Gros Islet Divided into ”North”, “Central” and “South”; Castries gets “North East”,“South West”
THE Electoral Boundaries Commission on which both political parties in the House of Assembly have nominees, has recommenced an increase in the number of elected parliamentary seats from 17 to 21.
The Commission’s report was adopted in the House on Tuesday and the new configuration of constituencies will take effect from the next general elections due by early 2017, at the very latest.
But how exactly will the new alignment be put into effect? In presenting the report on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony’s account of the Commission’s recommendations:
“First, the Commission recommended the addition of two seats in Gros Islet, formed through the division of the area of the current constituency of Gros Islet into three constituencies. The proposed names of these constituencies are Gros Islet North, Gros Islet Central and Gros Islet South;
“ The Commission recommended the creation of a new land-locked constituency by joining contiguous parts of Castries North, Babonneau and Castries East, all of which are currently exceeding the recommended maximum population range. This new constituency is proposed to be called Castries North East, though it does take in a sizeable share of areas currently considered to be Babonneau;
“ The Commission recommended the creation of a new constituency amalgamating parts of Castries South East and Castries South, thereby reducing the size of Castries South East, which is currently the second largest constituency nationally. The proposed name of this new constituency is Castries South West;
“ The Commission recommended further realignment of the other constituencies in Castries to allow for a rebalancing of the populations of those constituencies so that all of them may be as close as equal as possible;
“ The Commission also recommended that exceptional status be afforded the constituencies of Dennery South and Laborie as they exceeded the lower threshold even after the recommended changes, but in the interest of maintaining administrative boundaries they should remain.
“Thus, the island-wide impact of the recommendations is that the northern districts, with a population of 54.9% of the population would be afforded 52.3%, and the southern districts, with 45.1% of the population, would be afforded 47.7% of the seats.
GROS ISLET NORTH
“The proposed Gros Islet North includes the communities of Cap Estate, Belle Vue Estate, Belle Vue, Casen Bas, Massade, Anse la Voutte, Bella Rosa, the northern sections of Beausejour, Bonne Terre, Rodney Bay, Rodney Heights, Reduit, Reduit Park, Reduit Orchard. The estimated resulting population of Gros Islet North, based on the 2010 Census is 8,408.
GROS ISLET CENTRAL
“The proposed Gros Islet Central runs across the island, east to west. It would include the communities of Mongiraud, Trouya, East Winds, Labrellote, Mongiraud, Moulin-a-Vent, Careffe, Vieux Sucreic, Caille Manger, L’Hermitage, La Feuillée, Bonne Terre Gardens, Monchy, RiviereMitan, Monchy, Ti Dauphin, Des Rameaux, La Borne, Dauphin and Morne Citron. The estimated resulting population of Gros Islet Central is 6,578. You would appreciate that this proposed constituency is fairly rural in character.
GROS ISLET SOUTH
“The proposed Gros Islet South would include the communities of Marisule, Top-of-the-World, Corinthe, Corinthe Estate, Nobert, Assou Canal, Grande Riviere, Monier, Morne Serpent, Degazon and Piat. This is the largest of the three proposed Gros Islet constituencies by population, which is estimated to be 8,707.
BABONNEAU
“The population of the proposed Babonneau constituency would be reduced from its current configuration. It is proposed that the western regions of the constituency be excised to reduce the size of Babonneau, which is currently the third largest constituency. The proposed Babonneau Constituency will include the communities of Babonneau Proper, La Croix Chaubourg, Paix Bouche, Plateau, La Guerre, Boguis, Marquis, Garrand, Raisinard, Des Barras, Chassin, Fond Assau, Fond Canie, EnPoisDoux, Girard, Hill 20, Green Gold and Cacao. Babonneau would be reduced from 12,848 to 9,321 persons and would become the largest of the proposed constituencies.
CASTRIES NORTH EAST
“The proposed new constituency of Castries North East would comprise the following communities:
1. From the existing Babonneau constituency, it would gain the communities of Balata, Cabiche, Ti Morne and Union Terrace;
2. From the existing Castries North constituency, it would gain the communities of Agard Lands and Almondale; and
3. From the existing Castries East constituency, it would gain the communities of Bocage and Ravine Chabot.
The total estimated population of this proposed constituency is 7,870.
CASTRIES NORTH
“The Commission recommends a number of changes to Castries North:
“As indicated Almondale, Agard Lands and the part of Balata once in Castries North would become part of Castries North East;
“Sunbuilt and Cedars would also be excised from Castries North. The Commission notes the reason for this is that there is presently no direct road access between Sunbuilt/Cedars and the rest of Castries North; and
“It recommends the re-inclusion of Sans Soucis and South Vigie as part of Castries North where they existed prior to the 2001 changes.
“Therefore, the following communities would now comprise Castries North: Vigie, Sans Soucis, Barnard Hill, La Carriere, La Clery, Active Hill, Chase Gardens, the eastern side of Morne du Don, Hillcrest Gardens, Carellie, Bisee, Sunny Acres, Summersdale and City Gate.
“The estimated population of Castries North would be reduced from 11,463 to 8,216.
4.11 CASTRIES CENTRAL
“The proposed Castries Central would experience the following adjustments:
1. As mentioned previously, Sans Soucis, Barnard Hill and South Vigie would return to Castries North; and
2. Swapped with the parts of Castries North that are to the east of the current Castries Central, namely parts of Morne du Don including Odlum City, and Cedars and Sunbuilt.
“As such, the newly reconfigured Castries Central would include the following communities: Conway, Darling Rd, the City Centre, Georgeville, La Pansee, Morne dou Don including Odlum City, Bois Patat, Rose Hill, Wilton’s Yard, New Village, Peart’s Gap, Leslie Land, Grass St, Patterson’s Gap, Waterworks, Cedars and Sunbuilt.
“The boundary between Castries North and Castries Central would have been revised to include the Morne Du Don Road right up to its junction with the Bocage and Balata Rds. In other words, Forgotten Boundary would now be in Castries Central, but the Morne du Don Primary School and the Hyline Poultry Road would be in Castries North. The estimated population of Castries Central will thus be increased from 7,274 to 8,468.
CASTRIES EAST
“It is proposed that Castries East would be reduced in population and area by the Commission’s recommendations:
1. As mentioned previously, Bocage and Ravine Chabot would no longer be part of Castries East;
2. Additionally, the parts of TiRocher, Guesneau and Quatre Chemins which were part of Castries East have also been excised to Castries South East.
“Thus, the communities now contained within Castries East are Entrepot, Independence City, Bagatelle, Bishop’s Gap, Rock Hall, Ravine Touterelle, Maynard Hill, Arundell Hill, Pavée, Bois Catchet, Trou Rouge, Marchand and George Charles Blvd. The estimated population of Castries East will be reduced from 11,778 to 8,722.
CASTRIES SOUTH
“It is proposed that Castries South would no longer extend past Ciceron. The Communities of Barre St Joseph, Marigot and Lower Goodlands would be given to the new Castries South West. It would however now incorporate the Morne and parts of Castries South East which are adjoining the existing constituency.
“Thus, the proposed Castries South includes the communities of Faux a Chaud, La Toc, Tapion, Coubaril, Morne Rd, Morne Fortune, Capital Hill, the southern sections of Derriere Fort along Old Victoria Rd, Upper Goodlands, Ciceron, Monkey Town and Anse Ferée. The estimated population of Castries South would be reduced marginally from 9,459 to 9,251.
CASTRIES SOUTH WEST
“As mentioned, the proposed constituency of Castries Southwest would incorporate parts of Castries South and Castries Southeast.
“The proposed constituency includes the communities of Lower Goodlands, Ferrands, Cul de Sac, Soucis, Ti Colon, Odsan, Barre Denis, Barre du Chaussée, La Croix Maingot, Barre St Joseph, Marigot, Fond Manger, Coolie Town, Perou and Belair. The estimated population of Castries South West would be 7,074 persons.
CASTRIES SOUTH EAST
“The proposed modified Castries South East would now contain the communities of Quatre Chemins, Trois Pitons, TiRocher, Guesneau, Forestiere, Ravine Poisson, Cendre de Feu, L’Abbayee, Sarrot, Chopin, Bexon, Crownlands, Marc, Floissac, Deglos and Dubrassay. The estimated population of Castries Southeast will be reduced from 14,509 to 7,950.”