Castries Central MP allay fears of City vendors
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Contact: Adhara King
Friday, 25 April 2008 – Occupants of the Castries Vendor's Arcade are being urged to embrace change, and make sacrifices for their betterment. The call came last week from the Honourable Richard Frederick, Parliamentary Representative for Castries Central, during his presentation on the 2008/2009 budget, where he outlined the details of the proposed refurbishment of the vendor's arcade in Castries.
He said that the refurbishment is a part of the government's new economic development plan for the entire city and is intended to subsidize the rental charges for the vendors, while improving the conditions under which they operate.
“If our people have to do better, our people must understand that the status quo must be disturbed for a while. Many of us, Madam Speaker, want to have our cake and eat it. We cannot refurbish our house in its entirety, if we don't want to leave the house at all. It's either we stay there or we get out and get done what ought to be done,” said the Castries Central MP.
The proposed plan for the new vendors arcade will see the construction of a three to four story building, with the top floors allocated for corporate occupancy. The ground floor will be used to house vendors of the existing Castries arcade.
Mr. Frederick assures current occupants of the arcade that they will be guaranteed re-entry to the new facility.
Said the Physical Planning Minister, “One undertaking I can give, Madam Speaker, that as long as I remain in government, I will not permit any administration to put out those people, and when the facility is ready, to deny them re-entry. I will ensure that they get back there. Our people need to be empowered.”
Minister Frederick said funds from renting to the corporate citizenry will assist in reducing the rent charged to the vendors. |
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