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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Monday, May 19, 2003 - The Youth Poverty Alleviation through Tourism and
Heritage Project launched on Sunday, May 18, 2003, in Dennery, signals a new era
in sustainable development and economic diversification for the Mabouya Valley.
The project spearheaded by the St. Lucia Nature Heritage Tourism Programme and
the Ministry of Tourism, is meant to spur the young people of the Valley, to use
the natural attributes of the area to develop a unique tourism product that will
provide them with employment.
Co-ordinator of the St. Lucia Nature Heritage Tourism Programme Sylvester
Clauzel, explained that the programme involving the communities of Des Barras
and the Mabouya Valley aims to develop many touristic activities.
“With respect to the Mabouya Valley specifically, we think there are
opportunities for people to do some kayaking on the river, and we think that
that can be a very important additional activity, not just for visitors but
locals as well, to kayak along the river in the Mabouya Valley. In fact there is
a mangrove system within that area which is unique to that particular area and
it is perhaps the last remaining type of buttress root mangroves in St. Lucia.”
Parliamentary Representative for Dennery South Honourable Damian Greaves called
on the Mabouya Valley Development Project and the community’s environmental
groups to make the project a success as the valley possesses gold mines of
natural attributes which is yet to be tapped into.
“Apart from the employment opportunity it is even more critical that this
project is going to give you a sense of history, self esteem and identity
because this valley where we are has a rich history that is yet to be explored,
yet to be explained, yet to be published, yet to be known and discovered by the
people of the valley and by extension by people of St. Lucia.”
The Youth Poverty Alleviation through Tourism and Heritage Project is funded by
UNESCO and plans to train 25 young persons in development and documentation of
touristic sites and in managing tourism activities.
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