The Castries Constituency Council recently had a pleasant and positive consultative meeting with all its tenants of the huts located on Jn Baptiste Street, Castries.

The meeting was chaired by Communications Manager, Jason Hullingseed, who explained the plans for the Market Redevelopment Project.

Also in attendance and addressing the concerns of tenants were the Vending Coordinator Mr. Augustin Victor, and Market Manager, Mrs. Gemma Vitalis.

The consultation was not the first, and focused on the second component of the 1st phase of the Market Redevelopment Project which will result in the relocation of tenants to the old fire service headquarters site on Jeremie Street, to facilitate the building of the Box Park.

The Box Park is one of several components of the Castries Market Redevelopment and falls under the second phase of the redevelopment plan aimed at modernizing the city’s competitiveness. The project aims to improve the overall presentation and the quality of service offered by micro-entrepreneurs conducting business at this location.

The Box Park will be a two-storey rectangular structure designed with the intention of meeting the needs of tenants offering a diverse range of services. The ground floor will feature the following: sixteen (16) convenience shops, eight (8) fish vending shops, six (6) meat vending shops, and two (2) toilets with a closet for janitors. The first floor will feature a combination of twelve (12) shops (bars and restaurants), male and female toilets and dining and circulation spaces. 

It is important to note that the structure has been designed to resist lateral loads from seismic forces and hurricane force winds.

Members of the public and tenants will be updated regularly on the plans as construction of this component of the Castries Market Redevelopment advances.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The project is financed by the World Bank, through the OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project (ORTCP). The Project principally aims to improve selected tourist sites in Castries. In this regard, the Government has identified the Castries City Tourism Product as a priority for Saint Lucia with targeted investment sites and activities aimed at making downtown Castries more pleasant and attractive to tourists as well as to residents of Saint Lucia.