THE TRANSPORATION SECTOR

1.21 The Ministry of Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport & Public Utilities (MCWT&PU)
is responsible for regulating the road sector in Saint Lucia in accordance with the Works and Roads Act
Cap 8.05 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia 2001. It is charged with the responsibility for construction,
repair and supervision of all works, buildings, wharves, public highways and bridges. The Saint Lucia
Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA), a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Finance, Economic
Affairs & National Development (MOF) and MCWT&PUare empowered by virtue of the Saint Lucia
Air & Seaports Authority Act Cap 8.13 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia 2001 to provide coordinated
and integrated systems of airports, seaports and port services and to levy charges and duties for the use of
the facilities and services provided. The Department of Transport within the MCWT&PU is responsible
for road traffic regulation and licensing of vehicles while enforcement of the Motor Vehicle and Road
Traffic Laws are enforced by the Police. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation oversees aviation
through the Civil Aviation Department (CAD).

1.22 There is one international airport, Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) located in the South of
the island, while the GFL Charles Airport is located in the North. The island has two seaports located one
each in the North and South. Both airports and seaports are operated by SLASPA, who is also
responsible for regulating and controlling navigation within the limits of the ports.

1.23 The road transport network in Saint Lucia consists of approximately 1000 kilometres (km) of
roads classified as primary roads/highways, secondary roads and tertiary/feeder roads.

The Road Sub-Sector

1.25 MCWT&PU has accorded a high priority to the completion and efficient operation of its primary
road network which links the north, central and southern regions of the country. This is in recognition
that such a network is critical in supporting development in agriculture and tourism. The road network is
vital to facilitate the movement of key exports, such as oil and agricultural produce to the country’s ports,
and the internal movement of goods and services.

1.26 The road network is divided into:

(a) xxx km of primary roads (mainly consisting Castries/Gros Islet Highway, East and West
Coast Highways);

(b) xxx km of secondary roads; and

(c) xxx km of feeder roads.

1.27 Approximately xxx% of the total network is paved (xx% of the main roads, xx% of the secondary
roads, xx% of the feeder roads). The standard of construction and serviceability vary widely throughout
the country. Most secondary and feeder roads are unpaved, with serviceability largely a function of
weather conditions and frequency of maintenance. The road network includes a total of xxx bridges.

1.28 Saint Lucia’s vehicle fleet continues to grow rapidly. The most recently available statistics, in
respect of the country’s registered vehicle fleet, are for the year 2010. The total fleet, based on
registration, was then estimated at xxxxx. This represents an increase in the vehicle fleet of xx% from
that of xxxx.
 Organisation and Administration

1.29 Road transport in Saint Lucia is administered under the Works and Roads Act and the Motor
Vehicles and Road Traffic Act (MVRTA). The Road Transport Board (RTB) advises the Minister on
matters pertaining to road transport, traffic and traffic safety, transport rates and fares, parking and traffic
circulation. The Licensing Authority which is the Permanent Secretary is responsible for the
administration of the registration, licensing and permit systems.

1.30 The Ministry’s capital projects are executed mainly through contracts and managed by the
Special Projects Unit (SPU) headed by a Project Coordinator (PC). This Unit was established to meet the
requirements of KFAED and CDB Loan Agreements. The PC is supported by two engineers, accounting
and clerical staff. The Construction and Maintenance Unit is headed by the Deputy Chief Engineer
(DCE) with 5 Civil Engineers and divided into 8 Zones responsible for the maintenance of the country’s
roads and highways in their designated zones. All divisions report to the Chief Engineer. An
Organisational Chart of the Technical Services Department is provided in Appendix 1.2. Over the years,
the Department lost many experienced engineering staff and have encountered difficulty in attracting and
retaining them. With the exception of the Deputy Chief Engineer, all engineering staff have been with the
Department of less than ten years.

Road Maintenance

1.32 MCWT&PU is responsible for the construction and maintenance of all roads in Saint Lucia with
the exception of those roads which are privately owned and located within private property. A limited
amount of maintenance is undertaken by Town and Village Councils within the limits of the particular
town, often with assistance from MCWT&PU.

1.33 Saint Lucia’s road maintenance capacity has been greatly improved over the last two decades.
MCWT&PU has benefited from various road maintenance and rehabilitation loans from CDB, the
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic
Development (KFAED), The Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the World Bank (WB).
These loans have not only focussed on infrastructure development, but also on institutional strengthening
of the Ministry with responsibility for road construction and maintenance. These interventions have
improved MCWT&PU’s xxxxxxx

1.34 The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has allocated a total of EC$15 mn for the reconstruction
and rehabilitation of roads in 2010/2011 which represented a 100% increase over the allocation for
2009/2001, while EC$5 mn, a 30% decrease from 2009/2010 was allocated for construction and
maintenance of bridges and culverts. It is MCWT&PU’s estimation that the allocation provides for
approximately 20% of the requirement to adequately maintain the road network on an annual basis in the
absence of a coherent approach to address the backlog, forcing cutbacks on planned maintenance works.
This has been done giving highest priority to maintenance works related to road user safety, and focusing
resources on maintenance of the major roads. The MWCT&PU has a Potholing Unit utilising direct
labour, materials and equipment which engages in minor patching works on all roads. Although this Unit
produces high quality work, its capacity is limited and therefore unable to respond to all needs around the
island.