(Laborie, 21 May 2011) Laborians can join the Anse Kawèt Crafters Association in celebrations. The Laborie Arts and Craft Centre, now formally named "The Papèl at Rudy John Beach Park" in reference to the reef it overlooks, is now a reality!

After almost a decade of deliberations, Laborie's new Craft Centre was finally inaugurated yesterday, Friday 20 May 2011.

Completed at a total cost of 1.3M$EC, the project was funded jointly by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Government of Saint Lucia. The Papèl at Rudy John Beach Park must now fulfill its objective of generating livelihoods for Laborians.

Dignitaries present at yesterday’s hand-over ceremony, including District Representative Hon. Alva Baptiste and Minister of Social Transformation, Hon. Lenard Montoute, LDF president Mr. Augustine Dominique, Anse Kawèt Crafters president Mrs.  Avis Louisy-James and iconic Laborians such as Mr. Rudy John and Mr. Desmond Collymore, all agreed that the challenge will now be for Laborie to make the facility a sustainable success.

The Papèl at Rudy John Beach Park will be open for business in the coming weeks. Look out!

Here below, pictures of the Hand-over Ceremony.