Gros Islet is the newest town in
Saint Lucia, having been recently promoted from a village to a town. It is the location of the
Beausejour Cricket Grounds where both
One Day International and
Test Cricket is played. Parts of the
2007 Cricket World Cup and
2010 ICC World Twenty20 where played there. It is the administrative centre of the
Gros Island Quarter, a region of Saint Lucia which includes the island's northernmost point,
Cap Point.
It lies north of
Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, and features the Friday Night Street Party which is its major tourist attraction. Also known as the jump-up, the Friday Night Street Party encompasses several blocks, which have to be informally cordoned off with the stalls of street vendors. Steamed fish, barbecue chicken and St. Lucia's own
Piton beer can be purchased from these vendors. Music can be heard through the old fishing village, and locals and tourist both dance in a central cross section in the small streets to the sounds of
calypso,
zouk,
reggae and
R&B.
The Rodney Bay Area further south differs greatly from the small, make-shift housing littering most of the town of Gros-Islet. Catering mostly to the tourism populace, the areas surrounding the marina contain shops, malls, restaurants and night clubs that fall on the higher end of the spectrum compared to other local enterprises. Land development costs in the
Rodney Bay area are extremely high. The exclusive beach front properties have almost all been purchased by small...
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