By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) through the department of physical development and urban renewal has essentially declared that public access to Gros Piton Nature Trail, Anse L’Ivorgne, Soufriere, … “which branches off this right of way is not a registered vehicular or pedestrian right of way,” concluding that, “ This trail has been enjoyed by the public at the generosity of the owners of the Mondesir Estate on whose land the trail is located.”
Related reading: Building a destination, breaking a nation: The Gros Piton Saga
In a press release August 18, attributed to a non-assigned name but concludes with the notation – permanent secretary, department of physical development and urban renewal reads:
“The department of physical development and urban renewal in response to concerns expressed by members of the general public with regards to the blockage of the access to the Gros Piton Trail through Anse L’Ivorgne has examined the registered rights of the public to access the parcel of land on which the trail is located.
“The mandate of the Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal among other things is to maintain the Land Registry records and manage state-owned lands including the Queen’s Chain. An examination of the Land Registry records for the Mondesir Estate in Soufriere has been undertaken. This investigation sought to clarify the registered rights of public access to the Gros Piton trail where it traverses through Anse L’Ivorgne.”
The GOSL – department of physical development and urdan renewal outlined that the outcome of the investigation revealed the following:
- There is a registered public vehicular right of way from the Anse L’Ivorgne main road to the Queen’s Chain and the Anse L’Ivorgne Beach. The alignment of this access is through the parcel of land commonly known as the Mondesir Estate. It partly aligns to the Anse L’Ivorgne River and culminates on the Anse L’Ivorgne Beach.
- The Gros Piton Trail which branches off this right of way is not a registered vehicular or pedestrian right of way. This trail has been enjoyed by the public at the generosity of the owners of the Mondesir Estate on whose land the trail is located.
- The Gros Piton Trail is maintained and managed by the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation.
The department of physical development and urban renewal, press release, says that it “reassures the public that the access to the Queen’s Chain and the Anse L’Ivorgne beach shall remain an uninterrupted public access to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike without fear of intimidation.”
