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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Monday, February 2, 2009 – Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal
Honourable Richard Frederick has been putting in perspective government’s
intentions for the residents of the CDC Apartment Buildings on Jeremie Street in
Castries.
The minister explained that engineers assessed the structural integrity of the
buildings over a week ago. The type of the interpretation placed on this
activity, he says, stems from speculation, as government is yet to make any
official pronouncement on the report of the engineers.
“One cannot say at this point what the engineers will recommend, as the content
of that report is yet to be disclosed. We are concerned primarily about the
safety of the occupants of these structures. And if it is that their safety is
compromised and certain mechanisms are engineered, essentially to deal with the
situation, we will certainly go with the recommendations of the engineers.”
The Minister however stressed that regardless of the engineers report,
government has always given the assurance any re-development of the area will be
people centred.
“What I need to let persons know, I need to allay their fears, quell their
concerns by letting them know that no one will be treated disdainfully and no
one one will be asked to leave the CDC today, for tomorrow. This is not what is
going to happen—whatever has to happen will be done in collaboration with the
occupants of the CDC.”
Meantime, to further emphasize government’s pledge to remain sensitive to the
needs of citizens as a redesigned capital city gradually emerges, one of the
first projects toward that end has been completed and handed over to the
management of the Castries City Council.
As of Friday, January 30, the Castries Fish Vending Facility was ready for
formal business with its first customer being the Member of Parliament for
Castries Richard Frederick.
“Let me say it is not the intention of the government or the Castries City
Council, to leave out anyone as far as usage of the facility is concerned. We
don't intend to discriminate against anyone and I can say this as minister. If
we believe the input is such that two stalls for roll-on-roll-off (shifts
system) is inadequate, other mechanisms will be put in place, but no fisherman
will be left out.”
The grant for the construction of the facility, which contains ten vending
units, was provided by the government of Japan to the Castries City Council in
the sum of US$ 86,000.00.
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