Vieux Fortians Say Put It Somewhere Else.
By Kingsley Emmanuel
A PROPOSAL by a local businessman to purchase the portion of land where the Point Sable Recreation Park in Vieux Fort is located to construct a shopping mall, has caused a stir in the community.
The proposal was brought to the Vieux Fort South Constituency Council, and only one member , the popular musician Monty Maxwell opposed it.
The name of the proposed investor has not been made public, but The VOICE understands that the person is not a Saint. Lucian –born national.
The Point Sable Recreation Park which is part of the Point Sable Environmental Protection Area is the venue for a number of social and cultural activities, and also a place where people from all over the island recreate.
The Council sees the shopping mall as one which will bring much needed employment to the town, but residents feel it will have the same effect if built in another area. They say they are prepared to do everything legally possible to make sure that the mall is not constructed in the area where the Point Sable Recreation Park is located.
And the man who is leading the charge in that regard is Maxwell who has a petition circulating that has already attracted much support by way of signatures.
“I am very impressed with the support I am getting from the general public. This is a clear indication that people in Vieux Fort do not want the area to be destroyed,” Maxwell said.
According to him, he is not against a shopping mall being built in Vieux-Fort, but feels there are other locations in Vieux-Fort where it can be built.
“The area, (Point Sable Recreational Park) is of historical value to us. Aircraft parked and camouflaged there during the Second World War,” he said.
Maxwell said the area was nurtured by Vieux Fortians who would like to see it preserved, rather than be destroyed by the erection of a building. He added that even Prime Minister and parliamentary representative Dr. Kenny Anthony played a role in nurturing the area.
“I was one of the persons who spearheaded the cleaning of the area. Invest St. Lucia had no part to play in clearing it,” Maxwell said.
He said not only Vieux Fortians recreate at the park, but people from all over the country, as well.
“The park is also the home for Jazz finale, which has been given rave reviews from all over…, including the St. Lucia Tourist Board,” Maxwell said.
And while the mall proposal is being considered, Maxwell said he will continue planting trees at the park which he has been doing for many years now.
Vincent Clarke, a member of Eco South Tourism, the National Trust’s Southern Chapter, the Aupicon Charcoal Producers Association and a director of the Southern Tourism Development Corporation said he vehemently opposes the idea of building a shopping mall in the area where the park is located.
“The area has a lot of historical value and should be preserved, rather than be destroyed…” Clarke said.
“If the area is destroyed where will Vieux-Fortians recreate?”, he asked.
Clarke said the heart of Vieux-Fort is like a ghost town and will do good with a shopping mall.
Jennifer Fevrier, another resident of Vieux-Fort who signed the petition said the park is of particular importance to the residents of the depressed area of Bruceville, whose children use the area to recreate on a regular basis.
Mayor of Vieux Fort Winall Joshua declined to comment on the proposal at this time, but said he will do so in due course.
Don’t put this thing there. Since when has a supermarket fixed all the unemployment woes.
St Lucia has little green space, stop concreting over it all.
Well done to the one man who’s stood up. Proper planning would insist on clustering businesses and traffic etc – the country can’t keep having these random things done in isolation.
Y they didn’t consider putting a park there like what they did in castries where kids and parents could go relax and have fun choops with that mall idea where Lucians getting money to go shop at the mall unless is rum alone they selling here
I agree with the locals that they should find another place. Give people some thing good, but not by taking away something good from them.
Really a bad idea! Do we not recognize the social importance of places to recreate – especially those that locals in a community have nurtured and continually upkeep? Vieux Fort has plenty of other places to put a mall. Keep it off this area!
Why bring commercial chaos in such a beautiful, tranquil and priceless nature. If you want to create real jobs on the island you need to focus on protecting the geographical treasures nature blessed the island with. This project would ruin this one of a kind location, people visit the island to experience the wonderful natural setting, and not for being poisoned by the sight of another brainless shopping mall.
If you want to create good meaningful jobs, invest in agriculture, manufacturing and eco friendly business. Shopping centres are beast that are usually placed away from the quiet of society. Retail and consumption is a saturated industry, China has slowed down and oil prices are dropping, what does this mean? It means that we need less shopping centre lease space. I will with every bone in my body fight this stupid and vile project.
I have heard about so many projects planed in that area and not one I have not seen one erected. And idea was taken to the people through the town council does that mean that a mall would be built there.. I don’t think so. I am happy that someone was able to be concern about a building being put there. But I am sure that could be handle in a better way. No business man can build a mall with out acquiring property , getting plans drawn and so forth……..my humble view no mall will be put there without the blessings of the PR of the South.
Mr. Prime Minister and money hungry fool st lucia is not for sale. Present just what your intentions are to the people of Vieux Fort, and they will reject your con. Vieux-Fort is for Vieux- Fortians at home and abroad.
Chinese people do not assimilate , they will come and be territorial and our people will suffer. they will not create jobs. Prime Minister do you know how people in the United States are granted citizenship. They are granted citizenship by living in the states as a permanent resident for a number of years and must demonstrate good moral character before that privilege of citizen is granted.
I guess neither you nor Kenny Anthony have lived in the United States, or you all just want to full your pockets with money on the backs of our citizens of Vieux Fort.