Choiseul On The Move

 SALTIBUS, TONIGHT IS NOT JUST ANOTHER MEETING

Tonight, Thursday, October 22, residents of Saltibus and surrounding communities are being invited to the Saltibus Combined School from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for an important meeting concerning the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project.

According to the official notice, the purpose is to inform stakeholders about the commencement of civil works connected to Saint Lucia’s geothermal exploration programme.

Now, let us be clear: geothermal energy may hold tremendous possibilities for Saint Lucia. It could help reduce our dependence on imported fuel, strengthen our energy security and perhaps—if properly managed—bring long-term benefits to the country.

But Saltibus is not merely a location marked on a project map.

People live there. People farm there. Families have built homes there. Residents use the roads, rivers and water sources that could be affected by construction activities. Therefore, the community must be treated as a partner—not as an audience assembled to hear decisions already made elsewhere.

Tonight’s meeting must provide more than attractive presentations and broad assurances.

Residents deserve clear answers:

Where exactly will the work take place?

When will it begin, and how long will it last?

Which roads, farms, homes and waterways could be affected?

Who is the contractor?

What safeguards will protect the community’s water supply and environment?

What arrangements exist for complaints, damage, compensation and restoration?

Will qualified residents receive genuine employment and business opportunities?

These are not unreasonable questions. They are the questions responsible citizens should ask before heavy equipment begins moving and the dust starts rising.

We must also remember that “consultation” cannot mean simply informing people about what will happen. Genuine consultation means listening, answering questions, recording concerns and making changes where those concerns are reasonable.

The geothermal project may be national in scope, but Saltibus will carry part of its immediate impact. If there are benefits, the community should share in them. If there are risks, those risks must be explained openly and managed properly.

So, Saltibus, attend tonight’s meeting. Listen carefully. Ask questions. Take notes. Do not be afraid to request names, dates, maps and written commitments.

Development is welcome—but development must never arrive in a community as a stranger.

Saltibus deserves progress. It also deserves respect, transparency and a meaningful place at the table.