Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, the parliamentary representative for Constituency 8, has expressed frustration over delays in constructing a bus terminal for the St. Peter’s bus route, citing challenges in procuring suitable land for the project.
During a recent address, Dr. Drew highlighted that his administration has fulfilled two of the three major requests made by bus drivers who work the St. Peter’s route. These included a justifiable increase in bus fares and significant road infrastructure improvements. The final outstanding commitment – a dedicated bus terminal – is yet to materialise because of setbacks including the high rate for the identified land being demanded by a private landowner.
According to the prime minister, efforts to secure land for the bus terminal have hit a roadblock, as the landowner has demanded a price far above the market value. Dr. Drew revealed that while his government is willing to pay a reasonable premium, the proposed costs are “multiple times” the market price, making it untenable.
“We approached the private person to purchase the land and were willing to pay even somewhat above the market price. However, the price being presented is far too high and could have unintended economic consequences,” Dr. Drew explained.
He emphasised that the lack of government-owned land in the area has complicated the situation. Despite these challenges, his administration remains committed to resolving the issue and completing the bus terminal project.
Prime Minister Drew also underscored the achievements of his administration in implementing a long-overdue and well-researched fare adjustment to address rising operational costs faced by bus drivers and a significan upgrade to the St. Peter’s main road that will reduce vehicle wear and tear and improve transportation efficiency for passengers.
Dr. Drew also criticised the previous administration for neglecting St. Peter’s, noting that bus stations were constructed for the East and West routes while St. Peter’s was left out. He described this oversight as a “travesty,” as St. Peter’s is one of the largest and fastest-growing communities outside of Basseterre.
He concluded with the assurance that his administration will fulfil its commitment to construct a bus terminal in St. Peter’s once a suitable location is identified.
Buses that serve St. Peter’s and its environs have been using a section of the College Street Main Road as a temporary pick up and drop off point for decades.
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