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Caribbean Cocktails located in the Castries Market!
Did the minister in charge of planning, development control and the city council really set out to shaft Robby Skeete when he decided to give a prime city location to one of his best friends?
The initial story by Robby Skeete published in the Wednesday STAR generated a ton of controversy and feedback about the ill-effects of nepotism. Planning Minister Richard Frederick has since spoken about the issue, stating that the decision not to give Skeete ownership of a café in the city’s market was above board.
The STAR also spoke to the proprietor of the new business that has recently opened on the corner of the Castries Market, at the exact location where Robby Skeete says he invested thousands of dollars. Gerard Felix aka ‘JJ’ is perhaps the only local kitchen boy who is more famous and successful than Robby Skeete himself. He built himself a unique restaurant, bar and guest house at Marigot and his success drew people in from all across the West Coast for years before it was swallowed up by Discovery Bay. Frederick, it must be noted, was one of the more famous local regulars at JJ’s Paradise before it was sold. JJ read Robby’s story but seems blissfully unaware that all that back and forth was involved in trying to get the empty spot in the Castries Market where the unemployed and dispossessed gathered from morning to evening. In fact, he wants no part of Robby Skeete’s trouble with the minister who holds the portfolios of planning development and the city council.
“I don’t want to comment on that at all,” he told the STAR recently as the venue bustled with workers and customers around him.
According to JJ, everything about his new business initiative is on the up and up and his motives for taking the dirty corner of the Castries Market and turning into the St Lucian version of a Mediterranean courtyard are completely altruistic.
“What do I want to achieve? To come into the city and bring light and life to the city. The city needs life. You can see the city being dead. I’m a man I traveled already around the world and every place I go, even the Virgin Islands, you can city life. And there is no city life in St Lucia.”
JJ says, quite rightly, that when Lucians lime, they have to leave Castries and go to Gros Islet, Anse la Raye, Dennery or some other rural district. Castries, over the last 30 years, lost its playfulness and became a place to work in daylight and leave before sundown.
“Nothing happens in Castries,” JJ said. “So I said if I got the opportunity to come to the city and bring life back to the place, I would. And what I did brought a lot of life to the city. You can see for yourself.”
It’s all well and good, but surely JJ can admit that it looks bad when someone else has been trying to get the same location for years and the minister’s longtime friend gets it instead. Perhaps JJ could explain how he became aware that the spot was available.
“For years I pass there and I see the place is stagnant,” he said, after a brief pause. “I saw the opportunity to get it and I took it.”
Yes, but it looks, to some people, like the good minister is bequeathing the city to his best friends and generals, doesn’t it?
“I don’t know nothing about that. I don’t think it’s because I am close personal friends with the minister I got that place. But in business, sometimes, people have to deal with who they know can succeed. Business is not made for everybody. Some people just have the knack to turn things to gold. That place has been stagnant. I took it, I created employment. That’s my commitment to the city.”
—J Sifflet
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i do not know what was involved for jj to get this place,however i knoww jj personally and he is an honest ,loveing ,kindhearted great business man……plus he is a great cook ……..he is known internationally for his great food ,mild manner and pleasent smile…………he will make castries smile……….good luck jj
I agree with you TEA PARTY, I also know JJ personally, he is everything you have just said. I would never stand in JJ’s way. But, all this is completely besides the point. This thing is not about JJ at all, and in this regard, Jason’s article is VERY EMPTY and insignificant. What was the use of that article? This entire thing is obviously about a wicked and evil blow that the PIT BULL has struck against Bobby Skeete, the REAL OWNER of that place, and the real owner of the idea, and a son-of-the-soil, just like JJ. And it cannot be mere coincidence that the Pit Bull’s best friend gets the damned place. Let us not get side-tracked. Like I said, this is NOT about JJ, who indeed is quite a charming Looshan. But, just as every rope has an end, every pit bull at the end of its rope also has its day…there is a GOD above, just waiting for the right time, when He will remind us of our transgressions. Rest assured, TEA PARTY, rest assured, that JUSTICE will be done. Mark my words.
you are correct………..but in stlucia that seems to be the way things work……our politicians are just like most of us and we do not hold any of them accountable………….thats just the reality…….poor jj …poor jab robby…….choops
Good luck brother I will drop in on the vibes and see how things running. Typical of SOME Lucians they don’t wan’t to try a thing for themselves but as soon as somebody come and try a ting they have somthing to say. Chiny Man , Indian Man, Serians running things these days, then again the POLITICS OF IT ALL. Try and open a store at any of the airports down there and see what you come up against ; that’s another article by itself trust me.
Hey JS,
you’re usually spot on with your opinions, so perhaps you should read the article on here by R. Skeete. This location and business indeed should be owned and operated by a St. Lucian, however, the one who actually did all the hard graft -R. Skeete - has been unlawfully cheated.
Just realized I said unlawfully cheated…..wooops
LOL
Is this the same MR.Skeete who it is alleged owes a sizable amount of rent money to SLASPA?
Oh well. Frederick again found a way to make victimization look like nothing. All of a sudden some people are eating out of his hands. A pig will always remain a pig. there is no changing of that.
We must never ever forget that because something can happen and the goes along with it that this thing is right. The law has little to do with right and wrong sometimes. It deals largely with what is lawful or legal and what is not. He got away because of many things. The longest day has an end.
I like what happen to Robby so much words cannot express the way I feel. this situation sheds light on the problem that we have in this society where the wolf in sheep clothing tries taking everything for themselves and refuse to give others the opportunity to better their lives. Two well established restaurant owners fighting for business space which is meant to be for the poor who want to startup their own business. Why don’t you’ll fight for space at Rodney Bay and competing with businessmen of you’ll caliber? On the other hand that is business as usual ….Big companies always try to close down the corner shops in the interest of capitalism.
We do not rejoice over situations such as this, “just another Day…” today’s Robby, tomorrow might be you or I. There was no due deligence and everyone knows how “close” JJ and “that” man is. There is conflict of interest, not to mentioned dragging Robby’s personal life into this. His private was not a criteria for obtaining the lease. But of course, “that” man knows we Lucians prefer sensational roro type journalism over the truth, hence his pathetic response…
Go figure…
It will not happen to me cause I will not trample over the poor and fight with them for property that is in my view for start-up businesses. Who next will want a shop in the market ‘Chas-net’. While you’ll taking about the new word St Lucians have added to their vocabulary …Due Diligence… It is used in the wrong context cause this is never followed in St Lucia. By the way there is nothing to figure… Curruption to the bone you mean …on all sides
I don’t really care with the Robbie Saga - if the man is broke, the Gov’t is right, HOWEVER, out of all the businessmen in SL, JJ is the only one that gets to buy this place???He being the minister’s friend tells me something might just be out of place…come on Mr. Mininster where is the transparency in this one.
So “jus another day”…..what is the reason for being sooooo happy ,because Robby is shafted by a political pit bull? You should try to find out the whys in this dirty koko makak.
what fredrick did was wrong but if he is a pitt bull….compton was a rott …he is still the father of our nation….so why call them dogs…….its just politics in a small island……….
Yes I am happy it exposes the so call Due diligence that is followed when awarding all types of contracts in St Lucia.. Some of us forget that is one of the reasons Slp was voted out.
A PITBULL WITH LIPSTICK IS STILL A BIATCH!!!!TANTO TANTO!!
PLEASE DO NOT THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT LUCIANS DELUSIONAL.
YOU ALL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR YOUR INDISCRETIONS.
STOP URINATING (ppppin) IN OUR EYE AND CALLING IT RAIN (IN MY BEST RICK WAYNE ACCENT)…
The labour pary and Flavia Cherry should convene a mob forthwith, flush with anti JJ placards and immediately swoop down on the said establishment and proceed to do what they do best…..ummmme …….match! The Richard Frederelict should have known that his freind getting this coveted spot would not go down well with the public and yet he still went ahead with it! I personally would have asked my hummer driving, souse eating partner to refrain from applying for any permissions from the government, and I would remove myself from any discussions involving him in parliament or in any capacity! but hey, thats just me talking! JJ should make sure that he has atleast a ten year lease on the place before elections in december (ooops!!!)
you lie………..granny was wright…..your friends can bring you down…….jj better be careful because he might lose his blessing …….and it has nothing to do with dollars……hummer……how stupid can we get….lollollmao…….as usual we selling paradise to head to de lights…how foolish……..lord y de government doe build a jetty………
Looks like City gone to the dogs fi real
I read Chef Robbie’s article and the Jason’s and I agree the issue goes beyong JJ - it is essentially about injustice and nepotism, that we cannot tolerate. It is most lucid despite JJ’s playing innocent, the idea belongs to Robbie, the evidence cannot be clearer. Polilicians like RF should have no place in our purportedly honourable house.