The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Reconstruction Project (MHWCRRP) has confirmed that a recently erected 40-foot road safety billboard located in the vicinity of the Cul De Sac Roundabout was forcibly dismantled, damaged and discard last weekend, for the purpose of stealing its plywood backing and supporting frame.
The installation formed part of the Project’s Road Safety Public Education Campaign and was positioned at a strategic location along the project corridor to maximise visibility to motorists and pedestrians. The billboard space had been temporarily donated to the Project following the December General Election to support the dissemination of critical road safety messages in a high-traffic area.
The billboard was developed as a collaboration between the PMU, iconic Saint Lucian soca artiste Ricky T, and Stratosphere Music, and carried one of the campaign’s core messages aimed at encouraging responsible road use and reducing the risk of serious injury and loss of life.
Commenting on the incident, Project Coordinator Amos Hippolyte said, “It is deeply disappointing that a public safety installation designed to protect lives has been damaged in the course of theft. This campaign is about encouraging safer behaviour on our roads, and actions like these undermine a collective effort involving artistes, partners, and institutions who have come together in the public interest.”
The Road Safety Campaign was launched in October and rolled out progressively in December, incorporating a series of billboards, media placements, and community messaging. The Cul De Sac installation was one of several billboards placed along the Millennium Highway and West Coast Road corridor, selected specifically for their visibility and reach.
The PMU condemns the theft of public road safety assets and urges anyone with information relating to the incident to contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
Despite this setback, the PMU says it remains committed to the objectives of the Road Safety Campaign and to working with partners to promote a culture of responsibility, care, and respect among all road users.