Soufriere is renowned as the tourism capital of Saint Lucia, boasting world-famous attractions such as the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs, as well as some of the world’s best hotels. Soufriere sees thousands of visitors annually, mostly by land, but many more by sea, in both large and small vessels. As such, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation (SRDF) has seen it fitting to better manage the town’s coastal waters and maritime resources and convened a meeting earlier this week.
Representatives from law enforcement, the maritime sector and the tourism industry participated in the consultation, which focused on strengthening oversight and coordination across the marine space.
It was also proposed that a dedicated police marine unit be established to serve the coastal community.
The discussions brought together representatives from the maritime sector, law enforcement, tourism stakeholders, and regulatory agencies to examine measures to improve safety, surveillance, and coordination within Soufriere’s marine space.
Director of Maritime Affairs at Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), Christopher Alexander, welcomed the discussions, noting that they were timely. “SLASPA would like to commend the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation for the initiative to call this meeting with key stakeholders. Noting that GPH is about to enter the development of Soufriere and also knowing that there will be an influx of maritime traffic within Soufriere, we found the timing was opportune for us to discuss concerns that have been plaguing the Soufriere maritime sector,” Alexander said.
According to the SLASPA maritime official, the engagement was not just another talk shop, but solutions-oriented.
Soufriere’s waters play a vital role in the community’s economy, supporting fishing, marine transportation, yachting, and of course, the tourism industry. Maritime consultant Cuthbert Didier also lauded the SRDF for bringing together stakeholders to address the sector’s issues.
“We are in a time when we have limited resources, and there is a need to create more synergy, greater dialogue for comprehensive results. I want to say today was very focused on solutions, and I can say that the future looks bright,” Didier remarked.
He, however, expressed concerns about some activities by boaters and boat owners as they traverse the waters along the west coast into Soufriere, but added that, with the help of SLASPA, the marine police, and the SRDF, the challenges would be addressed.
The stakeholders emphasised the need to strengthen maritime security to protect livelihoods, safeguard marine resources and maintain the town’s reputation as one of Saint Lucia’s premier tourism destinations. Inspector of Police at the Saint Lucia Marine Police Unit, Reece Auguste, stated that the Marine Police understood the value of the tourism sector in the Soufriere region and Saint Lucia.
“The maritime unit plays a key role in getting people in and out of Soufriere safely to experience the product that Soufriere has to offer. We understand the value of that product, and the police marine unit will play a key role in ensuring that every enforcement aspect of the law is adhered to,” Reece said.
According to the Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager of the SRDF, Lovely Saint Aime Joseph, the consultation was a great opportunity for all ideas to contend and for everyone to get on the same page to chart the way forward.
