The Soufriere Square project was unveiled at an opening ceremony on Thursday. Located opposite the Catholic Church of the Assumption, the square has undeniably lifted the town’s spirit. It features a water fountain and a Freedom Monument sculpted by Rick George that commemorates the courage and bravery of slaves who, in 1796, defeated British soldiers. It depicts a man, one hand uplifted in a fashion that brought to mind the Black Power clenched-fist salute. The man holds a chain in his other hand, with one foot on a canon. George also sculpted the John Compton statue in Constitution Park, Castries. Sitting areas are placed alongside the fountain, around the square, and on the outside. The project was financed by a $2.5 million grant from Taiwan. Thursday’s ceremony attracted many celebrants.
In a press release on Monday, the St. Lucia Labour Party complained that the government had sought to play down the previous Soufriere MP Harold Dalsan’s contributions to the project. In his address on Thursday, the town’s current MP Mr. Herod Stanislas thanked residents for their patience and understanding during the square’s construction phase. Stanislas asserted that despite generated negativity and doubt that had surrounded the project, he and his government had remained steadfast in their determination to deliver the state of the art facility.
“This facility is not owned by any single person,” said the MP. “It is not owned by any government. It is not owned by any political party. It is not owned by any district representative. It is owned by you. It belongs to you, the people of Soufriere-Fond St. Jacques.”
Stanislas promised residents that the journey of progress, development and transformation toward a new Soufriere will continue, saying projects like the square, Old Trafford, Hummingbird Beach Park and the expansion to the Sulphur Springs are only a fraction of what is to come.
Following the ceremony, Karolin Troubetzkoy told the STAR she welcomed the opening. “As President of the SLHTA,” she said, “I must tell you we are obviously very pleased, and send our congratulations to the community of Soufriere to have finally gotten back this amazing park, and also the related facilities that have certainly upgraded the Soufriere experience. The hope is that the visitors that stay in the nearby hotels will now be drawn to visit Soufriere and spend some time in the town itself.”
We also caught up with some residents as they explored their new facility. Heaping praise on her district rep, Bernette Alcindor was in a joyful mood. She said her community should be the inspiration for return visits to Saint Lucia; the completed project has given new life to the community. “Soufriere has been given a much required facelift,” she laughed.
Referencing the project, resident Marilyn Francis-James said: “I think it’s an awesome venture, long-awaited by the people of Soufriere. I am so happy!”
Said another resident: “I think it’s a very good gesture. Everything is just perfect! The only thing now missing is free WIFI.”
