Finance Approved for Landslide Rehabilitation Project

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Thursday, May 31, 2001 – Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony has received the all clear from the Saint Lucia House of Assembly to borrow just over four million United States dollars from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to finance the Natural Disaster Management Landslide Rehabilitation Project.

This was one of the motions presented and approved during the sitting of the Saint Lucia House of Assembly earlier this week.  The money is to assist with the relocation of residents affected by massive land slippage at Black Mallet and for rehabilitating the affected area.

“It has been a heavy burden and I can only hope that as I look to the next few months that Saint Lucia is spared the ravages of any serious natural disaster because this government has had to pour substantial amount of funds in rehabilitation, particularly in the constituency of Castries East and also into Soufriere.   Some of the expenditure to date has also meant the construction of new homes for several residents in Soufriere and fortunately for Saint Lucia we have been able to attract some funding from USAID to assist with the rehabiliation of the Soufriere Waterfront,” Dr. Anthony said.

Dr. Anthony said the loan will also assist government in providing infrastructure such as roads and water at Carellie Gardens, the area where affected residents from Black Mallet and Maynard Hill have been relocated.  

In supporting the motion the Member of Parliament for Castries East, Honourable Philip J. Pierre, thanked his Cabinet colleagues for measures being undertaken to ensure that life returns to some normalcy for those persons still residing in the affected land slippage areas.  

“I am told that a turning point is going to be built shortly.  The tree planting and the other works are going on and there are some drainage problems that the government will tackle very shortly,” Pierre said.

Just over a year ago, massive land movements damaged homes and infrastructure in the East Castries communities of Black Mallet and Maynard Hill, forcing residents to abandon their homes, and the government to declare the area a disaster zone

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