Anthony Promises ‘NO PEACE’

Former P.M. on Desert Star Project.

FORMER Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has warned there would not be “peace in St. Lucia’ if the government does not renegotiate the controversial multi-billion dollar Desert Star Holding (DSH) project earmarked for the island’s southern town of Vieux Fort.

Anthony, who stepped down as the leader of the main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) following last June’s general election, told a public meeting here on Sunday that there was need for a better deal that must be built upon the use of the country’s scarce productive and investment lands, and the preservation of its patrimony.

“There will never be peace in Vieux Fort and St. Lucia if the controversial Desert Star Holdings Limited (DSH) deal is not renegotiated and the project redesigned.

“If this agreement is not renegotiated, if this agreement is not redesigned, if all the offensive provisions in that agreement are not removed then I say to you tonight, there will never ever be peace in this community and in this country,” Anthony said.

Last month, several people staged a protest outside the St. Lucia Parliament arguing that the US$2.6 billion Desert Star Holdings Limited (DSH) project that includes the construction of a race course, a free trade zone, a shopping mall complex, marina and other facilities on 700 acres of land in Vieux Fort will destroy the environment in that area.

Last August, the government issued a statement that sought to dispel rumours surrounding the project with the Hong Kong-based DSH and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has repeatedly said in the past that the project was still in the planning stages and only one aspect of the project was formerly agreed to, namely the construction of a horse race track which would commence shortly.

The government has maintained that it welcomes any questions and scrutiny that naturally follows from such a potentially transformative project, “which promises to significantly reduce unemployment levels, enhance the tourism, sporting and entertainment product, widen the opportunities for local businesses, and improve the attractiveness of St Lucia as an investment location of choice”.

The government said that the DHS project will result in a mixed-use real estate development enterprise involving, inter-alia, entertainment and sporting facilities, as a third category under the real estate provisions of the CIP legislation.

But, Anthony, the parliamentary representative for the area said that the DSH deal would strangle the people of Vieux Fort by, among other things, taking away lands, denying beach access and displace farmers.

Anthony told his audience that persons from the community where the controversial project will be implemented have already been approached to vacate their land and leave their businesses.

“Last week I went down into Bruceville to talk to the people of Bruceville and they are scared, they are afraid and I have to accept my government did not act as quickly as it should have to make sure that the people of Bruceville own the land on which they live. All we did was to survey.

“The people who own businesses – they can take care of themselves, but I want to tell the Bruceville people that if you get any request to move do not move,” Anthony said, advising them to speak with him as their parliamentary representative.

Anthony, a constitutional lawyer and a former law lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) said he was prepared “put everything to make sure that the people of St. Lucia get a fair just and reasonable agreement”.

He told the SLP supporters that Prime Minister Chastanet could have sought to hold discussions with the opposition on its position against the project.

He said it was also important for talks to have taken place between the incumbent and the outgoing head of government, recalling that when he first became prime minister in 1997, he met with the outgoing Prime Minister Sir John Compton for more than two hours at his request.

“We spoke about St. Lucia. To this day I will never forget that John Compton said to me: “I wish you well with your programme. I hope the civil servants support what you are trying to do for St. Lucia.’” Anthony said.

But he told the meeting that it is a bit too late for there to be talks on the DSH project.

“There must be no talks. No talks. No talks,” he said adding, “that is how you govern your country.

“You respect your predecessor. And you know what? Your predecessor happens to be the parliamentary representative of where the development is taking place. Not a single person has ever approached me from the government and said to me: ‘You are parliamentary rep, what are your views about what we are trying to do?’”

Meanwhile, the government has announced that a consultative town hall meeting on the proposed  Vieux Fort project will be held tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. at the Vieux Fort Primary School. Presentations are expected to be delivered by Invest Saint Lucia and Equine Specialists after which the audience will be invited to ask questions.