Disaster Reduction Project Set To Kick Off

Micoud Highway for AttentIon

THE Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP), ia $US68 million dollar initiative, seeking to protect Saint Lucians, by engaging in the construction and reconstruction of critical infrastructure throughout Saint Lucia, including infrastructure damaged after the Christmas Eve trough of 2013, is about to get underway.

Financed by the World Bank, and the Climate Investment Fund (CIF), the project is underpinned by a “Build Back Better” concept, which aims to ensure that climate change considerations factor into every DVRP initiative and more extensively into national development plans and policies. In other words, bridges for example, must be constructed or reconstructed to withstand extreme storms, hurricanes, and other climate related disasters.

Project Coordinator in the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU), Cheryl Mathurin, says a recent gathering of representatives of Implementing agencies was timely, as it is very important that individual agencies “build linkages and collaborate as much as possible during the execution of works under the DVRP.”

Among Implementing Agencies involved in executing projects are: Ministries of Health; Agriculture; Infrastructure; Education; and Sustainable Development, Energy, Science & Technology. The Water & Sewerage Company, (WASCO), the Saint Lucia Air & Seaports Authority (SLASPA), and Met Services also stand to benefit from the DVRP.

With so many players involved, there is a strong need for consistent oversight.

“The risk associated with the massive project is rated high”, says the PCU Coordinator. “There is need therefore,” Ms Mathurin emphasized, “to ensure that stakeholders follow procurement rules and other procedures, including the drawdown of funds for implementation of projects related to the DVRP.”

Meantime, a time table has been established for reconstruction works on the collapsed portion of the (Micoud South) highway between AnseGer Junction and Elien in the quarter of Cannelles. The $EC 2.1 miilion, contract, which falls under the DVRP venture, has been awarded to O.B. Sadoo Engineering Services Ltd.

The project is expected to last 24 weeks.

Residents and commuters of the area asked to exercise extreme caution throughout the duration of reconstruction works.