THE approach to infrastructure development in a small island development state with high vulnerability to natural disasters has to be centred on the determination of the critical infrastructure. We intend as a priority to engage consultants to establish the infrastructure and assets vital to national security, governance, public health and safety, economy and public confidence. This inventory will then be subjected to a determination of infrastructure which will be deemed to be resistant or resilient. How we go forward in the design of any infrastructure project will be dependent on this developed inventory. We will build our future bridges based on that information and thus ensure maximization of the utilization of our scarce resources.
The second major policy platform for the infrastructure of our country, is to see infrastructure as the fertilizer for development. We have observed how a road constructed by the then WASA in 1994, for the Rodney Bay Sewer Project, became a catalyst for over $ 1.0 Billion in development in Beausejour. This area now has a major stadium, hundreds of new houses, shops, warehouses, churches, an offshore university. This all became possible due to the construction of a new road. This is a vivid example of how infrastructure can become the fertilizer for economic activity. If you transfer that concept to our major road network we would observe that there is a disconnect.
The investment on the Gros Islet Highway from a cost benefit analysis has been phenomenal. This road has spurred our tourism sector and is a major network supporting economic activity. This road was built in the 1970’s. However when you look at the East Coast Road, it has not generated any level of economic activity. There are no major supermarkets from Cul de Sac to Vieux Fort, there are no banks from Cul de Sac to Vieux Fort, and there are no hotels from Cul de Sac to Vieux Fort. We have 36 miles of road built for over 40 years that has not been able to function in the same manner as the Gros Islet Highway.
On the West Coast Road which was reconstructed in 1994, we have one major supermarket, there are no banks from Cul de Sac to Soufriere, and we have had only one new hotel built along the road. There are some housing units constructed just before Anse la Raye. It is also amazing that on the West Coast Road almost 300,000 visitors travel this road every year, and many high worth visitors take this route to their hotels in Soufriere and yet the villages of Anse la Raye and Canaries are the poorest in the country.
There are similarities on the East and West Coast roads, both have significant challenges for water supply. We therefore intend to focus on the development of the water supply on the West and East Coast of the island as we believe this infrastructure development is critical to allow the investments in these roads to bear fruit.
We believe that the focus of investment in the next five years should on the East and West Coast Roads to bring these major road networks into economic activity. We do not support any expansion of our major road network until the full potential of these roads is realized. We intend to introduce a National Drainage Programme that will act both as an economic stimulus within the communities as well as reducing the significant losses incurred due to poor drainage. This will be a two year programme, which will be funded by diverting the present Taiwanese Grant which is used in the Constituency Development Programme and fully matching these funds from local revenue.
Parking in Castries has been studied since 1995, with various recommendations made in the Grand Castries Transportation Study. None of these recommendations has been implemented in the last 20 yrs. The city will die if this is not resolved. We intend to commission a new transportation study which will update the last study and provide recommendations to deal specifically with parking in Castries and the circulation of traffic within the city. Park and ride systems, on street parking and multi-storey parking will all be considered. It is also hoped that the vexing issue of bus termini will be dealt with in that new study.
Flooding is also critical in the development of the Castries city. We propose to instal standby generators to the two pump stations to allow functionality of these pumps when there is a loss of power. We intend to engage the Association of Professional Engineers of Saint Lucia to develop ‘home-grown’ recommendations on flood alleviation in Castries. Castries will return to its past glory.
Next week we continue the People Manifesto on Infrastructure.
As chair man of the Engineering Registration Board (ERB), you can start by ending the quid pro quo within the ERB that retards that very infrastructure development you so passionately discuss. Why is it that registering young energetic and creative aspiring engineers are stonewalled? Who do you expect to bring about that change you talk about? The selected few that always make sure friends and families always get registered regardless of experience and to hell with the over qualify, with the let then tread water whilst Castries sink mentality. The focus on investment should be on registering as many young engineers as possible. Eng. Peters, please tell me just once you ever hear the PM talk about the Association of
Professional Engineers of Saint Lucia. The mini bus association have more clout in St. Lucia than the do nothing and say nothing association, that promotes engineering prostitution. The ERB can not regulate the industry and you talking about “home-grown recommendations” from the Association of Professional Engineers of Saint Lucia. Please take a page from the lawyers, a new lawyer is called to the bar every other month or so. The ERB sits on its ass every other month or so, stonewalling home-grown young engineers.
The Association of Professional Engineers of Saint Lucia president is WASCO strategic Planning Manager. The chairman of WASCO board of directors, is the pass chairman of the ERB. Eng. Peters, that “dirty water we have to drink WASCO say it clean but it smelling stink”. Engage to produce what?
can the president voice a professional opinion on the state of the utility company? has he made his professional opinion known to the general public? That MANIFESTO will be delivered by ending the status quo that currently permeates the engineering industry. You know full well, the current slate of engineers on Island, not one can win selection on the Dennery North Water Project. What say you?