Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Rodney Bay Strip cries out for attention

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

As the owner of a business on the Rodney Bay strip, I couldn't agree with the writer more. The strip is most certainly becoming tackier and the clientele of some of the newer establishments is definitely a cause for concern for all of us.

Many of us work very hard to ensure a high level of service and food and to provide an atmosphere that discerning St Lucians and visiting tourists can enjoy without feeling threatened or being hassled. We also comply with building regulations, health and fire codes, employment laws, national insurance contributions and we pay our taxes.

Sanitation is becoming an issue as only a handful of establishments pay for proper refuse collection and pest control.

We also pay a significant sum monthly for private security so we can ensure the safety of our clientele while on our property. Sadly though, we are seeing an increase in customers telling us that they no longer feel as safe in Rodney Bay as they used to.

Obviously, if we do nothing this situation will only get worse and affect all our businesses.

Do I have all the answers? Certainly not. But the writer of the original letter is right, Rodney Bay is crying out for attention... and help. We have to look within ourselves and ask that ALL the business owners within the area band together to tackle these issues. And we also ask our Government for help enforcing the codes, policies and laws that are meant to govern our dealings with the public so that we ALL comply and, in turn, raise the general standards on the strip.

January 5, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Anonymous said...

That's how the ghetto in Castries started way back then. I suggest you address your MP otherwise it's gonna be a runaway train.

January 5, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Anonymous said...

While there are some minor elements of the first letter and the response that are true, the elitism that is apparent in both the letters is outrageous and offensive The concept that some of the businesses are "tacky" and that some of the people frequenting the area are "undesirable" added to the current privatising of the police force in Rodney Bay with the private funding of the police station, stinks of the "looking after oneself attitude" of some of the restaurant owners.
Rodney bay is the heart if the tourist industry, when we locals are paid a fair share of the income from the tourist industry and allowed the opportunity to open our businesses then maybe a more equitable situation can arise.
I personally support the opening of these "tacky businesses" I cannot afford the outrageous prices charged for a Piton at these "higher class" establishments... $12.00 for a Piton. These "Tacky" establishments, offer the opportunity for tourists to mix with locals, offer a cultural diversity not apparent otherwise.
Or maybe the writers would prefer to move their establishments behind closed walls gate them and allow entry only to the few they choose, which sounds remarkably similar to the idea proposed by some Cap estate residents to Gate the whole of that neighborhood.
Sure lets clean up Rodney Bay particularly the sewer by the Lime, and while we are at it remove the drug dealers, but dont pretend it is all the fault of the new "Tacky" restaurants.

January 5, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Anonymous said...

I have stayed at hotels at both ends of the "strip" and have felt the bed vibrating at 3 and 4 in the morning due to the loud music from some of the establishments. That being said, I do enjoy the smaller businesse where one can enjoy mixing with the locals and having local foods seved up. Attend to the sewage and get rid of the drug dealers, we love St. Lucia, keep it safe and better smelling and we will continue to return!!! Good luck:)

January 6, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Anonymous said...

I could not agree more with the poster who noticed the elitism of the letter. It was not only elitist but also rather incoherent and didn't make any concrete points and failed to adress actual facts that may be affecting the quality of the entertainment experience in the area. Whomever Ms Brewer is I suggest that she stick to dealing with the actual problems with fellow restauranteurs and stop her displaying distasteful and ignorant social opinions as they will not help the cause of the businesses in the area and will gain no sympathy with anyone. Tacky? Well that's a matter of opinion because I can think of several tacky restaurants on the strip that have been there since I was in my early teens, serving bad Thai food, passable indian food and rather lack lustre dining experiences for all the money you pay..tacky faux Caribbean decor too..there is room for restaurants of all price brackets on the strip...as long as what they are doing is of a good standard and they abide by the laws. As for Rodney Bay businesses being allowed to pay for polic presence... this shoud not be allowed. Number on the police and the government should provide the level of police patrols and camera surveillance necessary for an area which sees so much entertainment traffic and with such a high amount of non stop business activity. Secondly business owners also have a responsibility to employ private security to secure their premises. Jumping up and calling people tacky based on some misguided sanctimonius perception of your superiority will solve no problems and win no friends.

Good...analysis before uupperclass haughtiness... The nerve!

January 7, 2010 at 4:23 AM
Anonymous said...

Amen, Anonymous (January 7, 2010 4:23 AM)...Once I ate at that "passable Indian Restaurant" on the strip and was most surprised when asked for water, the waitress practically had to find out if there was water!!

Then, the food arrived. I was hovered over by five waitresses, with nothing else to do, but watching me eat, making it very unpleasant and uncomfortable for me and my (visiting) friend.

If that is not tacky, pray, what is. Gurantee you, I shall never spend a cent there again.

January 7, 2010 at 8:09 AM
Anonymous said...

It seems that Ms Brewer has invented a new way of evaluating our society.... on one side we have Tacky and on the other we have high class. In her other assesment we have desirable and undesirable... unfortunately she seems to equate tacky and undesirable together and high class and desirable... Does she want to throw in other opposites into this elitist assessment. Maybe Rich and less well off and visitor and local, corrupt and non corrupt would offer soem suggestions for her.
She comnpletely misses the point. The issue is we do not have an adequate police force in St Lucia. We do not have the ability to prosecute crimes, we do have a culture of corruption. The police know who and what are the problems in Rodney bay, they are unable and unwilling to deal with them. Private sponsorship of Police stations IS NOT THE ANSWER. This is a problem of civil society. We should all be paying our taxes. Those taxes should be going to pay for adequate policing. The attempted privatisation of the police force by private sponsorhip of police stations defeats the object. What happens when the police force says it cant afford to pay the police at the new station. Are the wealthy residents and business owners in Rodney bay going to foot that bill.... Be careful what you start you may not like where it ends up...

January 7, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Anonymous said...

The wealthy should pay more taxes.

January 7, 2010 at 4:59 PM
Anonymous said...

The wealthy should pay more taxes.
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Otherwise the problem will land on your doorsteps, actually it has started. Things go around in circles and if your ignore your responsibilities to society then it will find you. If you are in a position to alleviate pain and suffering then do it.

January 7, 2010 at 8:16 PM

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