North Leeward has potential to develop

Fri Mar 01, 2013

Editor: North Leeward has the potential for development, but sadly enough, it was never done by successive governments over the years.

It is an agricultural area, yet the marketing depot was closed. {{more}}Efforts to have it reopened were stalled. Today, it would not be profitable to reopen the depots at both Belmont and Chateaubelair, since many persons no longer farm.

It would be better to have an agro-processing plant, using one of the many abandoned buildings. Having said that, I know finances are hard to come by, so why not privatise it? Encourage an investor to invest in such a building. Also, this appeal is made to business persons to invest in such a project.

North Leeward was also noted for fish. During the term of the NDP, a fish market was built in Chateaubelair. This building was never used and stands today as a sore eye in the town of Chateaubelair, because of the deterioration of the building. This building can be put to use by also putting it in the hands of the individuals or individual who may have the capital and management skills to operate this facility. This will encourage fishermen and so we would have an increase in persons plying this trade.

The North Leeward Tourism Association is trying its best in terms of developing the tourism sites. This is commendable and they ought to continue. The abandoned banana shed at Richmond can be put to use by turning that building into a nice tourism information building,

with a shopping area, selling souvenirs and other articles that tourists can purchase. Also a nice restroom can be placed there

as well. This will require both the government and the private sector. However, it can be done with enough efforts to mobilize the public.

Let us not forget there are many areas where just before the last elections, grounds were dug up for playing fields, but they remain, to this day abandoned. I recommend that in Troumaca, rather than a playing field, use those same lands to erect houses which can be sold to residents. The same can be done at Golden Grove; use the lands for houses. While at the same time finish and fully develop the Cumberland playing field and also continue to upgrade the Petit Bordel playing field, so that there would be two very good playing fields that can be used for cricket and soccer, while the other areas would still have some small area available to do their village cricket.

Of course, there is so much that can be done and written about, for we know that there are many persons with the ability to produce local things, but need a

start financially. However, everything takes time. Let us not forget also the many yachts that come in at Cumberland. This adds to the employment in private business. Of concern however is good security for the yachts.

Let us work together for the development of North Leeward, a potential for development.

Kennard King