Vendors at the Castries Vendors Arcade have been promised that the Saint Lucia Cruise Port will provide e-commerce support and additional advertising opportunities in the redevelopment of the arcade and boardwalk.
The assurance was given at a recent stakeholder meeting, according to a release from the cruise port on Tuesday.
Officials from Saint Lucia Cruise Port and the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) met with members of the Vendors Association and independent business owners to discuss the redevelopment plans last week. The meeting was led by Mayor of Castries Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel, Saint Lucia Cruise Port General Manager Lancelot Arnold, and lead architect Jamal Francis of The Design House.
During the session, the cruise port team detailed the proposed transformative work that will be undertaken for the existing arcade as well as its expansion to improve both the vendor and passenger experience. They outlined the phased approach that will be taken in the redevelopment to minimise disruption to vendors’ daily operations.
One of the key priorities identified by vendors was e-commerce support and additional opportunities for advertising. In response, Arnold pledged ongoing support for vendors.
“Saint Lucia Cruise Port will work in collaboration with the Castries Constituency Council to create increased opportunities to improve the ease of doing business within the Vendors Arcade, which includes that of e-commerce and online marketing efforts,” he said.
Arnold reaffirmed Saint Lucia Cruise Port’s commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of key industry stakeholders who contribute to the industry’s success.
Saint Lucia Cruise Port has assured vendors that it will maintain open communication with the Castries Constituency Council, the Vendors Association, and other stakeholders throughout the redevelopment process. It said regular updates and engagements would be provided to ensure that concerns are addressed and all parties remain informed.
The redevelopment project is expected to modernise the arcade while preserving the vibrant local culture that attracts cruise passengers and visitors.
YEP