Grenada
A group of grassroots organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private land users, activists, and independent professionals, grouped under the name Grenada Land Actors (GLA), sued the Planning and Development Authority because, between October 2019 and June 2023, it approved three large-scale development projects that threaten the environment and local communities located on Mount Hartman in St. George, in La Sagesse in St. David's, and in Levera in St. Patrick's, without proper Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), without adequate public consultation, and withholding vital information that should have been made available to the public, as required by law.
The plaintiffs argued that the authority granted the permits without consulting the residents, noting that the projects would cause significant environmental damage, including the destruction of mangroves and pollution, and that the approval process was opaque.
The lawsuit challenges the legality of the Planning Authority's approval of the three large-scale tourism developments, arguing that planning permission was granted without adequate Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), meaningful public consultations were not conducted, and the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, Chapter 241A, and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Act of 2019 were violated. The plaintiffs further allege that the Authority failed to maintain a public record of planning decisions, undermining transparency and public oversight. The case has progressed through several procedural stages, with early objections from both the developers and the Authority based on standing.
The lawsuit was filed in March 2021 and the substantive case hearing was delayed due to legal issues raised by the plaintiffs regarding GLA's right to bring the case.
In December 2021, the Court determined that the case should not be dismissed and that there was no appeal against said order, in addition to setting a Case Management Hearing, to carry out the full trial on the substantive issues.
On March 29, 2022, the judge issued a ruling in favor of GLA on the preliminary question of whether it had the right to file the lawsuit in the public interest. The court denied the motions filed by the Physical Planning and Development Authority (the Planning Authority) and the three developers to dismiss the lawsuit.
In 2023 and 2024, the Court of Appeals and the High Court ruled in favor of the GLA case proceeding, setting a precedent on the ability of civil groups to sue in environmental matters.
In October 2024, during a judicial review (a route intended to expedite hearings and the resolution of administrative matters), the plaintiffs challenged the planning permits granted by the Grenada Planning and Development Authority for the construction of large hotels and coastal resorts in La Sagesse, Levera and Mt Hartman on planning and environmental grounds.
In the trial, the plaintiffs faced the Attorney General, which forced the Planning and Development Authority to account for its decision and to take action regarding these three projects, which was the main objective of the GLA's request for judicial review.
Meanwhile, GLA noted that development work continued on all three projects. The developers of La Sagesse, in particular, pressed ahead and filled in sections of the La Sagesse salt marsh, something that was not accounted for in the project's environmental impact assessment. Furthermore, residential buildings were constructed along the edge of the salt marsh.
In January 2026, the court questioned the environmental impact assessments conducted by companies for some of the island's major projects: Levera Development, Mt Hartman, and La Sagesse. It also reprimanded PDA for the way it conducted its business on behalf of the state, for failing to maintain a publicly accessible record and mandamus orders in accordance with section 69 of the Act, and for the authority's decisions to grant planning permits being irrational, unreasonable, procedurally incorrect, or ultra vires (exceeding its legal powers).
The outcome of this case sets important precedents in environmental law, particularly with regard to the obligations of state bodies to conduct adequate environmental assessments, facilitate public participation and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in development planning.
Climate change in Grenada, as in other Caribbean nations, is causing significant and tangible alterations that affect security, the economy, and the environment, accelerating coastal erosion, increasing the intensity of storms, and leading to the loss of marine biodiversity. The island faces high vulnerability due to rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, and the impact of more intense hurricanes. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), these phenomena reflect how the climate is changing and directly impacting life.
The lawsuit contains specific arguments about climate change and sets important precedents in environmental law, particularly regarding the obligations of state agencies to conduct adequate environmental assessments, facilitate public participation, and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in development planning.
Among the arguments in the lawsuit is the destruction of mangroves and protected areas (Ramsar sites) by the projects, arguing that these protect the island from flooding and erosion caused by torrential weather systems. This means that Grenada has become exponentially more vulnerable to flooding and similar problems during rainy and storm seasons.
Levera, La Sagesse, and Mt Hartman are three important mangrove forests in Grenada, and all have been or are being destroyed. Despite claims that more mangroves are being planted constantly, these do not fulfill the function of the well-established sites that have existed for over a thousand years. And the success rates for mangrove restoration are poor.
- Inhabitants, residents and conservationists
- Grenada Land Actors -GLA
- Planning and Development Authority
- Government of Granada
- Singapore Heng Sheng Pty Grenada Ltd
- The Hartman Group Ltd
- Range Developments Grenada Ltd.
Grenada is located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, bordering the western Atlantic Ocean. It lies approximately 140-160 km north of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, and south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a microstate comprised of three main islands: Grenada (the largest), Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, as well as several small, uninhabited islets.
It is of volcanic origin, mountainous, with steep and deep valleys, and features lush, tropical vegetation. It includes a crater lake in Grand Etang National Park.
Grenada's natural habitats represent a delicate balance of biodiversity, harboring unique fauna and acting as crucial defenses against the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the tourism projects in question, like many in the Caribbean, are often built in ecologically sensitive areas, putting endangered species and critical ecosystems at risk.
Known as the “Spice Island” for being a major producer of nutmeg, it is experiencing a significant increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change. The intensity and frequency of more powerful hurricanes and the progressive rise in sea level are dramatically affecting homes, infrastructure, and ecosystems that are fundamental to the local economy.
The projects in Levera, Mt. Hartman, and La Sagesse threaten Grenada's coastal wetlands, marine ecosystems, and inland forests. These areas not only support the island's biodiversity but also serve as a buffer against extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and rising sea levels, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change. Given these challenges, responsible land management is more important than ever. Tourism developments, with inadequate environmental impact assessments (EIAs), have failed to consider the long-term environmental damage they could cause, from habitat destruction to water pollution and soil erosion. La Sagesse has already been completed, at the expense of an irreplaceable birdwatching site and natural habitat, considered a "jewel of the Caribbean." The resort complex still poses a threat to the local water supply and quality.
Excessive development driven by investment has led to environmental degradation, including the destruction of vital ecosystems such as mangroves, increased pollution, and pressure on local resources.
International agreements/treaties
- Paris Agreement
National laws
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management Act (No. 8 of 2019)
- Physical Planning and Development Control Law (No. 25 of 2002)
- Environmental Laws
Beginning
- Principle of prevention
- Precautionary principle
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