The NIC will build an EC$64 million, 75,000 square foot administrative complex in Vieux Fort that will serve residents of the south.

A number of basic services will become available to residents in the south of Saint Lucia within the next two years, thanks to a project being undertaken by the Government of Saint Lucia, in partnership with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).

Sod was turned last week for an EC$64 million, 75,000 square foot administrative complex in Beanefield, Vieux Fort.

“I have repeatedly made the point that there must be equity in our country, equity in investment and equity in the treatment of our people, and it is a message that I have drummed into the National Insurance Corporation, and emphasized time and time again that all investments should not be located in the north," Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony said.

"All workers of this country wherever they may be located, contribute to the resources of the National Insurance Corporation and they too must be part of the investment initiatives of the Corporation.

"In that spirit, I hope that while this investment takes place here in Vieux Fort, that in time, NIC will turn its attention to other towns, for example Soufriere and even to the rapidly developing town of Gros Islet for other strategic investments of this type.”

Dr. Anthony explained that the facility will result in benefits for residents not only in Vieux Fort, but surrounding communities as well.

“The town of Vieux Fort is like the mini metropolis for the surrounding constituencies. People of Micoud, Vieux Fort, Laborie, and even Choiseul, come here to do their business on a regular basis, and they turn to Vieux Fort for the facilities and services that government offers.

“We also have to make some giant strides in the administration of this country. We are managing a country that it too centralized. Our citizens have to travel to Castries to secure basic services. It cannot be right that someone requires a civil status record and they must pay a bus to travel to Castries, pay a bus to come back down, pay a bus to see whether the record has been prepared, reach up there, it's not prepared, pay a bus, come back down, and it's a never ending story. Other countries, huge countries, large countries, have been able to decentralize basic services. For some strange reason, here in Saint Lucia, despite our size, we have not been able to accomplish this.”

The sod turning ceremony was held at the project site on April 20, and addressed by Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security, and Member of Parliament for Vieux Fort South.

In attendance were Hon. Stanley Felix, Minister for Physical Development, Housing and Urban Renewal; Mr. Matthew Mathurin, Director of NIC; members of the Board and Investment Committee of NIC; Rayneau Gajadhar, Team Leader of Construction and Industrial Equipment Limited; and Winall Joshua, Mayor of the town of Vieux Fort.

The administrative complex is set for completion in 2018.