Work on the Mt. Pimard Development, spearheaded by the Life Co., is intensifying as the hoteliers eye a first phase completion this year. Residents of the surrounding areas are, however, displeased with the constant pace of works and the noise, dust and air pollution it generates.
On the sidelines of a stakeholder meeting on Thursday night, a resident speaking with Saint Lucia Daily Post explains some of her pressing concerns. “The worst concern is the nuisance: the noise, the dust, the truck damaging the roads, also damaging the electric cables. We got no electricity twice already because when the truck’s passing, they rip off the cables,” she explained.
Another pressing concern, she adds, is the construction’s interference with the joys of everyday life. According to her, a water pipe has been burst which is yet to be fixed. “There’s a WASCO pipe that burst. It’s underground, so I believe it’s one of the trucks because they’re so heavy. They burst the pipe, they haven’t done anything yet, so the water just going down the road, almost to the beach.”
The once peaceful community of Reduit, she adds, has been turned upside down by the noise of constant workers. “There’s a lot of staff and they’re very noisy too and they’re parking there, so they’re taking all the spots to park outside. It used to be a peaceful, peaceful road, only residents who used to come there, but now it’s been up and down with constant noise and the construction going on.”
Commenting on this latest round of stakeholder talks with the developers and Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire, she remains doubtful that residents’ concerns will be put to rest. “I’m not sure it will have an impact because we have already spoken to them individually because there’s an office in Reduit. So a lot of us have already complained about all those issues,” she says.
For his part Minister Hilaire has given a commitment to discussing the residents concerns with the developers with a view to finding a reasonable compromise.
The XCD $870 million investment by The Life Co will be a health and wellness-oriented resort and spa on the face of Mt Pimard.
