The Castries Port, a vital hub for Saint Lucia’s economy, is in the middle of a major upgrade, but the transition hasn’t been smooth. Recent congestion, a protest by truckers, rising worries about the cost of living, and the looming relocation of residents and vendors at Bananes Bay have put the port’s redevelopment in the spotlight.
The port, long managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), is now being transformed by Global Ports Holding (GPH), with plans to modernise and expand its operations. However, the process has exposed operational weaknesses and sparked public discomfort, particularly among port users and Bananes Bay locals.
The port’s redevelopment will dramatically change the face of Bananes Bay, a small area within the port where squatters, fishermen, and shop owners have long made a living. The planned transformation into a modern fishing village with restaurants, cafes, and tourism infrastructure will mean displacing the current residents and informal businesses.
When St Lucia Times visited Bananes Bay on Thursday, a group of men playing dominoes said they were saddened that their usual spot would soon be gone but understood that “development may take place”.
A shopkeeper who has operated in Bananes Bay for years was cautiously optimistic:
“We’ll not just be dealing with locals. If we could get engaged with tourists, instead of congestion in town, sea taxis will be used to bring tourists over to us,” he said. Referring to the finished product once redevelopment is complete, he stated, “Even if you don’t get a shop or a bar, you could maybe sell coconut water… but it’s an opportunity for everybody.”
The redevelopment also raises pressing questions for the informal vendors and residents. Some say they were originally promised land as part of the relocation process, but now face offers of cash compensation instead. For elderly and disabled residents, the lack of guaranteed housing adds another layer of difficulty, leaving many unsure of where they’ll go next.
“We want to treat the people with dignity because we respect them,” Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said during a town hall meeting in Gros Islet on Tuesday. “The people who live there are going to be much better off, and when you see that area, you’re going to see why Labour works for you.”
Growing pains
On the operational side of the port redevelopment, the most visible flashpoint came last week when truckers, frustrated by delays and the lack of a proper queuing space, staged a protest. The problem stemmed from cargo buildup, including over 400 motor vehicles arriving on a recent shipment, combined with the slow removal of empty containers by shippers. SLASPA had to restrict port entry to reduce congestion, but this left truckers parked outside and subject to police ticketing.
“In terms of SLASPA’s operations, we are working within a 10-acre space. That’s simply not enough anymore,” Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King told Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing. “The used car dealers, they’re a little tardy because most of them do not have a bond. So we were forced to allow the vehicles to stay on the port, and that interfered with the movement of truckers.”
In response to the disruptions, SLASPA has taken steps to ease the congestion. King said some vehicles are being diverted to Vieux Fort and a truck layby system has been introduced to keep traffic moving. By last Saturday, these changes had helped restore smoother operations at the port.
Political finger-pointing
Still, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has not let the government off the hook. At the UWP press briefing on Tuesday, former minister and UWP candidate Herod Stanislaus accused the administration of mismanagement and allowing SLASPA’s operational capacity to deteriorate.
“Truckers’ protests have achieved what months of warnings could not,” Stanislaus said. “This government has systematically destroyed the operational capacity of our nation’s economic lifeline.”
He linked port delays directly to rising living costs, blaming inefficiencies for the alleged double-charging of merchants and prolonged customs clearance. “That is a failure of government,” he said.
Also speaking during the ministerial press briefing, Minister for Commerce Emma Hippolyte said her ministry had received concerns from the Chamber of Commerce and was working with the ministers of finance and infrastructure to find operational solutions. “We are conscious of what is happening out there, and as a government, we are going to sit to ensure that we have smooth sailing,” she stated.
What comes next
For now, SLASPA and the government are attempting to juggle the port’s evolving demands. The congestion may be a symptom of outdated infrastructure, but authorities are banking on long-term solutions.
Chief among them is a proposed full-fledged commercial port at Cul de Sac. A consultancy funded by the Caribbean Development Bank is underway to assess its feasibility, including dredging requirements and potential acreage, according to King.
“Looking down the road, 2030 thereabout, we’re looking for a facility that can probably be in an acreage of about 40,” said King. He also hinted at an “off-dock” facility in the event one “cannot keep [their] container, but [want] to get another bonding facility away from the dock which can provide that kind of service.”
The hope is that the new facilities will ease pressure on Castries and allow Saint Lucia to modernise its cargo and shipping operations while integrating better logistics, container management and stakeholder coordination.
“This speaks to another critical issue: the need for a new port in this country,” King said. “We are working toward a more sustainable future.”
