Wednesday, Aug 06

King Calls for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Strategic Reform at ACTIF 2025

Tuesday, Aug 05

M

inister for Infrastructure, Stephenson King, has issued a strong call for urgent, sustainable, and long-term investment in climate-resilient infrastructure across the Caribbean and Africa.

Speaking during the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) 2025, Minister King emphasized that ad hoc project execution and outdated systems have hindered progress in building durable infrastructure.

To be able to rise to the occasion to build strong and resilient infrastructure to face today's challenges, we need financing, human resource capacity, and the institutional ability to embed resilience into our designs,” said Infrastructure Minister King.

The Minister highlighted a recurring problem in the region, which is the tendency to approach infrastructure development on a project-by-project basis, without proper consideration for long-term maintenance.

We build a road with a pavement strength of 15 to 20 years and expect it to last that long without implementing a maintenance regime, but if we put the right protocols in place, that road could last even 25 years,” he said.

Citing Saint Lucia’s proactive steps, Minister King revealed that the country has already developed a long-term infrastructure plan dubbed Infrastructure 2030, which took three years to complete and is expected to be followed by Agenda 2050.

The plan, he said, comprehensively reviews the Department of Infrastructure’s operations, public service delivery, and legislative framework.

Our existing legislation dates back to 1957,” he pointed out. “It still refers to horses, donkey carts, and currency in pounds and shillings – it does not reflect modern realities.

A key focus of the strategic agenda, King explained, is eliminating inefficiencies and outdated practices in utility coordination.

In Saint Lucia, it is said that when WASCO smells asphalt, they dig the roads. We’re saying: no more of that. We need to build utility chambers on the shoulders of the roads so that any faults can be addressed by simply lifting slabs, no more digging up freshly paved roads.”

The Minister also noted that reforms are underway at the Department of Physical Development, which is finalising its own strategic plan focused on stronger building codes and enhanced enforcement.