King: Castries North to be Transformed into Unique Community Brand

Member of Parliament (MP) for Castries North, Stephenson King has been serving the community for the past 25 years and more and he is optimistic about promoting a unique brand product. 

Since being elected as the constituency’s parliamentary representative from 1987, King has taken on the task in a businesslike and community-oriented way in an effort to cater for the overall wellbeing of residents.

King said that though Castries North is perceived as an appendage of the overall Castries basin, taking in Central Castries, Castries East and Castries South East, nonetheless, over the past decades Castries North has evolved into a “sub-division” of the nation’s capital.

“Castries North has found itself hosting a series of cultural, technical and infrastructural features,” King told legislators at the recent Debate on the Appropriations Bill.

He said the constituency has the most secondary schools and hosts technical programmes, historical sites and archives in the area.  Also, the community constitutes of hotels, malls, major highways and an airport.

The Castries North MP noted that over the years, these developments were implemented through the collaborative efforts of the “citizenry and state”.

Noting his role and input as the parliamentary representative, King said: “We are now poised to take it to an even higher level.”

Citing the features in store to highlight the launch of the ‘Castries North Immediate Socio- Economic Developmental Plan’, he disclosed it will include:

The creation and enhancement of social programmes designed to improve the social wellbeing of the constituents, in addition to programs provided under the Constituency Development Project (CDP)
Collaboration with the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF)to design strategic human, social and economic training programs for youth, particularly involving young men and young mothers

Establish cultural development programs and to create a Castries North Cultural Identity
Explore awareness for the development and promotion of the creative talents in the constituency
Identify cultural spaces in strategic communities such as Careille, Chase Gardens, Bois Patat, La Clery and Bisee

Referring to the Careille Park, he said, “We are working on the completion designs and the costing …and this will more or less complement the joint community centre of Castries North and Castries East which is (currently) happening along the borders.”

King added the enhancement of sports facilities in the area “is designated to promote Centers of Excellence” in each respective location.

For instance, at La Clery – football, rugby, athletics, cricket and basketball.

Chase Gardens – Multi Purpose Sports activities including netball, basketball, small goals (5×5 football) and lighting facilities.

Agard – Mini Sports facilities to include fencing, and Lighting, and at Cedars – Multi Sports activities.

MP Stephenson King (second from left) poses with community group representatives
Careille Park