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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 21, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The commemorative week of activities being held in recognition of the Team Unity Administration’s third anniversary has been extended by another day to include an important signing ceremony between the respective parties comprising the syndicate arrangement financing the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante.

 

The extended week of activities, which was scheduled to conclude on Sunday, February 25, with a church service at the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle at Romney Ground, Sandy Point and the SMILE AGAIN Gospel Concert at Greenlands, now includes the signing ceremony slated for Monday, February 26, at the Arrival’s Hall at Port Zante at 4pm.

 

Speaking during Wednesday’s (February 21) sitting of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said this decision to include the signing ceremony to the week of activities was made at the Cabinet meeting held in Nevis on Monday, February 19.

 

The four financial players involved are the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB), which has committed US$34 million; the St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board which has pledged US$7 million; the St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) with US$5 million and the St. Kitts and Nevis Trading and Development Company (TDC) which has committed another US$2 million.

 

Speaking on the importance of this project, Prime Minister Harris said, “This will be one of the largest public expenditure ever undertaken by any entity in the country of St. Kitts and Nevis. Over EC$135,000,000 will be expended to transform Basseterre as our major capital city, and not only transform the physicality of Basseterre, but most importantly for me and for us to transform the lives of every Kittitian and Nevisian.”

 

Dr. Harris further stated that the US$48 million second cruise pier is expected to boost commercial life in Basseterre and create jobs for hundreds of Kittitians and Nevisians during its construction phase.

 

Prime Minister Harris said, “This will bring jobs for all the young men in McKnight, in West Basseterre, West Farm and Boyd’s, who are looking for work. For the young man who recently got the loan from the Fresh Start [programme] to set up his steel bending business, this is an opportunity, and several other opportunities are going to be unfolding.”

 

The mobilization of the construction phase is scheduled to commence in March 2018. The construction of the pier is expected to be completed within 18 months in time for the 2019 cruise season.