Uwp calls for investigation into operations of srdf

1. Upstairs AF Valmont,
P.O. Box RB 2497,
Rodney Bay,
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Tel/Fax: (758) 572-4949
Contact:
Allen Chastanet – 722- 4200
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UWP CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO OPERATIONS OF SRDF
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia – Wednesday, January 29, 2014 – The Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques
UWP Constituency Branch is appalled by the continued plundering of the resources of the
Soufriere Foundation.
The most recent violation is the concreting of a section of Smith Street in Soufriere which stops
at the doorstep of the Chief Executive Officer of the Soufriere Foundation, Mr. Walter Francois.
The blatant effrontery of the Soufriere Foundation is further aggravated by their shameless and
preferential awarding of the $65,000.00 contract to Mr. Walter Francois’ well-known supporter.
The people of Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques demand answers to the following questions:
1. Why did the concrete works stop at the doorstep of the CEO of the Soufriere Foundation
and not continue to the end of the road?
2. Who estimated the contracted works; and is $65,000.00 the true value of the completed
works?
3. Wouldn’t the $65,000.00 be better invested in reinforcing the river bank wall which
would have moderated the flooding suffered by Soufriere as a result of the Christmas Eve
trough rather than rehabilitating the road for Mr. Walter Francois?
This egregious incident follows several similar highly questionable actions by the Soufriere
Foundation including the payment of $65,000.00 in 2012 to a then Director of the Board for his
claim for wrongful dismissal in 2008 while he served as the Executive Director. The bullying of
the Board by the Parliamentary Representative into hiring Mr. Walter Francois, a discredited and
disgraced former Parliamentary Representative for Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques, as the Chief
Executive Officer in 2012, despite the strong disagreement of the Board of Directors. The
resignation of both Chairpersons appointed by the Prime Minister as a result of their inability to
work with Mr. Francois in less than two years, to name a few.
The Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques UWP Constituency Branch and the majority of the people of
Soufriere were never in support of the appointment of Mr. Walter Francois to head the esteemed

2. Soufriere Foundation and we are not surprised at his ignoble tenure to date. Therefore, the
Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques UWP Constituency Branch appeals to the Prime Minister on behalf of
the people of Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques to investigate the operations of The Soufriere
Foundation in the name of good governance and the integrity of this stellar institution and to
bring to an end the exploitation of the institution of the people of Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques.
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