Once touted as the “new frontier” and home to several bustling manufacturing and assembly plants, Vieux Fort encountered some challenges due to a rise in gang violence that escalated late in 2022 and into 2023. However, over the past year, a deserted town during the crime wave seems to be turning the corner for the better.
It is a hot Wednesday in July with temperatures peaking at 87 degrees. Traffic is backed up along the Vieux Fort highway, which runs parallel to the Hewanorra International Airport.
“Maysyaiy, you can see tings nice in Vieux Fort dem days, it eh even month end and deh have traffic so,” exclaimed a gas station attendant.
Over on Clarke Street, vendor numbers appear to have increased. One vendor mentioned that while things were not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, business had improved compared to the previous year.
Vieux Fort South, the southernmost community in Saint Lucia, with a population of just over 16 000, is home to the international airport, Point Sable Beach, Maria Island and the historical Moule-à-Chique lighthouse.
“Boy, Vieux Fort people are proud people, and once people realise how badly all that nonsense was affecting us and we stood with the police, we have seen some form of normalcy returning,” Joe, a bus driver, said.
He added that the transport sector in the south had also suffered, with bus drivers seeing fewer regular commuters during the peak of the crime wave.
Mayor of Vieux Fort Wayne Cumberbatch credited the resilience of Vieux Fortians and the police for the turnaround.
“I really want to thank the people of Vieux Fort for coming together and recognising that it is important for the community to be safe, united and productive, and that realisation came after the crisis,” Cumberbatch said.
He also expressed gratitude to the police for their zero-tolerance approach, which he believed played a crucial role in restoring order.
Sustaining these efforts, he noted, was essential, with community policing initiatives and youth programmes like Rising Stars contributing to the progress.
The mayor emphasised the importance of community pride, explaining that encouraging residents to take ownership of Vieux Fort had helped foster safety and productivity.
While last year’s carnival received a lukewarm reception, the community successfully hosted the La Marguerite Festival, followed by a well-received Festival of Lights in December. These events, the mayor said, helped restore public confidence and stimulated economic activity.
This year, Vieux Fort also hosted the National Business Expo, the annual national church service, Jazz in the Park, and Carnival, all of which reinforced confidence at both local and national levels.
Following the successful staging of Vieux Fort Carnival in July, Hija de Diós wrote on Facebook, “It was not just incident-free… It was fun and brought people together… that’s the picture. ‘Unity in mas’.”
Vendors, too, benefited economically from the event. The mayor noted that they had recently formed an association to better handle future challenges.
Other initiatives underway include refurbishing the fisheries complex and repurposing the market into an entertainment centre. In sports, Vieux Fort recently hosted a successful under-15 football tournament, and its senior team advanced in the semi-pro league.
Ajani Lebourne, programme manager at the Seeds Resource Centre and the Ubuntu Movement, shared his satisfaction with recent progress. His organisation supports underprivileged individuals through advocacy, interventions and programmes that promote justice and peace.
Lebourne explained that one of their first steps was facilitating a peace treaty between gangs, supported by RISE Saint Lucia and Safe Spaces. Since then, Seeds and Ubuntu have launched multiple initiatives, including an after-school programme with USAID, a retreat for young girls, and a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programme.
The CVI trains influential residents to de-escalate conflicts before they turn violent.
“It’s both from the standpoint that if you realise there is a potential conflict brewing in the community, how do you step in to de-escalate that situation, and it is also pre-empting situations, from what is picked up on the ground,” Lebourne said.
Peace mediators also gather community intelligence to preempt potential issues. Lebourne clarified that their role was not to feed information to the police but to focus on social interventions.
Seeds is also strengthening private-sector ties to create job opportunities for Vieux Fort’s youth and improve psycho-social support. Recently, they launched a work-readiness programme for at-risk youth, with local businesses like Tru Value, Coconut Bay, SLU Metals and Plastics, and Ed Essentials offering support.
However, challenges remain, particularly in rebuilding trust. Lebourne acknowledged that past disappointments had left some residents sceptical of outside help. Additionally, some communities had developed self-reliance to the point of resisting government assistance.
“So, how do you then step in and say, ‘Hey, we are here to help you’ when they have developed their own coping mechanisms? he asked.
Despite these hurdles, Lebourne expressed optimism, noting that their mediators had made progress in connecting with residents. The key now, he said, was ensuring sustainability and reinforcing the message that Vieux Fort matters – not just locally, but nationally.
