For years, the community of Cacao, Vieux Fort, leading up to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, have endured the unbearable, crumbling roads that have now become almost impassable.
Recent heavy rainfall has worsened the already dire situation, turning the road into a hazardous, erosion-riddled stretch that residents say is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Deep trenches now scar the road due to the absence of proper drainage systems, and collapsing mud drains exacerbate the problem.
Frustrated residents, fed up with mounting vehicle repair bills, are demanding immediate intervention from the government, their parliamentary representative, and the Ministry of Infrastructure.
“The water flow from the hilltop erodes the road, carrying sediment all the way down to the main road leading to Vigier. Sadly, even the main road is falling apart because there’s no drainage to direct the water,” explained Ruphena Joseph-Arlette, a vocal resident.
The residents, particularly those living on the hill leading to the church, say they’ve reached out to the authorities multiple times. They told St. Lucia Times that emails, messages, and phone calls have gone unanswered, leaving the Vieux Fort North community feeling abandoned and unheard.
In a bid to tackle the problem themselves, community members pooled their resources to lay aggregate on the worst sections of the road. But nature had other plans.
Heavy rains washed away their efforts, leaving them back at square one and out of pocket.
“We’ve tried everything, but nothing works. We are turning to the media now because our cries for help have fallen on deaf ears,” Joseph-Arlette added.
The road’s poor condition poses significant risks not just to residents but also to visitors. With over 100 homes, businesses, and a church relying on this road for access, the stakes are high.
“I’ve had several cancellations for my Airbnb as a result of the bad road conditions. As taxpayers, we pay for road licenses every year, but the roads here are far from safe or functional. This is no longer an inconvenience; it’s a hazard,” Joseph-Arlette stressed.
Residents point out that while other roads in the area are being repaired, their community continues to be overlooked. The financial burden of frequent vehicle repairs and the daily risk of navigating the deteriorating road have left them exasperated.
The community is calling on the government and relevant authorities to prioritise repairing this road, emphasizing that immediate action is needed before the situation escalates into a tragedy.
Welcome to our world…..
Gais Bois Road is worse than that and has been for Twenty years plus. The politicians don’t respond to any of our calls, messages pleas for help.
The road is impassable, there is no way you can get from Saltibus to the Vieux Fort highway. Broken promises all the time.
Best of luck to you
I can’t agree more with what ISN’T HAPPENING with our roads. The road (riverbed) is ssssooo bad (Gais Bois Road) South is beyond dangerous now and no street lighting. Personally and others have been stuck in our cars on this road hoping for help.
The government ignores our plea for help with no response at all. Where is all the money going too???
I’m a lady driver on my own and getting stuck is no joke. I’ve been lucky so far that everyone who has helped have been great but one of these days it won’t be someone as nice. Do I need to be attacked before anything is done?
I repeat GAIS BOIS ROAD, SOUTH.
HELP US PLEASE SOMEONE.
Since the road is not being repaired, it would be advisable to ditch the car for a vehicle capable of dealing with the road conditions, 4WD with adequate ground clearance. Actually many SUVs are designed to handle those road conditions if the drivers choose to.
The driver wanted to tell the passenger which way to go, he said whose way to go,so then whose to blame,it a matter of négligent and a continually shame for the one reprensenting..