Rock slides in Soufriere after heavy rainfall have prompted a safety alert from the President of the Soufriere Minibus Association, Norman Bernard.
Bernard has urged motorists and commuters to be aware of the danger.
He disclosed that the rock slides occurred on Wednesday and Thursday.
Although Bernard said he would not describe the incidents as major, he told St. Lucia Times one was a source of concern.
He recalled that on Thursday morning, a boulder came down at Palmiste.
Bernard said by noon, the boulder had been removed and work had begun clearing the other debris.
He explained that rock slides on the Soufriere road are regular occurrences.
As a result, the Soufriere Minibus Association President stated that motorists and commuters should exercise caution to ensure they get to their destinations safely.
“Our bigger concern, though, is the general condition of the road from Castries to Soufriere. This is a bigger safety issue for me than those slides that occur every year during the rainy season,” Bernard said.
However, he told St. Lucia Times that apart from hearing from the Minister responsible via news clippings, he did not think there had been any formal communication regarding the road issue, including with the National Council on Public Transportation.
“As to when that road is going to be fixed, we are just seeing things – heavy equipment parked at Cul de Sac. We are hearing speculation that they are going to start on the road soon,” Barnard stated.
But he said to date, the road remains the same.
According to the Minibus Association President, the situation is taking a toll on vehicles, in addition to the government’s 2.5 percent Health & Security Levy, making it challenging to make minibusses road-worthy.
Regarding safety, Bernard observed that the potholes are a concern, especially when it rains because drivers cannot tell where the holes are.
He disclosed that last week there were two incidents where a bus driver lost two tyres when his vehicle went into a pothole and another vehicle broke a spring.
Woiiii that’s huge boulder thank goodness it did not hit anyone, bikes, vehicles buses tourists … I think you should use the drones from Taiwan to coast the entire Caribbean coast road Roseau to soufrier and around rest of island and if boulders like this are seen on cliffs above main thouroways well get rayneau to get ‘‘em down safely before our next 2 troughs in a row! I Thank you …please assist WascO!!! ……..
Good for you’ll we don’t eat roads now roads eating you’ll. Lol lol ha ha
you see this nonsense, they want us to have our vehicles to be road worthy doing all sorts of inspection and paying endless of money for a stupid sticker but the roads are not vehicle worthy and if you dont have that sticker police going to charge you.
I understand you have to pay your insurance but as of right now it makes so sense paying for this sticker if the road is in this type of condition and our vehicles are being destroyed on a regular basis. As soon as UWP regains power I want them to remove that stupid 2.5 percent Health & Security Levy cause everyone is complaining this hardship.
I tell you once these fellas right now in power look out for hardship look out for new and higher taxes when you finish you want a whole set of jackasses to go and march with you to protect the victory? I more think they will be marching for more Misery. I leave you there for dale elliot.