vincent and the Grenadines, funds up to US1.4 million, for the development of the coast guard service in the state. This will include the purchase of new ships and improvement to the communications system of the local coast guard.