CIE Ltd Blast Off On Major Project

Artist concept of the Complex upon Completion

Ground works have started on building an EC$64 million, 75,000 square foot administrative complex in Vieux Fort that will serve residents of the south. 

The sod turning ceremony was held at the project site on April 20, 2016. During that ceremony Mr Gajadhar, team leader of the company Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd (CIE Ltd), who has been contracted to construct this mammoth building reiterated "I feel really good as being part of this. This project is going to be good for Vieux Fort and good for St Lucia ………we have to make sure it comes out very well so that all can be very proud of it.”

Interview - project manager

 The site is presently buzzing with activity as excavation works are being undertaken to build internal roads, the car park and taking care of some landscaping as well. According to Roy Stan, site project manager, “We have completed squaring the topsoil and right now we are  now putting the primary roads in place. Presently we are dealing with the car park area and the primary roads and adding material for the sub-base.” The primary roads are a vital link for transportation of equipment and materials to the different sections on the work site.

Excavation Process

At the moment the top soil has been excavated and sill is being placed to level with the embankment. The existing gutter which separates the whole site into two sections will be converted into a retention pond and over it will be two bridges – one at the front and the other at the back to connect the two areas, namely main car park and building.

According to Roy the construction will include three buildings – A,B and C. Buildings A will be the one closest to the road and will be the main building to access the other two. Building C and B will be built diagonally and parallel respectively to the Vieux Fort/Micoud Highway.

An existing pond which is located at the back nearest to the school will be re-designed and made more eco-friendly to add to the ambiance and aesthetics of the whole administrative complex. The Project manager concluded.

He continued, that a section Vieux Fort–Micoud Highway near the front of the proposed building will be redesigned to accommodate two roundabouts – one on the compounds itself, and the other on the highway where a walkway will be constructed to accommodate pedestrians.

A view at the work site

Approximately twenty men are on site in the initial stages but the numbers are expected to increase significantly in the coming months .

Upon completion of the project, which is due in 2018, a number of basic services will become available to residents in the south of Saint Lucia, thanks to a project being undertaken by the Government of Saint Lucia, in partnership with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).

Slideshow showing works at the project