From most assessments, the recently announced tariffs and global trade disruptions sound an alarm forย serious challenges for the Caribbean. CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, has emphasised thatย the Caribbean is not insulated from these global impacts. Reassuringly, Mottley has also made a call forย CARICOM unity and collective action to prioritise self-sufficiency by investing in local industries to reduceย dependence on imports.
On Monday 7 April, Consolidation Contractors Company Caribbean Inc (CCCCI) hosted a media conference and quarry tour at their Mt. Hartman Quarry to discuss their proposals for strategicย responses to upcoming U.S. tariffs. The media conference discussed key topics including:
- CCCCIโs position and preparedness to support regional economic resilience;
- The role of domestic aggregate production in reducing dependency and supporting businessย innovation for value added products;
- The Mt. Hartman Quarryโs strong capacity to meet national and regional infrastructure demands wellย into the foreseeable future; and
- Opportunities for trade, employment, and investment within the sector amid global economic shifts
Managing Director of CCCCI, Nelson Louison, asserted that the CCCCI team is ready, willing and able, toย answer the call to support the local construction industry and regional neighbours. Powered by its skilledย quarry team, CCCCI is outfitted with modern quarry equipment which uses state of the art technologiesย for the production of aggregates.
At the Mount Hartman Quarry, CCCCI provides a variety of commercially important aggregates, at aย production capacity of around 200-250 tonnes per hour. These aggregates come from the processing ofย the extensive basaltic rock resources available. Basalt is known for its superior strength and durability. Itย is highly resistant to weathering, corrosion, and wear, making it an ideal material for constructionย applications that require longevity and minimal maintenance.
Basalt rock aggregates are typically used for construction purposes, like asphalt paving, concreteย aggregate and rock filtering agents. The larger sizes are also tremendously useful for resilientย infrastructure development. For example, CCCCI has used large boulders as armour rock for coastal seaย defense measures as well as for slope stabilization options such as gabion baskets. Added to this, otherย commercial uses for basalt can be explored by local and regional innovators. Basalt slabs can also be cutย into various dimensions to be used as flooring coverings, pavers and veneers. An innovative option thatย local businesses can immediately begin to explore.
According to Louison, โCCCCI affirms its commitment to stand with our Grenadian construction industryย stakeholders and our CARICOM brothers and sisters to support the Regionโs construction andย manufacturing industry through its readily available supply of aggregates from the extensive quarry.โ
He further suggested that Grenada can harness the opportunity for innovative partnerships throughย collaborations between private sector and researchers, such as UWI, architects and engineers. Louisonย also encouraged education to employment opportunities for our youth from institutions like T.A.ย Marryshow Community College and New Life Organisation.
Echoing the words of the Hon. Mia Mottley, Louison closed by stating โif we work together andย strengthen our own, we can ride through this crisis. We may have to confront issues of logistics andย movement of goods, but we can do that too.โ
