RESDP's ESIA, ESMP and ARAP to be Available for Public Review Soon

The RESDP’s ESIA and auxiliary documents, the ESMP and ARAP, will be available for public review shortly.

Panorama Environmental Inc., the Consultancy Firm responsible for conducting the assessment and preparing the above documents, is presently completing their work on the three documents. When ready, the documents will be available for public dissemination and submission to key agencies, both locally and internationally (UNESCO/IUCN and the World Bank), for review and comments.

The ESIA document is a comprehensive analytical assessment of the project's potential environmental and social impacts. The ESIA document covers critical areas such as the project description, the environmental and social considerations, such as, the impacts on the water resources; soil erosion; air quality; noise and vibration; the impact of biodiversity and biological resources; and the impact of community livelihoods. On the other hand, the ESMP provides mitigation measures to address the identified impacts. More specifically, the ESMP provides mitigation measures to minimize identified negative impacts on the environment and the community members.

The documents will be available for reading at the following micro-centres: Castries Central Library, Gros Islet’s Library, Laborie’s Library, Vieux- Fort’s Library, Saltibus Post Office, Piton Management Area Office in Soufriere, Fond St. Jacques’s Resource Centre and SALCC’S Library.

They will also be available on the GoSL’s website - www.govt.lc,

RESDP’s website - www.sluresdp.com

Facebook - www.facebook/resdpsaintlucia

YouTube - www.youtube.com/@SLURESDP

Instagram - www.instagram.com/sluresdp

Public Consultations on ESIA, ESMP & ARAP to Begin in February

Public consultations will be held throughout February to discuss the project’s ESIA/ESMP/ARAP. These meetings aim to ensure the full participation of local communities and stakeholders, create awareness and receive feedback on the documents thus ensuring that their concerns and needs are addressed.

The proposed dates for the consultations are February 10, 11 and 12 in Belle Plaine, Fond St. Jacques, and Saltibus respectively. In addition, consultations will be held with key institutional stakeholders such as governmental bodies, environmental agencies, representative organisation and other relevant organizations. These meetings will focus on discussing the key aspects of the ESIA, ESMP, and ARAP.

Special meetings will also be scheduled on a needs-basis with PAPs from the three communities, ensuring that vulnerable groups or those directly impacted by the project are given the attention and support they require. These targeted meetings are also designed to address any specific concerns these individuals may have, ensuring that their needs are fully understood and considered in the planning process.

The consultations are a crucial part of the ongoing efforts to ensure that the proposed project meets the World Banks environmental and social safeguards. The process also reflects the RESDP’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity.

Stakeholders are encouraged to attend these meetings and provide their feedback on the documents. The final dates, locations, and times for these consultations will be provided through community announcements and on RESDP’s social media forums.