Reduit Residents Concerned About Resort Impact

It was promised as a boon for tourism and jobs. But the A’ila Resorts Project at Mt Pimard has instead become a flashpoint for distrust, with residents accusing the government and developers of secrecy, broken promises and the quiet privatisation of Reduit Beach.

Now, as construction moves ahead, homeowners have organised a petition and are demanding answers, and compensation, for what they call their property rights, quality of life and access to the beach.

There is a lot resting on the success of this mega project in Reduit, Gros Islet. For the government, it spells the first “successful” project under Invest Saint Lucia. For the Saint Lucia Tourism Association, it is an opportunity to market the availability of more hotel rooms and tie this to attracting more airlift.

However, there has been some pushback against the project by residents and some environmentalists. Since the commencement of construction residents have complained about noise and dust pollution. Questions have also been raised about the demarqued area for public beach use.

The sod-turning ceremony for the construction of the A’ila Resorts and Holistic Wellness Hotel was held just over a year ago on May 16, 2024.

According to Invest Saint Lucia, the resort will comprise rooms, private villas and residences. It was also reported that A’ila would be divided into several zones, the first of which, TheLifeCo, is scheduled to be completed this year. The project, according to Invest Saint Lucia, stood at an initial investment of about US$870 million.

Several homeowners near the project claim they were never properly consulted before construction began, and even after learning of the development, say key details about its scale and impact were withheld. Residents allege that the full scope of the resort’s footprint only became clear as bulldozers moved in.

Several months ago, Invest Saint Lucia, the DCA and tourism officials made a presentation to the residents during a town hall meeting. But residents said they left with several questions unanswered.

Homeowner Remo Foss, who started the petition, said the main issues of concern are the disruption to the quality of life since the construction started, loss of beach access and damage to properties.

“The construction is nonstop,” Foss said. “Work starts extremely early in the morning and often continues well past 7 p.m., sometimes until midnight.” There are times, he said, when work goes on around the clock for seven days straight.

“The constant noise, dust, and vibration are making it difficult to live, sleep, or host guests,” he told St Lucia Times.

On the question of beach access, Foss said: “Over two-thirds of Reduit Beach appears to be reserved for hotel guests only, with no clear, protected public access. This is a public beach being quietly privatised.”

The homeowner has also claimed that construction has damaged parts of the drainage system in the area as well as the roads.  

So what exactly are residents calling for, since construction is well advanced?

“From the government, we would like to see full transparency about the development plans, legal protection for public beach access—at least one-third of Reduit Beach should remain open to everyone,” Foss responded.

“There should also be oversight and enforcement of construction laws and environmental protections as well as pressure on the developers to repair damaged infrastructure, including drainage and roads.”  

He called for strict enforcement of work hours to stop the early morning and late-night disruptions, along with better site maintenance to curb dust and debris. Most critically, he demanded meaningful dialogue with residents and compensation for those whose livelihoods and quality of life have suffered.

Among them is Samantha Champagnie who said she was planning to return home to follow through on an investment.

“We bought a home right there on the beach to set up an Airbnb. At that time there was no mention or government notice that a hotel was going to be in front of us. I would not have made that investment had I known that this would happen,” she said.

“I know they say they are not taking the beach away but the reality is when you have beach chairs and umbrellas up and down there’s nowhere else for the residents to go. So the reality is the beach is history.”

Recalling the town hall meeting with residents, Champagnie said attendees were told that the development would be on the mountain and that Reduit would be turned into a beach park for residents.

She complained that there was no opportunity to review or challenge the six-and-a-half storey structure dominating Reduit Beach, or the looming seven-storey hotel at the base of Mt Pimard.  

“None of that was disclosed,” she said.

Dozens of waterfront homes that once boasted panoramic views stretching to Pigeon Island will now stare directly at the resort’s concrete balconies. Residents say this will slash property values.

“While I am not opposed to the project and development, I do believe that the government owes us a meeting with a greater degree of transparency and say, let me show you the project in full to eliminate the hearsay and us coming to incorrect conclusions,” Champagnie says.

So far, the petition has attracted over 150 signatures.

Efforts to reach spokespersons for the project were unsuccessful.