Agricultural Consultancy and Technical Services Limited (AGRICO Ltd.) was contracted by the Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) through the Department of Forestry, under the EU Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) 2003 programme, Economic and Agricultural Diversification and Poverty Reduction through Integrated Natural Resources Management, to develop a rapid assessment methodology for the physical assessment of the current status/ condition of targeted rivers1 and to make recommendations and formulate an action plan that will be required for an extensive “RIVERBANK REHABILITATION AND PROTECTION†programme. The assessment is to adopt an economic, social and ecological approach towards the conservation and protection of the rivers, riverbanks, water resources and associated natural landscapes.
The assignment was undertaken over the period April to August 2008 and the tasks encompassed the following, with the outcome of the first two components being the focus of this Riverbank Assessment Report:
R.J. Burnside engaged Amarna Consult Ltd to conduct a geological survey for the Millet Intake Project on behalf of the Water and Sewage Authority. This report deals with foundation parameters for proposed structures as well as geotechnical parameters for a proposed new pipeline and associated infrastructure. The purpose of the study was to confirm geological conditions and determine the geotechnical properties of the soil to inform the design of the proposed infrastructure. This report presents key design parameters and foundations options based on results from field exploration, laboratory testing and review of other relevant literature.
Peynier Street is a major thoroughfare in the Castries Central Business District (CBD). A oneway street, it runs from East to West, intersecting with Brazil Street, Micoud Street and Jeremie
Street, and links to the John Compton Highway soon after its intersection with Jeremie Street.
Peynier Street also branches off into streets such as High Street, and St. Louis Street.
Lining Peynier Street are buildings such as the House of Parliament, the High Court (currently
not in use), the Family Court and the Office of the Mayor of Castries and City Hall. The street
is also home to two (2) blocks of housing apartments (L & S), which form part of the larger
housing complex in Central Castries, commonly referred to as the CDCs. Constitution Park,
a popular area where mainly middle aged and elderly men congregate and which is also
a popular site for anti-government protests, because of its close proximity to the Parliament,
is also along that street.
Peynier Street has sidewalks on either side, which facilitate the movement of pedestrians.
Consultations with vendors and min-bus drivers who spend a considerable amount of time
plying their trade from the sidewalks reveal that due to a number of defects, the sidewalks
pose a danger to pedestrians generally, but more specifically to the elderly, pregnant
women and women carrying babies who regularly slip and fall particularly when the
sidewalks are wet. Hence, they welcome the improvement to the sidewalks.
The estimated cost for this sidewalk improvements is USD186, 000 equivalent to XCD
500,005.20.
The Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL) is implementing the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) with funding from the World Bank Group (WBG). The DVRP aims to measurably reduce vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change impacts in Saint Lucia through several activities related to risk reduction and adaptation, technical assistance, financing for climate adaptation, and the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). The CERC is a provisional component to finance emergency recovery and reconstruction subprojects under an agreed action plan of activities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CERC was triggered and efforts are underway in Saint Lucia to acquire emergency equipment and supplies, and to enhance health emergency and disaster response efforts through small civil works such as rehabilitation of hospitals and clinics.
Saint Lucia is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) which faces many development
challenges that include limited geographic space; an open, vulnerable economy; fragile
ecosystems; limited human and institutional capacity; and vulnerability to natural phenomena,
such as extreme weather, epidemics and pandemics. The onset of climate change has increased
the frequency with which hydrometeorological climatic events occur with two extreme events
(Hurricane Tomas, October 2010, and the Christmas Eve Trough, December 2013) striking the
island within the last ten years and has also increased certain health threats.
Saint Lucia developed a Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR), funded by the
Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), which is currently being implemented. Saint
Lucia’s strategic programme areas are closely interwoven with the broader fabric of disaster risk
reduction (DRR). Thus, co-financing under the PPCR is being achieved through a synergistic
blend, with financial resources made available under the national and regional components of the
Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) which allows for up-scaling SPCR
implementation activities. Two major outcomes expected from Saint Lucia’s DVRP include: 1)
capacity built to identify and monitor climate risk at the national level; and, 2) reduced
vulnerability of key sectors, assets and people to natural disasters 1 .
The Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation is responsible for the
implementation of the DVRP while the Department of Sustainable Development and the
Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy (DIPE) provide technical support towards
implementation of the Project. The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) is responsible for the
fiduciary aspects of the Project.