Following honest and thorough discussions, the contractor has affirmed their commitment to completing the highway project at the soonest possible time. According to Hon. King, the government will continue mounting pressure on the contractor until the roadworks are completed.

 “They have set a timeline early in 2024, which I have not accepted. I have indicated they can do better than that. I have set my own timeline - we cannot go beyond October…I am continuing to mount the pressure,” King added.

 At present, sections of the Highway have been outfitted with a new coating of asphalt, allowing easier commuting for both public and private transport. However, the large portions of the highway which remain riddled with stones and mud cause major damage to vehicles and discomfort to passengers. The Prime Minister, who summoned stakeholders to a meeting the day prior is asking for more visible progress on the construction in the coming weeks. Hon. Pierre has made several public pronouncements about his “disgust” with the lack of progress of the project.

 “You can expect to see 1.5 kilometers of road, more than 25% of the job complete,” a representative from C.O Williams said. The contractor also disclosed that a new project manager has been brought on board to facilitate the completion of the project.

 The 11.1 kilometers of road is only part of the larger West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project. The road has received financing from The United Kingdom Government under the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund made available nearly XCD 100 million in grant funding. In addition to XCD 21.6 million in loan funding from the CDB, the Government of Saint Lucia has invested more than XCD 24 million in the project.