Hurricane Ivan has taught Grenadians that a house can be a “lethal weapon.”

“It can kill and it can maim,” ARD CEO Richardson Andrews told an attentive audience at the St. George’s University (SGU) Bell Lecture Hall on Wednesday evening, November 23.

Mr. Andrews and Dr. Cassandra Rogers, Consultant Project Manager for the Caribbean Development Bank Disaster Mitigation Facility, were guest speakers in the SGU Public Lecture Series, addressing the topic ‘Grenada’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazards and Disasters: Economic and Environmental Perspectives’.

Focussing on the economic perspectives of Grenada’s vulnerability, Mr. Andrews said one of the important lessons learned from Hurricanes Ivan and Emily is lack of adherence to the Code, not only by casual or small contractors and self-help builders but also by professional builders.

He said even where drawings and plans were approved there is enough evidence to show that actual construction did not adhere to the approved plans; and the lack of inspection capacity by the Physical Planning Unit to deal with the rapid construction that took pace in Grenada in the 10 years prior to Ivan was exploited by the construction sector.

Additionally, he said, the Physical Planning Act grants exemptions for certain categories of housing.

“We have learnt that no matter what the size, no matter what the material, all houses and structures for human use must be built to acceptable standards in adherence with the Code,” he said.

To address the situation, the ARD is undertaking to provide support to the legislative framework for planning and development control. This exercise includes a review of the Physical Planning Act, modernisation of the Regulations to reflect the Code and standards.

The ARD, in collaboration with the Government of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Planners, is providing two physical planners, who will join the Physical Planning Unit in early 2006.

The ARD is also seeking to facilitate additional inspectors for the Unit.