St. Lucia’s Banana Industry Trust calls for Partnership in Community Revitalization Efforts
Castries, St. Lucia – The Banana Industry Trust (BIT) is calling for partnership and collaboration among primary stakeholders as well as strong community support for the Choiseul Economic Revitalization Project scheduled to commence next week.
The EC$1.4 million project, funded by the EU under the SFA 2003 ‘Environment Management Fund’, will see the installation of a 150,000 gallon water storage tank and a 9,385 foot water transmission pipeline with an intake on the Anse L’Ivrogne River. In addition, 13,000 feet of pipes with fittings will be supplied to farmers to facilitate the connection to the water storage tank. This will enable them to irrigate their holdings and thereby improve agricultural production.
BIT’s Executive Officer Mr. Bertram Clarke states that as the European Commission has provided the resources to implement this important initiative up until the end of December 2009, it is imperative the project is completed before then. “Strong community and state support for this economic revitalization project is a necessity in order for it to be completed in time,” Clarke said. “We wish to draw stakeholders’ and the general public’s attention to the project and solicit their support as we attempt to improve the quality of life of the Choiseul community.”
BIT has made the Delcer/La Point/Industry area a priority for improvements and has already taken steps toward ensuring the successful implementation of the project by procuring the equipment and supplies which arrived on Island in September 2009.
The project will contribute substantially to the revitalization of rural livelihood, social stability and more equitable and balanced community development. It will also contribute to the country’s sustainable economic growth by enhancing efficiency and productivity within the agricultural sector and other productive sectors such as tourism.
The French company FARMEX Technologies Ltd., has been contracted to implement the project and will soon be on island to commence work. Oversight for the project will be provided by the Office of the National Authorizing Officer of the Ministry of Economic Planning.
