The Saint Lucia Craft and Dry Goods Vendors Association Ltd has welcomed the appointment of a new Mayor in the person of Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel and says it is looking forward to a ‘consultative relationship’ with her.
Association President, Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac told St Lucia Times that his organisation anticipates working with Lendor-Gabriel in addressing issues and making decisions, regardless of whether vendors feel those decisions are in their best interests.
Describing the relationship with former Mayor Peterson Francis as having been combative, Isaac said his association hopes that the past is behind vendors and that they can now move forward, not being slighted but being considered as partners.
He asserted that vendors play a significant role in the development of Castries.
“Therefore we think we must get someone who is going to work and consult with us in decisions. Sometimes decisions may be tough and rough and hard, but then consulting with people and making them think that they are important and needed, it helps in solving problems,” Isaac explained.
He said the Vendors’ Association hopes that under Mayor Lendor-Gabriel, decisions will not be imposed on them.
He said it was unfortunate the the association had a rocky relationship with the former Mayor.
“We thought some of his ideas were not bad ideas, but we thought that it was not done in good faith and in a consultative manner. We thought that he slighted us many times,” Isaac told St Lucia Times.
Nevertheless, he wished Peterson Francis well in his future endeavours and said he hopes the former Mayor learned a lot during his tenure.
Headline photo: Peter ‘Ras Ipa’ Isaac stock image
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