The commitment was made after vendors operating from the Castries Vendors Arcade were required to temporarily give up their regular income-generating activities to facilitate redevelopment of the waterfront and construction of the new cruise facility by Global Ports Holding.
Recognising that the transition would affect the livelihoods of small business operators, Pierre promised that affected vendors would receive compensation for the period of disruption and lost income.
That promise translated into financial assistance this week, with cheques presented during a ceremony at Castries City Hall on September 22. The programme covered 95 vendors who participated in the structured allocation and relocation exercise associated with the redevelopment.
Government initially allocated EC$500,000 for the ex-gratia initiative. An equal distribution would have amounted to approximately EC$5,263.16 per eligible vendor, provided vendors were up to date with their rental obligations.
Final payments, however, took account of outstanding rental balances. Vendors with low balances received the full EC$5,263.16, while vendors with medium or high balances had outstanding amounts deducted from their payments.
When arrears exceeded the ex-gratia payment amount, no payment was made, and the vendor remained in arrears. After those adjustments, EC$433,143.30 was actually disbursed.
The payments provide a tangible conclusion to a commitment made as Government sought to balance the redevelopment of the capital with the immediate economic realities facing the people whose livelihoods were affected.
For Pierre, the intervention is consistent with his government’s stated approach that national development should also consider its impact on ordinary people and small businesses.
The Government said the initiative was intended to ensure that people affected by major national development projects were not overlooked, describing the payments as tangible assistance to vendors who experienced disruption.
Tuesday's ceremony was attended by Pierre; Acting Minister for Local Government Stephenson King; Castries Mayor Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel; and Global Ports Holding Director Lancelot Arnold.