CHOISEUL’S POOREST COMMUNITIES

According to 2010 census, of the 43 communities which make up Choiseul/Saltibus, Parc Estate is the poorest.  

Park Estate youth Liming with Lorne

In the 2005/2006 Country Poverty Assessment, Parc Estate was rated as the poorest community in St. Lucia.  Based on the results of the 2010 census, it has now been overtaken by 17 communities, with Fond Campeche in VF North (at the top of the list), and including Roseau, Baron’s Drive, Conway, Malgretoute (Micoud), Venus, Bruceville, Anse La Verdue and Millett; but Parc Estate continues to be the poorest community in the constituency of Choiseul/Saltibus.

The question is: has living conditions improved in Parc Estate between 2005/6 and 2010? I will argue, if anything, it has deteriorated. just take a drive through and you will see!

Strangely, Christian Hill (Choiseul Village) is at no 2, followed by Bois D’Inde (no 3) , New Field/Fiette (no. 4), Franciou (no. 5), Cafeiere (no.6), Balca (no. 7), Esperance (no.8) and then La Maze, Monzie, Derriere Morne and La Perle at nos 9 – 12 respectively.

Choiseul’s most well-off communities are Balembouche, River Doree, Reunion, Sauzay, La Fargue, Piaye and Le Riche. Balembouche is ranked as the 24^th most “well-off” (out of a total of 367) community in St. Lucia. Cap Estate and Rodney Heights as expected are the most well-off communities in St. Lucia.

The Table below provides the summary of rankings for communities in Choiseul (from the "poorest" to "richest'). You can use it to know how "poor" or "rich" your community is in relation to others. It also provides information on the number of households and the population of each community.

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY RANKINGS FOR CHOISEUL 

SETTLEMENT	LOCATION	RANK IN CONSTITUENCY	RANK IN COUNTRY	NATIONAL INDEX	NO OF HOUSEHOLD	POPULATION
PARC ESTATE	LABORIE	1	18	10.84	28	99
CHRISTIAN HILL	CHOISEUL	2	26	11.1	25	82
BOIS D'INDE	CHOISEUL	3	33	11.2	35	127
NEWFIELD/FIETTE	CHOISEUL	4	35	11.25	53	205
FRANCIOU	CHOISEUL	5	36	11.29	28	89
CAFFIERE	CHOISEUL	6	41	11.5	102	307
BALCA	LABORIE	7	44	11.54	70	215
ESPERANCE	CHOISEUL	8	45	11.59	16	59
LAMAZE	CHOISEUL	9	49	11.64	58	190
MONZIE	CHOISEUL	10	51	11.65	17	35
DERRIERE MORNE	CHOISEUL	11	53	11.7	23	81
LA PERLE	LABORIE	12	54	11.73	53	154
LA POINTE	CHOISEUL	13	72	12.06	72	247
RAVENEAU	CHOISEUL	14	76	12.14	42	135
DELCER	CHOISEUL	15	79	12.18	74	228
GAYABOIS	LABORIE	16	89	12.35	23	71
TETE MORNE	CHOISEUL	17	90	12.37	23	99
ROBLOT	CHOISEUL	18	96	12.47	72	216
VILLAGE	CHOISEUL	19	99	12.56	69	159
PONYON	CHOISEUL	20	101	12.59	35	119
DABAN	LABORIE	21	105	12.64	59	166
MORNE SION	CHOISEUL	22	109	12.68	116	368
SALTIBUS	LABORIE	23	112	12.75	153	467
INDUSTRY	CHOISEUL	24	115	12.77	71	232
MORNE JACQUES	CHOISEUL	25	123	12.85	69	189
GETRINE	LABORIE	26	132	13	125	401
DUGARD	CHOISEUL	27	144	13.16	38	93
MONGOUGE	CHOISEUL	28	147	13.2	94	306
SAVANNES GEORGE/ CONSTITUTION PARK	CHOISEUL	29	159	13.37	23	86
LONDONDERRY	LABORIE	30	163	13.46	75	246
CHOISEUL	CHOISEUL	31	166	13.53	18	49
VICTORIA	CHOISEUL	32	177	13.77	98	315
DACRETIN	CHOISEUL	33	189	14.01	55	152
DEBREIUL	CHOISEUL	34	215	14.38	78	223
GIRAUD	LABORIE	34	223	14.56	24	74
BELLE VUE	CHOISEUL	36	231	14.67	114	325
LE RICHE	CHOISEUL	37	242	14.88	55	154
PIAYE	LABORIE	38	262	15.56	191	606
LA FARGUE	CHOISEUL	39	270	15.96	196	586
SAUZAY	CHOISEUL	40	285	16.86	28	85
REUNION	CHOISEUL	41	290	17.18	108	331
RIVER DOREE	CHOISEUL	42	296	17.41	35	112
BALEMBOUCHE	LABORIE	43	343	21.18	25	70

SOURCE: STATISTICS DEPARTMENT