A “deceitful and shameful” act: National Trust condemns the demolition of Royal Gaol prison

The Royal Gaol prison in Castries is all but no more. Today, May 23, contractors recommenced demolition works on the site — where government hopes to build a new police headquarters and a halls of justice. In his New Year’s address this year, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet promised that despite efforts to derail their plans, government would move forward with the project.

In a press statement in February, the Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated that the project was moving along. To this end, the ministry stated that on February 15, “the remains of eight prisoners were exhumed from the former prison grounds and reinterred at the Bordelais Correctional Facility. The activity was witnessed by relevant officials and a priest administered the burial rites.”

The Saint Lucia National Trust’s objection to demolition.

In September 2018 the National Trust — arguing that the old prison is a significant historic site by virtue of its age, architecture and uniqueness — successfully petitioned the court to grant an injunction halting demolition works at the site. In October 2018, the government and the Trust agreed to hold consultations and the injunction was discharged.

In an interview with the STAR in February 2020, Trust councillor Calixte George Jr. said that the organisation was still very much concerned about the future of the building. He indicated that after the injunction was granted, the court had advised the parties to meet and arrive at a resolution. The parties met in October 2018, where it was agreed that,“there would be no further demolition until such time that there was an opportunity to discuss and go through the entire project.”

Despite this, he said over a year since the agreement, the Trust had not been made aware of government’s plan. “This was a legal undertaking by Attorney General Stephen Julien that the Trust would in fact be properly consulted in this process,” said George Jr. “We do believe, hope and expect that the AG will keep his word. We believe that this would be a very grave error on the part of the state to continue in that direction if, in fact, the intention is to continue with demolition,” he told the STAR in February.

Royal Gaol demolished

Today, an irate Calixte George Jr. and other members of the Trust watched helplessly as the building they tried to preserve came tumbling down. Nearly 200 years of history, he bemoaned, is gone. Said George Jr: “It is in our view that it is an absolute travesty of the commons; it is a deceitful act by the players involved; it clearly shows that there is no sensible form of development going on right now. Development that is void of understanding and appreciation of cultural and natural assets cannot be development. It cannot be true development! It is an erasure of one’s history!”

He continued: “We are appalled, we are saddened and we are aggrieved in every sense, at this shameful, devious and devastating act.” George Jr. says that the structure — which tells a critical part of Saint Lucia’s history— could of been reused or repurposed but for it to be thrown away, “is an attack on the history and the soul of the country.”

The Trust is considering its legal options.