Residents of Monkey Town in Ciceron, Castries, are calling for their community’s name to be officially changed to “Julien Alfred Avenue” in honor of the double Olympic medallist and renowned sprinter, Julien Alfred, who grew up in the area.
The movement has gained momentum, with locals asserting they are serious about the need for the change.
They have erected a street sign reading “Julien Alfred Avenue” to symbolise their commitment.
“We have one of the best athletes in the world, and they want to keep calling our area Monkey Town. We are not monkeys! Change the name!” one passionate resident expressed to St. Lucia Times.
The residents believe the renaming would not only honor Alfred’s remarkable achievements but also instill a sense of pride in the community.
They hope the name change will reflect the area’s positive association with one of Saint Lucia’s most celebrated sports figures.
Additionally, the residents called for Julien Alfred to be brought to the community on the 24th of September when she returns home.
They told St. Lucia Times that such a visit would allow them to show her their love and immense pride.
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I quite agree with the renaming of the place. The current name is ridiculous; it is no where on the official map of St Lucia. However, over time, it may stick if the Authorities want to name so. The naming of places/locations cone and go based on the event taking place in real time. All the best.
It time people stop worshipping human beings. God alone deserve our worship and praise. I dont think its necessary to change the name: thats where she grew up: leave the same name, to show how someone can excel from any community that they grew up in.
The question is: Is monkey town a region or a street name in Cicerone? If it’s a region then it can’t be named Julien Alfred Avenue as an avenue suggests it’s a large/ broad road. While I support the renaming of the place in honour of our star Olympian, much consideration must go into doing so. I believe place naming should reflect why a place is named so when visitors read a place name, they know exactly why the place is named that way. So if monkey town is a region in Ciceron, it perhaps can be named PLACE DE JULIEN ALFRED: OLYMPIAN. As visitor reading this, I know exactly why it’s called by that name and yes I am biased towards the french/ Kwéyol tongue.
For y’all to sully the girl good name. Great idea to name that crime ridden cesspool after a decent hardvworking law abiding citizen. The total opposite of what prevails there.. Let”s not forget how yall turned Ciceron from a decent area to one where no one wants to traversre. The nonsense I hear in this country is dumbfounding.
Lers name the government house after her, also name a room in your house after her. Foolish lucians.
Are there 🙊 monkeys in St.Lucia?
This is where Julian Alfred grew up! Monkey Town Ciceron. I think it is time the name of this place was changed concerning how ill fitting. St Lucia never had monkeys except 3 at the zoo!!!
@ Angela September 20, 2024 At 9:12 pm
They transformed the area into a jungle. Name is appropriate.
I totally agree 👍 it’s high time they stop calling us monkey Town people, please change the name to Julien Alfred Avenue and also we need our roads to be fixed in the area its been too long awaiting, may God shower Julien with his blessings as she returns back home 🏡 God bless.
I totally agree 👍 it’s high time they stop calling us monkey Town people, please change the name to Julien Alfred Avenue and also we need our roads to be fixed in the area its been too long awaiting, may God shower Julien with his blessings as she returns back home 🏡 God bless.
Love ❤️ means BLESS ❗
Love changes all !
Love covers all !!
Monkey town is the appropriate name for that community and its residents….kindly leave it at that .
Translate that to creole: Ville Macak: Just don’t sound right. A name change should have been requested a long time ago.
What would you rather hear in the news if a crime happened to take place there:
‘A crime happened at Monkey town Ciceron’ or
‘A crime happened at Julien Alfred Ciceron’
More consideration needed on that change of name please.
There ought to be a Government Department like Survey & Mapping to liaise with the Constituency Offices AND consultancy from the National Archives for naming of areas.
Too often names written on a piece of wood have been nailed on a lamp post by someone in the area and hey presto! a community is born.
A good example at Morne Dudon, is Odlum City. Was /is this name legal?
Change the Millinium Highway to the Julien Alfred Parkway; after all, no individual name Millinium has done anything for St. Lucia.
Lol. I’m amused by the article and the comments. No one wants to leave in a community called monkey town. But would named it? Wasn’t it the residents who adopted that name? Also that community has had such a bad reputation. Do you think renaming it would change the community? Or is it the people who live there who needs to step up to change their community? So what happens when they rechristen the community? Will all the problems and crime go away? Or will the country now be hearing Julien Alfred Avenue being associated with the same non sense we’ve come to expect from Monkeytown? Please protect this young lady’s legacy.
The government should have a discussion with the Odlum family with a view to rename the stadium after Julien Alfred after it has been rebuilt. Much more fitting IMO.
Too often in St Lucia we just give places, communities or streets names which are not official. According to the map of St Lucia there is no street or community in Ciceron that is called Monkey Town but we say it all the time. Someone may have passed there and realized that the people from that area resembled monkeys and gave the place that name but it is not official. A typical example is Jackass Town in Bellevue, Vieux Fort. This place got the name because of how the residents of this area behaved and now everyone calls it that. I can think of many other places like that. Back to the renaming I believe that when you want to honor your national heroes it should be a landmark not a community. Maybe when the stadium becomes a stadium again we can rename it Julien Alfred National Stadium
While I agree with the person saying to name the millenium highway after her they need to first finish fixing it properly. No body wants to associate her with another failed government project.
@thomas, there is a reason it was called Millenium highway back then. Sadly it was supposed to have been an “impressive piece of connecting road back then and the first of its kind for the new Millennium, unfortunately we know where thus stands now. I believe now since it’s reconstruction is nearing completion, it is due for a new name.
@I don’t know, I completely agree with you. We have a culture of assigning unofficial-official names to communities no matter how distasteful, e.g. grass street, coolie town, barons drive, New York City, Ping Pong, Too Mama, Gaza Strip and the shameful list goes on. It is unfortunate but the percentage of our slow population who should have no voice, apparently have the largest ones and plenty influence!
Can anyone or anything good come out of Monkeytown? Absolutely! In the person of JULIEN ALFRED. What she has achieved so far is so commendable. She did not allow her circumstances or environment define her. Now this is beyond physical, emotional and mental strength. This is spiritual strength. Keep rising my sister.. Your loyal fan since primary school days.
I think the authorities should ask Julien her opinion about the name change. Some of us as we grow older we often want to see things of the past to feel nostalgic, not to totally forget all.
Thanks so much for not publishing such a positive comment
I’m not from ST Lucia but even if it a crime infested area good came out of it the name change can inspire some youths to change and see that good can come out of their community
@Anonymous September 22, 2024 At 10:51 am
I think Odlum was the one who spearheaded relations with China (not Taiwan) to build the stadium. Without him there would be no stadium so it would be hard to justify.
“@ Anonymous September 23, 2024 At 8:12 am
I’m not from ST Lucia but even if it a crime infested area good came out of it the name change can inspire some youths to change and see that good can come out of their community”
We have George V Park right next to a ghetto for decades. Place is horrible. Nothing good has come out of that place in over 50 years. We have Mindoo Philip Park in Marchand. Named after the park’s caretaker and WIndward Islands cricketer. Nothing good has come out of that place in a long time. Naming sporting facilities after impressive sporting/other figures has no bearing on improving those areas.
Keeping It Real I agree with you completely.