Plans for the development of the north south link road have been put on hold.

Francilia Solomon, Coordinator for the Iyanola Project—an initiative aimed at preserving Saint Lucia’s endemic and wildlife species—said while the salience of the road project is noted, development plans should also consider the fragility of the island’s finite natural resources.

“The feasibility study for the construction of a north-south link road came back negative due to very high costs,” Ms. Solomon said. “We hope it remains this way. However, should things change, it will have a negative impact on the work done by this project. The very species, the very landscapes, the very seascapes that we are currently trying to preserve will be affected.

Ms. Solomon continued: “While we are very much aware and supportive of the development needs of the country and the need to have an alternative route to access the north especially in situations of disasters, it needs to be very finely balanced with the acknowledgement of the presence of our endemic species. By virtue of the fact that they are endemic means they can be found nowhere else in the world. So there is an impetus on us to ensure that all our actions are concentrated on preserving these species. The construction of the road would need to be done in a manner that is fully respectful of the species that are there. And that [it may not be] is our fear.”

Acting Research Officer in the Forests and Lands Division, Karlmonty Augustin, said there is a need to cultivate sustainable development policies that take Saint Lucia’s limited reserves into specific consideration.

“For the Forestry Department, we recognize there will always be competing needs for land. So for us, the Iyanola Project is a means to develop innovative management techniques and approaches that take into consideration the fact that there will be development on privately owned reserves as we move into the future,” he said.

“We need to figure out how such development can be sustainable in nature so that the impact on the natural world is minimized. And if we can convince people that the value of their land actually goes up if they can boast that it houses endemic species, be it both plants and animals, then people will look at value differently.”

The north south link road study assessed the potential for construction of an alternative route linking the north and south of the island. The project was one of many challenges faced by conservationists, that threaten the livelihood of the island’s forests.