“They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is a well known proverb often attributed to diverse voices such as Samuel Johnson, Aeneid, The Bible and even the Prophet Muhammad but for me it’s often closely a reference from a Madonna song featuring Justin Timberlake.
For me it’s often a warning that good intentions may be the first step off a cliff into disaster.
As a lifelong resident of Soufriere with all its richness, vibrancy and lush green delicacy I still felt that we were missing out on not being Castries, despite my exaggerated distaste for the capital. Many moons ago in an Island Wide News,IWN, satirical I had deemed Castries the dirtiest city in the world, and cue the uproar and backlash from many who felt it was political mischief.
But it really was an eyesore, entering in via Bananes and seeing trash as your welcoming sign, and every time it rained the words nyack and Castries trended. And some couldn’t see beyond their political noses to realize the satire in the piece. Like many I hoped that development would grip each and every corner and bring it from the ugly stepsister it was to a more palatable version of a capital city.
But now as talk runs over Bananes Bay and even the GPH deals in Soufriere I am forced to wonder if we should not all up be in arms over what is subtle gentrification. Now this is not to say that the current state of the city is appealing, nor should we continue with the status quo. The excuse of economic opportunity to satisfy vendors forcing pedestrians into the street and allowing for unchecked commercial sales even under bus sales cannot be allowed. However, the unique street life and culture that is the city needs to be balanced with the need for a modern update of the city.
But at what cost?
Gentrification occurs when poor older urban areas are changed by wealthy people moving in. These new persons seek to view the neighborhoods in a more pristine light, demanding better housing, more diverse and upscale business which ultimately leads to the displacement of the current inhabitants. Those of us who have travelled have experienced the positives of gentrification, the improved public services and amenities. The socio-economic growth and jobs that follow, the increased tax revenues, additional potential for social mobility and the open spigot of economic potential. Can we however, embrace such a reality with eyes wide shut tho?
We have seen subtle hints in Soufriere, the eradication of the 100-year old building that once housed the Soufriere Library in the French colonial style made way for the albatross that became the Monrose building. Then the accidental burning of A.F. Valmont and J. Q Charles buildings, historical hallmarks of the southwestern ccommunity, which left the introduction of another mammoth building labelled Excelsior Plaza and a space in the heart of town.
Barons Drive, Coin de lance or quay lance, however you may term it is a well-known spot for fun, games and outrageous nightlife within the confines of the town. The people are jovial, rambunctious with a hint of rowdiness and a proud patriotic bunch. Which is not to ignore the fact that it is often a community that is used as shorthand for social ills within the town. It also occupies prime waterfront space which is susceptible to the actions of climate change which led to an often-rumored relocation to a more inland community. This move was thwarted by the willful attitudes of the denizens there and their attachment to the sea.
Now a new tale unfolds, with the soon to be developed Soufriere waterfront at an alleged $30 million dollar price tag with its vaunted upscaling and modern twists. Can we be satisfied by the news of safeguards enacted by the political powers that be? Despite their perceived desires to not trouble a very reliable voting community or to shake the cart in the run up to the next general election, we must realize that gentrification often hurts those it claims to set out to help. Firstly, by making it so much more expensive that they can no longer afford rent or property tax increases nor the goods provided. Then there is the fear of homogeneity, the erasure of the culture and lifestyle that make communities unique and storied to fit a one size fits all. Imagine walking down the street and being unable to differentiate one street from another because everything resembles everything else. The calls to stop late night gambling sessions or to close the bars earlier because the clientele at those places and the ones in the new vision for Soufriere, in this case, don’t mix is a potential molotov cocktail waiting to ignite. Imagine the silencing of the conch shell or the rowdy domino game played in silence like a game of golf.
But this is not anti-development, rather it is a call to be cautious and aware of the potential ill effects of development in the near future. Development and the culture of a community can continue side by side, they can even be integrated and welcomed but only if we are aware of the potential pitfalls.