People of Vieux Fort South, pep Vyé Fort,

I thank you once again for the great privilege and honour of serving you in the Parliament of St. Lucia.

MÈSI ANKÒ POU GWAN PWIVILÈG-LA, EK LÒNNÈ-A POU SÈVI-OU AN KAI KONSIT SET LISI.

Together, we are making Vieux Fort and the South the new, dynamic and inspiring centre of the nation’s economic development. As we prepare for our twentieth anniversary of Independence, and the arrival of the twenty-first century, I am convinced that Vieux Fort and the southern regions will be in the forefront of St. Lucia’s progress. With your full participation and unwavering support, everything is possible.

At this Christmas time, there is much to be thankful for. Work has begun on the Fisheries Complex, built with the help of the Japanese. Our Chinese friends are contributing to the building of the Free Zone. The Americans have completed the new Marine Base. With the help of the soldiers, the Health Centre was renovated. We have seen the opening of the new branch of the Caribbean Banking Corporation. Cruise ships are beginning to arrive. Virgin Atlantic Airlines inaugurated their flights to Hewanorra Airport this year. Club Med are completing their extension work. The Southern Shores Development of the National Development Corporation is an exciting new venture with wonderful possibilities.

The people of the Mangue and Shanty Town are about to benefit from the provision of a number of social amenities. New pathways are being constructed in the Mangue. Drainage projects are relieving the old discomforts. At long last the drainage works in Shanty Town have commenced. Lights are going up on a regular basis.

This year, we at Vieux Fort hosted for the first time, the national Festival of Lights. It was a great success.

I take the opportunity to thank Cimpex for launching the raffle to raise funds for our Pavilion. Why not give raffle tickets to friends for Christmas, and support this worthy effort?

I trust that in your homes and families, you have known success and triumph over adversities. As your representative, I will continue to be available to you. I am committed to giving the people of Vieux Fort South the best representation possible. I continue to be concerned about the needs of all my constituents, without discrimination. My care for you, my interest in your welfare, my desire for your satisfaction is not a pretence. I assure you that I take my responsibilities, as your representative, very seriously. Never forget that I am a son of the south. MWEN SE JAN VYÉ FORT! SÉ LA MWEN SORTI!

I want to encourage, in a very special way, the growth of a greater spirit of community togetherness. Vieux Fort is a small community in which great things of national importance are happening. How can the people of Vieux Fort themselves benefit from all the developments, if we do not work together? You know that old saying, "united we stand, divided we fall." Indeed, "a house divided against itself cannot stand." These wise words passed on to us by our older citizens are great truths. Let us not forget them, as we seek to build a strong southern community. All of St. Lucia is now looking to us for leadership. Let us not fail them, or ourselves. Together, in harmonious community, is the only way we shall prosper.

MWEN VLÉ DI TOUT MOUN VYÉ FORT – MWEN KA PWEN

TWAVAY-LA NOU NI POU FÈ TWÈ SÈWYÉ. SÉ MOUN VYÉ FORT KI VOYE MWEN ASSIS AN KAI KONSIT. MWEN LA POU MÉTÉ VYÉ FORT DOUVAN!

PA OUBLIÉ MWEN SE AN GASÒN VYÉ FORT! MWEN SÉ JAN VYÉ FORT! SÉ LA MWEN SORTI!

AN LANNÉ SA LA, MWEN VLÉ PEP VYÉ FORT VINI PLI ANSAMN. MWEN VLÉ YO TWAVAY ANSAMN, POU BATI VYÉ FORT ANSAMN. LE MWEN WÈ’Y, NOU PÒKÒ NI ASÉ UNITÉ. SÉ POU NOU KITÉ VYÉ LESPWI, VYÉ LIDÉ, VYÉ DIVISION, DÈYÈ!

SÉ JOU SA-A, VYÉ FORT SÉ AN PLAS KOTÉ GWAN DÉVÈLOPMEN KA PWEN PLAS. SI NOU PA ANSAMN, KI MANYÈ NOU SA JWEN KI SA KI LA POU TOUT MOUN VYÉ FORT?

MWEN KA DI-OU, TOUT SET LISI KA GADÉ MOUN VYÉ FORT. NOU NI POU BAI YO, EK MOUN ÉTWANGÉ, UN BON EGZAMP.

LÈ NOU VIV ANSAMN, LÈ NOU TWAVAY AN UNITÉ, NOU TOUT KAI NI PWOSPÉWITÉ. SA SÉ VÉWITÉ! LÈ NOU ANSAMN, NOU KAI DOUBOUT. SI NOU DIVISÉ, NOU KAI TOMBÉ! OU MEM SAV SA SÉ VÉWITÉ-A!

With God’s help, and your support, we have much to do together, in the coming year. Let us have a good Christmas holiday, in peace, with good will towards others, and thankfulness for all we have achieved in 1998. Let us be confident about the New Year 1999. Together, we will do even more. May God bless you all, people of Vieux Fort, old and young.

BON NWÈL! BON JOUDLAN! BONDYÉ BÈNI NOU TOUT.