From most assessments, the recently announced tariffs and global trade disruptions sound an alarm for serious challenges for the Caribbean. CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, has emphasised that the Caribbean is not insulated from these global impacts. Reassuringly, Mottley has also made a call for CARICOM unity and collective action to prioritise self-sufficiency by investing in local industries to reduce 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 strategic responses to upcoming U.S. tariffs. The media conference discussed key topics including:
- CCCCI’s position and preparedness to support regional economic resilience;
- The role of domestic aggregate production in reducing dependency and supporting business innovation for value added products;
- The Mt. Hartman Quarry’s strong capacity to meet national and regional infrastructure demands well 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, to answer the call to support the local construction industry and regional neighbours. Powered by its skilled quarry team, CCCCI is outfitted with modern quarry equipment which uses state of the art technologies for the production of aggregates.
At the Mount Hartman Quarry, CCCCI provides a variety of commercially important aggregates, at a production capacity of around 200-250 tonnes per hour. These aggregates come from the processing of the extensive basaltic rock resources available. Basalt is known for its superior strength and durability. It is highly resistant to weathering, corrosion, and wear, making it an ideal material for construction applications that require longevity and minimal maintenance.
Basalt rock aggregates are typically used for construction purposes, like asphalt paving, concrete aggregate and rock filtering agents. The larger sizes are also tremendously useful for resilient infrastructure development. For example, CCCCI has used large boulders as armour rock for coastal sea defense measures as well as for slope stabilization options such as gabion baskets. Added to this, other commercial uses for basalt can be explored by local and regional innovators. Basalt slabs can also be cut into various dimensions to be used as flooring coverings, pavers and veneers. An innovative option that local businesses can immediately begin to explore.
According to Louison, “CCCCI affirms its commitment to stand with our Grenadian construction industry stakeholders and our CARICOM brothers and sisters to support the Region’s construction and manufacturing industry through its readily available supply of aggregates from the extensive quarry.”
He further suggested that Grenada can harness the opportunity for innovative partnerships through collaborations between private sector and researchers, such as UWI, architects and engineers. Louison also encouraged education to employment opportunities for our youth from institutions like T.A. Marryshow Community College and New Life Organisation.
Echoing the words of the Hon. Mia Mottley, Louison closed by stating “if we work together and strengthen our own, we can ride through this crisis. We may have to confront issues of logistics and movement of goods, but we can do that too.”
