Babonneau is expected to benefit significantly from the Community Business Revitalization Project (CBRP), which was officially launched in the constituency on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
The Community Business Revitalization Project is a bilateral collaboration between the Government of Saint Lucia and Taiwan, and implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia. Launched in August 2023 and active through 2026, the project transforms rural economies by empowering local organizations. The project was previously launched in Fond St. Jacques in February 2024 and in Laborie in November 2024.
As the project expands into its third community, Babonneau, the primary focus is on optimizing the local signage system to create a more tourist-friendly navigation path. By assisting in the establishment of a specialized gift shop within the park to promote local goods and integrating traditional dance experiences, the initiative allows visitors to immerse themselves in Creole culture while directly boosting the income of community micro-businesses. The project focuses on working with Fond Latisab Creole Park, the Babonneau Youth Synergy, MSMEs, and strengthening the linkages between local production, tour packages, and the tourism market.
During her remarks at the official launch held at Fond Latisab Creole Park at Fond Assau, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, recalled visiting the Park last July, when discussions for a possible collaboration between Mr. Canice Thomas, the Park’s proprietor, and the Taiwan Technical Mission were held. She also recalled being impressed with the lush garden and soothing river nearby, and the deep passion Mr. Thomas demonstrated for the preservation of Creole culture.
“I find there is something so special about Fond Latisab that it feels magical,” Ambassador Su said. “So, mesmerized by that magical power, we are honoured to collaborate with this Park on our Community Business Revitalization Project, conducted by our Taiwan Technical Mission under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce.”
The project intends to empower respective communities by building the capacity of the MSMEs, with the aim to increase income and to utilize the opportunity boosted by the community tourism boom. This will be achieved by bridging the gap between the MSMEs in the communities and consumers and the tourism market through the following strategies:
• Introducing the community to the concept of branding and storytelling;
• Furnishing target facilities where consumers or tourists could go;
• Developing the tourism products; and
• Organizing familiarization tours to bring together relevant stakeholders to form strategic partnerships.
Ambassador Su said the first step was to brand communities, and to ensure the signage is visible to improve access to information, thereby facilitating visitors’ and tourists’ overall experience. The second step is to enhance the park’s gift shop.
“Although I’ve been in Saint Lucia a bit over a year, I think I can still speak on behalf of most tourists. Nowadays at gift shops, most tourists like me are no longer satisfied with mass-produced souvenirs. We are seeking something unique, authentic, and most importantly, local,” she explained.
Ambassador Su added: “It can be deli food items and keepsakes. It is through the taste and smell or through their shape, fragrance, and sound. These are the experiences which spark our fond memories after we leave, and remind us of the place and, most importantly, of the soul of the people.”
The third aspect of the project is to bring in the experience of local the community. With Creole being a unique and precious cultural heritage, Ambassador Su said it was especially meaningful to strengthen the vibrant and dedicated spirit of Fond Latisab to showcase and create that special Creole experience for tourists.
“I’m happy to report to you that, currently under the project, many youths from Babonneau are engaged in workshops on traditional dance and drumming,” she stated. “Again, our purpose is to develop community-based tourism packages to bring visitors here to experience the culture first-hand, and hence, create greater economic opportunities for the community. This is exactly what we hope to achieve together under this project: to preserve cultural heritage, to empower communities, to support small businesses, and to create sustainable opportunities for generations to come.”
She added: “Today’s ceremony is not an end, but the beginning of a new chapter in which culture, tourism, and community development journey together in a sustainable way.”
Ambassador Su thanked Senator Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, for her guidance during her tenure as Parliamentary Representative for Babonneau, and also Hon. John Paul Estephane, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage, for his support in continuing the project.
Special thanks were also expressed to the Fond Latisab Creole Park, Babonneau Constituency Council and Babonneau Youth Synergy, for their valuable partnership and dedicated collaboration. Mr. Louis Tsou, Project Manager for the Community Business Revitalization Project at the Taiwan Technical Mission, also received high praise for his dedication to the project’s success.
Hon. John Paul Estephane, who is also Parliamentary Representative for Babonneau, said the collaboration between the Governments of Saint Lucia and Taiwan has led to the development of Saint Lucia in many ways.
“What we want to do in Babonneau is to ensure that the young people are sufficiently empowered and they can take on these roles and responsibilities to develop their own community,” Hon. Estephane said. “So we are very grateful that we have friends like Taiwan to collaborate with our young people and bring projects like this to fruition.”
Hon. Estephane said he was pleased that, with support from Taiwan, Fond Latisab — which is one of the premier cultural tourism sites in Babonneau – was being developed. He noted that it was part of a broader plan to transform Babonneau into a sought-after eco-tourism centre.
“You would have heard me say that I would want Babonneau to develop as the eco-tourism capital of Saint Lucia,” he said. There’s a lot that we want to do to develop Babonneau, and I’m happy that this project is here.”
Mr. Aldric Edward, outgoing President of Babonneau Youth Synergy, recalled receiving a call from Mr. Louis Tsou, Project Manager for the Community Business Revitalization Programme at the Taiwan Technical Mission, seeking to partner with a community organization in fulfilling its mandate. They later held several meetings with Mrs. Marilyn Bain, former Chairperson of Babonneau Constituency Council, to brainstorm a perfect undertaking for the project, deciding on refurbishing Fond Latisab Creole Park. Follow-up meetings were held with Mr. Canice Thomas, the Park’s proprietor.
“We are extremely happy to have been part of this project as it’s one that in many ways creates employment, and, most importantly, keeps our culture alive and thriving,” Edward said. “I am pleased to announce that we will be hosting cultural dance practices in the coming days, and shortly afterwards, business management classes for all interested persons.”
Mr. Canice Thomas, the proprietor of Fond Latisab Creole Park, thanked the Taiwan Technical Mission, Babonneau Youth Synergy and Babonneau Constituency Council, for helping to make his business model more viable: “I established this business in 2000, and it has been thriving from then. With the help, it will extend a bit further. With the plan we have in hand, I feel we will do much better.”
Other highlights at the launch ceremony included the unveiling and presentation of signs, presentation of first aid kits, a tour of the gift shop, and a performance by the Flamboyant Folk Dancers.
In July last year, an informational meeting for the project was held at the Babonneau Multi-Purpose Centre, where plans for unveiling the capacity building project in the constituency were shared.
