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Contact:
John Emmanuel
Monday, January 12, 2004 - A high level three-member delegation from the
International Union of Conservation for Natural World Heritage Sites has begun
the much anticipated evaluation of the Soufriere-based ‘Pitons Management Area’.
Throughout 2003 the St. Lucia World Heritage Committee with the blessings of the
Cabinet of Ministers, has been preparing for the evaluation process, which if
successful, will officially designate the Pitons Management Area as a natural
World Heritage Site.
The team, made up of Dr. Paul Dingwall, Dr. Christopher Wood, and Dr. Jim
Thorsell arrived here on Sunday, January 11, 2004 and will depart on January
16th 2004. During the evaluation exercise, the team will hold talks with key
government officials and agencies involved in the process. One of the lead
agencies is the Ministry of Physical Planning, Development, Environment and
Housing of which Martin Satney is Permanent Secretary.
According to him, “we anticipate that there should not be any major problems
with the evaluation and we expect that by June/July of 2004, when the World
Heritage Committee meets in Paris, France, it is my view that St. Lucia should
be successful at its bid. All in all we expect this week’s visit will be
successful and hope that we will have a good chance of gaining recognition and
designation of the area as a Natural World Heritage site on the basis on its
uniqueness in terms of its geology, volcanic development and cheer beauty of its
landscape.”
The team will also hold talks with representatives of the Soufriere Marine
Management Association, directors of the Soufriere Regional Development
Foundation, representatives of tourism and other business interests in the town
as well as fishers of the area.
Satney says the official designation if achieved, holds tremendous prospects for
growth and development in the south-western town.
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