St Lucia fast tracking development plan

Prime Minister Stephenson King has announced the implementation of a taskforce and unit dedicated to St Lucia's rebuilding efforts.

He says while government's National Vision Plan serves as the blueprint for the development of the country, Hurricane Tomas last year brought into sharp focus the need to fast track some of the developmental plans outlined in the National Vision Plan.

It is for that reason, Prime Minister King said, that the National Reconstruction and Development Unit (NRDU) has been conceptualized with a view to strengthening the institutional framework necessary to accelerate the implementation of the Vision Plan and related projects.

“The Government has exerted considerable energy and effort in mobilizing the necessary financing for the recovery and rebuilding effort. Now that we have moved from the recovery phase to one of rebuilding, there will be ample opportunity for every sector to be actively and intimately involved in reconstructing our economy,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister, this is a singular opportunity to correct some of the historical institutional inefficiencies, to diversify our productive infrastructure, to attract new and diverse investments, and to bring to life many of the development plans embedded in the National Vision Plan.

“Thankfully, from the inception we benefited from a clear consensus on the reconstruction plan. Key stakeholders from the Private and Public sectors have been co-opted and are instrumental to the composition and the operation of the National Reconstruction and Development Unit.”

Prime Minister King emphasized that the process of rebuilding the nation must become part of the St Lucian psyche, with every major organization and institution structuring its own organizational plans within the overall national plan for reconstruction and development.

The NRDU will operate under the guidance of the National Reconstruction and Development Taskforce.