Officials from Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) accompanied by media personnel, recently toured a number of projects in the south of the island.

One of the projects is Caribbean Quality Meats Ltd, a poultry processing plant in Dennery that is soon to open its doors. Chief Executive Officer of Invest Saint Lucia, Roderick Cherry, said ISL is honored to have helped facilitate the company in coming to fruition. According to the CEO the EC$4.3 million investment is welcomed, especially in a time where there is a need for local, high-quality and healthy protein to meet expanding nutritional demands. Local production also enables stricter standards to safeguard the population against the negative impacts of chemicals and hormones used in imported meats.

Invest Saint Lucia retrofitted an old factory shell in Dennery to the tune of EC$1.4 million, and has established a long-term lease agreement with Caribbean Quality Meats Ltd allowing the entity to recuperate a modest profit. The plant was renovated to meet Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. Caribbean Quality Meats products will be 100 percent local, allowing local poultry farmers additional opportunities to generate revenue. It has also expressed the intention of exporting to regional markets.

The company has obtained the required funding to undertake the project and has since been granted a Trade License by the Department of Commerce to commence operations. Barring any unforeseen challenges, it is expected to commence operations at the end of November, employing, in the initial stages some 30 individuals.

Another ISL project, two residential developments—one in Bois Jolie, Dennery and the other in Beauchamp, Micoud is also underway. ISL’s mandate is not limited to attracting foreign direct investment but also entails making home ownership a reality for all Saint Lucians.

The Bois Jolie development is located on approximately 8.43 acres of gently sloping land and has been subdivided into 25 single unit lots ranging from 3800 to 8400 square feet. The estimated completion time for the Bois Jolie development is 6 to 8 weeks following the installation of necessary infrastructure. The land is priced at $12.00 per square foot a price point accessible to working middle income Saint Lucians especially the youth with very attractive interest rates and terms of repayment.

The Beauchamp development will be a large mixed use subdivision located on approximately 20 acres of flat land. It will comprise 59 lots, 4 multi-family lots, five commercial lots, 2 institutional lots and 48 single family lots ranging from 5000 to 26,000 square feet also at a price of $12.00 per square foot. The project coordinator said the subdivision provides the opportunity for individuals to come together to buy land via the multi-family lots. Individuals who had already expressed interest were given priority, and after undergoing an interview process, offer letters were issued with a period of 90 days to secure funds. Following this the lands were sold.

There has been a significantly high interest in the developments thus far and all interested individuals are urged to contact Invest Saint Lucia for an opportunity to own a piece of Saint Lucia at an affordable rate.