标签： Grenada

The Royal Grenada Police Force has issued an official directive outlining the comprehensive schedule for the mandatory annual inspection of all motor vehicles, which will be conducted from January 2 through June 30, 2026. Acting Commissioner of Police Randy Connaught has formally notified vehicle owners of the stringent requirements and procedural details for the upcoming inspection cycle.

The inspection program will operate during designated hours from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with specific date ranges assigned according to vehicle registration numbers. Vehicles with single registration letters will be processed in four distinct numerical groupings between January and June, while those with plural registration letters will follow a separate four-tier schedule during the same period.

Multiple inspection centers have been established across Grenada to facilitate the process. The primary facility at the Police Garage on Dusty Highway in Grand Anse will operate Monday through Friday weekly. Regional centers include Grenville at Pearls Air Strip (Monday-Wednesday), St. David’s Police Station (Thursday-Friday), Sauteurs Police Station (Thursday-Friday), Gouyave Police Station (Monday-Tuesday), Victoria Police Station (Wednesdays only), and Carriacou Police Station (last Thursday and Friday of each month).

Vehicle owners must present their vehicles in thoroughly clean condition with all mechanical components recently overhauled. The inspection will examine all critical systems including bodywork, axles, chassis, steering mechanisms, braking systems, engine components, and safety features. Specific requirements mandate that chassis and engine numbers must be clearly visible, all split pins must be properly exposed, and driver’s seats must be securely fastened for proper vehicle control.

Notable prohibitions include strict bans on spotlights, sirens, musical horns, and whistles unless expressly approved in writing by the Licensing Authority. All trailers must display their tare and maximum gross weight in white numerals (minimum 2.5 inches high) on a black background on the right side of the vehicle.

License plates must feature yellow backgrounds with black letters and numbers, conforming to the standards established in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations 1991. Public service vehicles must display printed copies of official tariffs and maximum fares, available for purchase at the Treasury in St. George’s and all District Revenue Offices.

Commissioner Connaught emphasized that vehicles found with defects cannot be used on public roads until certified as compliant. The notice also reminded owners of the legal requirement to register ownership changes within one month and specified that motor vehicle licenses must be affixed to the lower left side of the windshield for all vehicles.

The Grenadian government has unveiled a comprehensive multi-year plan to incrementally raise contribution rates for the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), culminating in a total contribution rate of 16% by the year 2031. This structured increase is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the nation’s social security system.

Under the newly outlined schedule, the contribution burden will continue to be shared between employees and their employers. The increases will be implemented gradually on an annual basis. Starting from the current total of 12% in 2023, the rate will climb by 0.5% each year, reaching the 16% target in 2031. This means the employee portion will rise from 5.5% to 7.5%, while the employer’s share will increase from 6.5% to 8.5% over the eight-year period.

Concurrently, several other key parameters of the scheme will be adjusted. The Maximum Insurable Earnings, which sets the ceiling for contributions, will see an increase from $1,160 weekly ($5,000 monthly) in 2023 to $1,200 weekly ($5,200 monthly) in 2024, with further adjustments anticipated in subsequent years. Furthermore, the minimum number of contributions required to qualify for a retirement pension will be raised in annual increments from 500 to 750 by 2033 or later. The official pensionable age will also be progressively elevated from 60 to 65 between 2023 and 2028.

The National Insurance Service has reiterated the importance of compliance with payment deadlines. Contributions for any given month are legally due by the end of that same month, with a standard 14-day grace period provided. Employers who fail to remit payments within this window will face significant financial penalties, including a 10% surcharge on the outstanding amount plus an additional 1% interest charge for every subsequent month, or part thereof, that the debt remains unpaid. This enforcement underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the national social security fund.

A grassroots environmental initiative in Grenada is achieving remarkable success in addressing the island’s plastic waste crisis through a targeted source-reduction strategy. The Grenada Green Group (G3) has transformed plastic bottle recycling from a modest pilot project into a island-wide movement with substantial impact.

The program originated in response to the critical overflow situation at the Perseverance landfill. Instead of merely collecting scattered litter, G3 implemented a strategic system to intercept plastic bottles before they reach the waste facility. What began with a single monthly collection at Camerhogne Park yielding approximately 180 pounds of plastic has expanded into a comprehensive operation capturing 2.5 metric tonnes (over 5,500 pounds) in a single month by December.

Critical support from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme, administered by the United Nations Development Programme, enabled significant expansion. The funding facilitated the installation of 39 distinctive wire bottle-shaped receptacles at strategic locations across Grenada, with regular collection routes established along both eastern and western coastal corridors.

The initiative has garnered robust community support through partnerships with the St Andrew Development Organisation and St Patrick’s Environmental and Community Tourism Organisation. Businesses, schools, bars, and shops have actively participated, while an educational outreach program in schools has steadily increased environmental awareness among younger generations.

The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association now supports the ongoing monthly collections at Camerhogne Park, held the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Participants are requested to bring only empty plastic bottles (no glass, liquids, or other plastic items) to ensure efficient processing. The collected bottles are shredded, pelletized, and prepared for recycling rather than occupying the overwhelmed Perseverance landfill indefinitely.

The public is encouraged to contribute post-holiday bottles remaining from Christmas and New Year celebrations, continuing the positive environmental trajectory that has already prevented significant quantities of long-term toxic waste from burdening Grenada’s primary disposal site.

In a distinguished recognition of service to national development, five Grenadian citizens have been honored in King Charles III’s 2026 New Year Honours List for their exceptional contributions across education, culture, fishing, and agriculture sectors.

The London Gazette’s December 30th publication revealed that Beverley Grey received the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her transformative work in education. Simultaneously, James Nicholas and Sandra Thomas were both awarded Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Nicholas for his dual contributions to fishing and agriculture, and Thomas for her educational services.

The British Empire Medal (BEM) was conferred upon Irma Cynthia Lewis for agricultural services and Neal Matheson for cultural preservation efforts.

James Nicholas, with over 25 years of dedicated service through the Southern Fishermen Association, expressed profound elation upon receiving confirmation of his honor. “I feel great, really great! I knew I was nominated, but you are confirming to me that I was awarded. I feel great,” he stated with visible emotion.

Beverley Grey, who also received recognition as a National Awardee during Grenada’s 2025 Independence celebrations, described feeling “privileged to be recognised for nation building.” She emphasized that the royal honor would further inspire her “to continue striving for excellence.” Grey’s educational journey began 38 years ago with Grey’s Typing School, which has since evolved into Grey’s Training and Certification Centre. Her institution on Lucas Street has equipped thousands of young Grenadians with essential secretarial and professional skills, significantly contributing to the nation’s human resource development.

The semi-annual honors system, wherein the Monarch as Head of the Commonwealth recognizes outstanding citizens both in June (for the King’s official birthday) and in December (for the New Year), continues to highlight exemplary service across Commonwealth nations. This year’s Grenadian honorees represent decades of cumulative service to critical sectors that form the backbone of the nation’s sustainable development.

The Royal Grenada Police Force has announced comprehensive traffic management measures that will be enforced during New Year’s Eve celebrations. These regulations will take effect from 7:00 PM on December 31, 2025, through 1:00 AM on January 1, 2026, to ensure public safety and facilitate smooth traffic flow during the holiday period.

One-way traffic systems will be implemented on key roadways to manage vehicle movement efficiently. Motorists traveling on Belmont Public Road will be required to move exclusively from the Kirani James Boulevard intersection toward the Paddock area. Similarly, Springs Minor Road will maintain one-directional traffic flow heading toward the Belmont district.

Specific areas will be designated as no-entry zones for all vehicular traffic. Access restrictions will apply to Belmont Public Road at its junction with Paddock Public Road, while Springs Minor Road will be closed at its intersection with Belmont Public Road.

Parking accommodations have been carefully arranged to prevent congestion. Public vehicles will be prohibited from parking along Springs Minor Road entirely. However, authorized parking will be permitted on the left-hand side of Belmont Public Road in the direction of Paddock.

The Royal Grenada Police Force emphasizes the importance of public cooperation with these temporary measures, which are designed to maintain order and safety during the New Year’s celebrations. Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and comply with all posted signage and police directives.