The document discusses governance and greening initiatives in Castries, Saint Lucia, highlighting the local government's structure, challenges, and the vision for a greener city. It emphasizes the need for a new local government ordinance to better address community involvement and support for greening programs. The document also outlines potential benefits and necessary actions for environmental enhancement in urban development.

1. Governance and Greening of
Castries, Saint Lucia
Foro de Cuidades Sostenibles
San Jose , Costa Rica
7th -9th March, 2012
Judith Ephraim
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science
and Technology, saint Lucia

2. Presentation Outline
• Country Profile
• Governance in Saint Lucia
• The City of Castries
• Greening Activities in Castries
• Challenges
• The Way Forward
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3. 2.0 St. Lucia Country Profile
• Volcanic island in the Eastern
Caribbean
• Located at 13°59´ N, 61° W
• Area-616 km2
• Tropical maritime climate
• Population of 170,000
• Small, open, tourism-based
economy
• Rich culture and history
3

4. National Government
• St Lucia is a constitutional monarchy with two levels of
government: central and local.
Central Government
• The head of state is HM Queen Elizabeth II who
appoints and is represented by a governor-general
• The parliament comprises:
- House of Assembly -17 elected members
- The Senate -11 members appointed by the Governor
General;
• Prime Minister appoints a cabinet from members of both
houses. 4

5. Local Government
Legal Basis
• The constitution makes reference to local government but contains no
specific provisions or protection
• The main legislation governing local government
is as follows:
-Local Government Ordinance 1947
-Castries Corporation Act 1967.
Structure
• 13 administrative divisions, known as ‘quarters’, and one city.
• Local authorities within the 13 quarters consist of three town
councils, six village councils and four district councils.
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6. Local Government-Councils
• Town, village and district councils
-Single tier
-Nine (9) appointed members including a chairperson,
-Decisions are made by the full council.
• Castries City Council
-Second tier
-Membership of nine appointed councillors including a chairperson,
-Decision-making process is predominantly through sub-committees
who report back to the full council
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7. Local Government
• No elected local government in St Lucia since the last
elections in 1979.
• No legal requirement for community involvement in local
authority decision-making.
• Local authorities have been encouraged to be involved
and to participate in the development process through
linkages with other civil society organisations.
• Good relations exist between the various governmental
agencies and civil society organisations. 7

8. Local Government
• Currently the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Social
Transformation, Local Government and Community
Empowerment is responsible for the nomination of all
council members.
• Consultations are held with civil society organisations
and recommendations are made to the Minister with
appointments approved by cabinet.
• The Minister assumes overall responsibility for policy
formulation and direction.
• In each local authority, the director of local government
functions as the administrative head with the assistance
of two local government officers and an administrative 8
clerk

9. Local Government
• The Ministry provides support in four areas: advocacy,
local level innovation, capacity development and
regulation.
• Central government provides institutional support and
monitoring to local government authorities
• Finance officers are also appointed to carry out reviews
and to ensure adherence to financial regulations
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10. The City of Castries
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11. Casties
• Founded1650 as Le “Carenage”
• Renamed 1756 as “Castries” Charles Eugène Gabriel de
La Croix de Castries, marquis de Castries
• Area of 79km2
• No. Households – 1458
• No. Of Business Places – 1826
• No of Buildings – 1132
• Household population - 3661
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12. Evolution of Castries
• 2000 - a bay enclosed by hills and fringed with mangrove , rich in
fish, conch and other seafood. ample fresh water was obtainable
from the Castries River –safe refuge for europeans
• Between 1765 and 1768 a new town was built by the Baron de
Micoud on the riverside site and called Ville du Carenage. In 1785
this town was named Castries after the Marquis de Castries,
Marechal de France
• Current town grew up along the castries river, this was aided by
reclamation of the sea, resulting in a smaller bay.
• Destructive fires in 1813, 1927 and 1948 each leveled most of the
town again. There was also severe hurricane damage in 1817, 1831
and 1980. 12

13. Castries
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14. Castries-Local Government
• Before being declared city, Castries governed by a town
wardens
• 1851-election of first Mayor
• From 1967 Mayors heads Castries City Council
• City council election abolished in 1980 and currently
council chairmen appointed by Minister
• Mayors, chairmen and councilors have taken care of
business as the legislative authority giving central
direction to the council’s employees, through the
administrative and managerial command of the Town
Clerk
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15. Castries-Local Government
Castries City Council is the body charged with the overall
maintenance and upkeep of the city. Activities include :
• Sanitation ,
• City Maintenance,
• City Beautification,
• City Security,
• Parking Spaces,
• Oversight of Vendors,
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16. National Supporting Green
Policy Initiatives
• Energy Policy (renewable energy, energy efficiency,
transportation)
• Environmental Policy and Strategy
• Land Policy
• Physical Planning Act (zoning, preservation of sites and
buildings of interest, protection of natural areas ,EIAs)
• National Conservation Authority Act 1999 ( declaration of
protected areas for beauty, fauna or flora, creating
recreational areas
• Urban Policy
• National focus on the green economy
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17. Castries City Council Greening
Activities
The functions and responsibilities of local government have
been transferred to centralised authorities with many of the
services provided carried out in tandem with other
governmental agencies e.g ;
•Maintenance of and repairs to roads, sidewalks, footpaths
and streets;
•Cleaning and de-silting of drains, streets, sidewalks and
rivers;
•Maintenance of squares, parks and open spaces;
• Landscaping and beautification programmes;
•Maintenance of public buildings;
•Environmental monitoring and development control;
•Supervision of solid waste collection;
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18. Upkeep of Green Spaces e.g
Derek Walcott square
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19. Use of Renewable Energy –
Photovoltaic on public buildings
19

20. Castries Vision Plan Direction
• 2007-detailed holistic study on the potential for redevelopment of
Castries with a strong green focus including:
• Opening accessibility in northern, southern and eastern area
• Preserving community spaces and creating new ones.
• Creating a cohesive and impressive waterfront destination.
• Expanding residential development
• Creating active commercial and industrial districts.
• Improvement and expansion of transportation to alleviate areas of
problematic congestion.
• Encouraging conservation and creation of protected areas.
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21. Castries Vision Plan Direction
Possible Greening aspects:
• Pedestrianise the three miles of waterfront.
•Establish a tram system for mass transportation around
the harbour area.
•Landscaping and beautification programme.
•Water Quality improvement programme – Out flow
filtration to ensure clean water only enters the harbour.
Sewerage development programme for Castries will
remove the dumping of black water.
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22. Benefits of Greening Castries
Economic, Social and
Environmental benefits
including:
• Positive impact on
tourism
• Supports national policies
e,g Land, Water, Energy,
Environment, Biodiversity
Urban*
• Improved image of City
and National Pride
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23. Challenges to Greening Castries
General
• Greening is fairly new concept-acceptance
• Will require changes
• Limited space, multiple users, need for balance
• Greening encompasses many areas-prioritising
• Financing for green initiatives
Local Government
• Limited financial resources, no revenue collection still
dependent on general public purse.
• Local Government needs institutional support, stronger
mandate and ownership
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• Newly formed Ministry with the Urban Renewal portfolio

24. The Way Forward
• Review of the Local Government Ordinance 1947 to
establish a governing instrument that is appropriate to a
new system of local government in St Lucia. This will
include consultations at a local level to include local
government authorities and marginalised and minority
groups in the various communities on the island.
• Implementation of Greening Strategy for City –holistic,
futuristic, realistic, participatory,
• Activation of Integrated Development Planning approach
• Innovative ways of financing greening of the city
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25. The Way Forward
• Finalisation of Urban Policy
• Enhanced implementation of national policies related to
greening
• Need for Science and Technology in planning
• Public awareness and sensitization
• Public-Private Partnerships
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26. Gracias
Merci
Thank You 26