Areas of Forestiere and Bagatelle experienced land-slides and land slippage during the passage of Hurricane Tomas. These events under-mined the security of the area’s roads which form part of the islands’ critical secondary transportation network linking Morne Fortune, Fond Khodra, Bagatelle and Castries. While emergency fixes allowed roads to function post-Tomas, conditions continued to decline and the roads remained vulnerable to future landslide events. 

Over an approximately 11-month period in 2021, the DVRP intervened on the ground to address the long-standing road instability issues at Forestiere and Bagatelle. Works included construction of a 16-inch-thick reinforced concrete cantilevered retaining wall to stabilize the road at Bagatelle as well as a reinforced concrete wall to support a concrete road with drainage at Forestiere. The works valued at approximately USD $920,700 were completed on October 15, 2021 by Freshstart Construction Company. The total investment cost, including designs and supervision is just over USD $1 million.

Residents have been highly pleased with the completed works. Sherman George, resident of Forestiere indicated that “The works have made me feel a lot safer since the area is prone to landslides.”