Ground was broken on the southern headquarters for the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) Incorporated.

The management of WASCO said the new premises in Vieux Fort provides not only an improved work space for staff but will also improve service delivery to residents.

WASCO established its Vieux Fort office in December 2002 to serve residents of the South, from Dennery to Micoud. It was later established that the leased building could no longer effectively facilitate the increasing demands placed on WASCO’s management and staff by its southern clientele. Government, acting on the advice of the Chairman and Board of Directors of WASCO, decided to construct the new office facility which is expected to accommodate the overall proposed development of the south of the island.

Chairman of WASCO’s Board of Directors, Francis Denbow said it is a significant achievement for the company to own this new building.

“For some time now we have been contemplating constructing our own office building in Vieux Fort to provide a permanent location to effectively deliver our services to our increasing number of clients, as well as to provide adequate and comfortable space for our staff. Consequently, we approached our line minister Hon. Ezechiel Joseph and Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet for a suitable location to construct this office building. Cabinet rapidly processed our request and kindly donated this parcel of land of just over one acre for this undertaking. WASCO wishes to thank the ministers of government for their quick response and generous donation.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph, is delighted to see the project come to fruition.

“I’m happy to be part of a team that made a commitment a year and a half ago when I addressed the staff of WASCO where I told them I’d be working with the Board of Directors, with my Government, and management of WASCO, to improve the facility in the south. I’m happy that we are delivering on that commitment. I want to express my appreciation to management and cabinet for assisting us in delivering on what I call ‘phase one.’ Phase One is the south, Phase Two will be Castries—that is the intention.”

Mayor of the Vieux Fort South Constituency Council, Orricia Denbow-Bullen said the new building will bring more opportunities for residents of the south.

“We at the Vieux Fort South Constituency Council expect, not only that the new building will accommodate the increased personnel which will be required to support the business growth in the south, but that the construction of this building will provide much needed employment opportunities, particularly for the residents of Vieux Fort.”

The 10,000 sq. ft two storey building will feature prominently at the entrance of the town of Vieux Fort and is expected to be completed in less than 12 months. Seven and a half million dollars with financing in part by the Bank of Saint Lucia has been invested in the project.