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Contact:
Chris Satney
Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - A resolution seeking to enhance St. Lucia’s
ability to cope with unforeseen disasters was past at a sitting of the House of
Assembly today. The resolution permits government to borrow US $3.7 million from
the National Bank of Reconstruction and Development of Trinidad and Tobago,
mainly for physical and infrastructural work needed to safeguard several parts
of the island from unwanted disasters.
The motion received across-the-board support from parliamentarians.
The initiative will form part of the second phase of a disaster mitigation plan
for St. Lucia. It follows the establishment of satellite houses and disaster
committees in districts around the island, under phase 1. Recent events in
Grenada and at Tapion resonated, as Parliamentarians overwhelmingly supported
the passage of the motion.
Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony in tabling the motion, highlighted the
need to prepare for disasters of any kind, noting, “I have had the opportunity
over the last few years to see a growing confidence among St. Lucians, as they
face the inevitable challenges of disasters, in fact an increasing maturity in
the society, and this certainly is to be welcomed”.
The project to be funded through the US $3.7 million dollar loan will see among
other things, the construction of retaining walls in communities like Marchand,
in the vicinity of the Marchand Combined School and at Pavee. It will also see
the commencement of works for the protection of Dennery Village shores, from sea
swells associated with hurricanes.
Minister for Communication, Works, Transport and Public Utilities Hon. Felix
Finisterre said that this complemented the annual allocation by government for
the de-silting of rivers around the island.
“This project is going to have an impact physically and economically, on every
single community in St. Lucia. Some of the other major works which have to be
undertaken is the construction of three major bridges and the rehabilitation of
one major drain. Those bridges are at Deglos in Marc, La Reviere Ti-Bois Bridge
in Laborie, which I know the member has been agitating for, and the Boguis
River”, Minister Finisterre said.
The bridges, Mr. Finisterre said, are already being designed with a view to
getting them funded under this initiative. Major ravine works he said would be
done on the La Clery main drain, which will be retrained and cleaned up.
Minister Finisterre said there would also be smaller works for the stabilization
of slopes with the use of gabion baskets in many communities on the island.
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