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Contact:
John Emmanuel
Monday, October 21, 2002 - Residents of the communities of Resinard and
Pays Perdu in Babonneau were on hand Thursday, October 17, 2002 as officials
from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Development undertook a ground
breaking ceremony signalling the construction of roads and drains and the
installation of pipe borne water and electricity under phases one and two of the
latest project initiated by the Programme for the Rationalization of Unplanned
Development (PROUD).
Ministry personnel indicated that the establishment of these amenities would
serve as a further encouragement to getting residents to pay for the land. Under
the programme households in the area are being given the opportunity to own the
land which they currently occupy. Parliamentary Representative for the area
Honourable Felix Finnisterre has urged residents to take advantage of what he
called “a once in a life time offer.” The scourge of squatter settlements he
pointed out was not unique to the city of Castries but was affecting rural
communities as well. The latest initiative of the PROUD project he explained was
also a bold statement in support of poverty elevation.
“Poverty is not only the absence of money, it is also the absence of basic
amenities, electricity for your children to study at nights, roads so that you
can walk properly instead of having to traverse over muddy tracks. This
Government has long recognized that people need secure, clean and healthy
surroundings, hence the establishment of a shelter development project under
which PROUD falls. Today it is congratulations as this phase of the programme is
the most visible example of the programmes success to date,” said Finnisterre.
The PROUD project, which began in April of 2000 continues to expand its reach.
The unit is preparing a rationalization plan for areas in Vieux Fort with
boundary surveys scheduled to begin in November 2002 for the areas of La Croix/Laborie,
Piaye Village, Sarrot and Bexon. The sale of land to residents at heavily
subsidised prices has commenced in Desbarras, Pays Perdu, La Ressource and
Ravine Poisson.
Minister for Physical Development Honourable Ignatius Jean explained that while
other world governments were reducing funding in human settlements, the present
administration has seen the need to create organized, planned and sustained
human development. According to him, “at every level of society without
exception, persons must be provided with a level of existence which can be a
catapult to further self-growth and development.”
Over the life of the PROUD initiative, Government would have spent well over six
million dollars in twelve communities across the country. Prime Minister
Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony has praised the concept, describing it as yet
another attempt at empowering St. Lucians. “We look forward to you the people of
this community embracing the efforts of the government and seeking to gain
titles to the lands you occupy. When you have your land papers, do not let
people fool you and cause them to get you to sell your land to them for nothing.
You should hold on to your land because when you have it, you have security for
the future and for your families.”
The Resinard/Paye Perdu project, costing over half a million dollars falls
squarely in line with PROUD’s mandate to regularise unplanned settlements while
transferring land titles to occupants.
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