Chastanet Doubts Government’s Ability To Satisfactorily Fix The Roads

Opposition leader Allen Chastanetr has cast doubt on the Government’s ability to satisfactorily fix the country’s deteriorating road network despite a declaration that 2024 would be the year for infrastructure. In his New Year’s Address to the nation, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre promised the allocation of ‘significant technical and financial resources’ to road rehabilitation. Pierre said remedial work would begin on roads Islandwide. But Chastanet told DBS Television that under his leadership as Prime Minister, the United Workers Party (UWP) administration spent nearly half a billion dollars maintaining the existing road network. However, he indicated that the Pierre Government would face challenges due to inflation, supply chain, and other issues in delivering on its 2024 road rehabilitation promise. The Micoud South MP said he was concerned about how the Government managed the Millennium Highway. He described the project as a ‘colossal disaster’. “I don’t know where the deficiency is,” Chastanet stated. He questioned whether the problem lay with his former Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King, whose ‘incapacity’ was showing. King quit the  then ruling UWP to run as an independent in the July 26, 2021, general elections. He retained his Castries North seat, and joined the Saint Lucia Labour Party...