As a La Toc resident, I travel along the coastline of the Castries Harbour at least twice daily. I am a firm believer that there is need for some urgent action at this time to save the beauty of the Castries Harbour. We have a blessed natural resource that has been placed into the hands of several quasi- governmental agencies, who have all failed in the management of the resource.
The lands surrounding the Castries Harbour are owned by the following agencies:
- National Housing Corporation owns the lands as you enter Tapion below Golden Hope and the area below Price Waterhouse next to Fisheries.
- SLASPA controls the area from Tapion to Jeremie Street and the point to GFL Charles Airport
- NDC controls Point Seraphine
An examination of the existing land uses at these locations would be a sorry tale.
The National Housing Corporation has virtually abandoned or does not even know that they own the lands below Golden Hope. In 1996, during my stint at the then HUDC, we developed plans for a high-end condominium development on these land, the development was tied to the relocation of Golden Hope.
This is a very important land space that the GOSL must see as an avenue for investment. I disagree with this backward concept that government should not invest in such projects. The GOSL owns the land, then get an investment partner and contribute the land as your equity contribution. In the process you create jobs and have an equity partnership that can bring dividends into the consolidated fund.
One therefore disagrees with the suggestion to convert Golden Hope into a home for the Police Band. Golden Hope should be demolished as part of a shameful past, then get some honest men of God to pray over the land, and use this valuable real estate to make money.
The concept will be to divert the road entering Tapion to the back of Golden Hope and create an expanded seafront for a high end condominium development with stunning views of the Castries Harbour.
What exists now on this expensive real estate? – Cows, old pipes and shipwrecks. The NHC should bow their heads in shame in allowing this to be continued. I go for walks on occasions in this area, and it is a hard journey to see such a waste of real estate. So I say to the NHC, check the land registry and you will see that these lands belong to you!!!
So after this aberration of wisdom by NHC, you then see a trailer park from here to the SLASPA gates. Every morning and evening you have to deal with trailer drivers turning in or going out with the least concern for road users. How can SLASPA abandon their responsibility as custodians of these lands? Why should the La Toc residents have to deal with this visual pain every day? Surely SLASPA can see this as an opportunity to gain income. Why should these lands be used as free parking for trucks owned by private concerns at no cost?
I would urge SLASPA to ease the eye strain by removing these trailers to Cul de Sac. Be creative and put the land to use to generate income. This can be an ideal area for waterfront restaurants and a shopping mall. In the interim SLASPA can at least remove the trailers and fence the area.
I am aware that SLASPA has plans for the redevelopment of the area they occupy, so one would hope that these plans are implemented.
When you cross the Sans Souci Bridge and enter the Point Seraphine road, the lands from the gas station to the security booth belong to NHC. There were two sets of drawings developed for the construction of a building on these lands. I understand the last set was even approved by the DCA. These lands should be developed either for institutional use or Government offices. Instead the land was rented to the contractor who did the WASCO pipeline along the highway over six years ago, no effort was made to ensure that the contractor restored the lands. The discarded concrete manholes from this contractor remain on the property as part of the legacy.
The NDC then owns the lands to Point Seraphine. NDC has to now consider rethinking the strategy of the Point Seraphine Duty Free shopping. While this concept may have worked in the 1980’s, on land Duty Free shopping is dead. Most of these new larger vessels have Duty Free shopping on board at competitive prices.
The NDC must become proactive and begin to understand that survival demands flexibility. Point Seraphine cannot survive by duplicating the shopping experience on the cruise ship. Point Seraphine has to become unique and different.
The last item along the coast line that requires attention, is the industrial land use approved by SLASPA. When the resurfacing works were done to GFL Charles many years ago, the contractor was given permission to set up the asphalt plant next to the airport. Almost six years later, the asphalt plant is still there. Should a country being marketed as an environmental beauty, have an asphalt plant as a marketing tool at the entrance of the harbour? Surely SLASPA could not be supportive of this innovative marketing strategy?
Lastly the next big real estate is the GFL Charles Airport. I recently heard Mr. Bowen of the SLHTA talking about the potential for touristic and commercial development at Vigie. The Prime Minister also spoke about expansion at Hewanorra. An expenditure of $ 300 million at Hewanorra can only be funded by the closure of GFL Charles, thus the GOSL has indirectly stated that GFL Charles would be shut down.
The closure and loss of GFL Charles Airport would be one of the biggest mistakes made. Eighteen years ago I was an ardent fan of the closure of GFL Charles Airport. I was so convinced, that I was able then as Chief Engineer to ask a good friend of mine to assist in the development of alternative sites for an airport in the north. Five sites were considered and if memory serves me, it was then down to two possibilities. The thinking was to sell the airport land, mill the runway surface for road works and construct a new airport with the proceeds.
I have worked in the region for the last 12 years, and it is now one understands the strategic advantage St. Lucia has with a city airport. We are the only island in the Eastern Caribbean including Trinidad with two functional airports. My advice to the GOSL is that even if the numbers are showing that you have to close GFL Charles Airport to fund the expansion of Hewanorra, leave the airport space untouched for a period of 20 years. The way technology is evolving , it may become in the future a dedicated airport for small jets. Lets us not lose this precious infrastructure without careful planning.