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Grenada's Chinese Village

Categories: Caribbean, East Asia, China, Grenada, Arts & Culture, Development, International Relations, Photography

Grenada [1]

From the Caribbean Free Photo [2] photoblog:

This rather quaint archway marks the entrance to the construction site for Grenada's new National Stadium [3] in Queen's Park, which is being built with funding, expertise and manpower provided by the People's Republic of China [4]. With 500-plus construction workers from China living [5] and working [6] on the site, the area has virtually been transformed into a Chinese village [7], complete with garden [8].

Grenada [9]
The Grenadian and Chinese flags, billowing in the wind above the National Stadium construction site

One thing that struck me on my visit there earlier this week was the fact that while all of the Chinese workers wore hard hats [10], soft canvas shoes seemed to be acceptable as worksite footwear. When I made the observation to the Grenadian project manager, he replied that “that's their culture.” According to the project manager, the Chinese workers take daily post-lunch siestas and don't drink cold water. “Only hot water and tea,” he said, which would explain the ubiquitous khaki-coloured canteens [11].

Grenada [12]
Chinese construction workers in Grenada