New Mayor Says City in Urgent Need of Facelift!

Castries has a new mayor. Mr. Petersen Francis was on Tuesday sworn in at the council’s main office in the city. Mr. Francis, whose brother Hermingild replaced Victor La Corbiniere as justice minister, had been announced as the United Workers Party’s Castries Central candidate in the June 6 general election—until he was replaced by Sarah Flood-Beaubrun some six weeks before the June 6 elections. The new mayor is also a brother of former senate head and current chairman of the St. Lucia Labour Party, Claudius Francis.

Following the swearing ceremony Mayor Francis told reporters he was looking forward to getting down to work on giving the city an image make-over. Of particular concern to him, he said, were the city sidewalks that had become overloaded with vendors, many of whom had set up ramshackle shelters and enormous trays that impede both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Also taking the oath of office on Tuesday was Ms. Anselma Calderon, as deputy mayor. She is a former math teacher at St Mary’s College and at the SDA. She also served for some 13 years as a youth and sports officer.

Ms Calderon retired two years ago as director of human resource development at the education ministry.

The rest of the Castries Constituency Council: Messrs Chris Mitchel, Augustin Victor, Victor Maurice, Stephen Chicot and Leslie Prospere.

The council operates under the direction of Senator Fortuna Belrose.