Published 06 August 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Team Unity Administration updates country on second cruise pier’s progress
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, August 5, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Construction of a second cruise pier is a feat that was considered impossible in the social economic life of the country, but Team Unity Administration has however managed to move the project into its construction stage at Port Zante. In keeping with the full transparency that had been accorded in the selection and choice of parties to participate in the programme, the Government is updating the country as to what is happening.
Prime Minister, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, made the observation on Friday August 3 at a media briefing held at Port Zante to mark the transition to the second stage of the pier’s construction. According to the Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, contractors were driving the construction piles.
“Never before in the history of public sector management has anyone done what we are now doing. At each significant milestone of this project we have come to the public, come to the media and to update the country as to what is happening,” said the Prime Minister. He added: “I am happy as the Leader of the Team Unity Administration to come to re-affirm our deep commitment to the good governance agenda that has been expressed day after day in the work.”
Prime Minister Harris congratulated the Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, for the progress that was taking place, noting that while everyone would wish that the second cruise pier happen overnight, in reality it could not, but the Government was happy that the country was kept up to speed with respect to the progress.
Stating that Government’s wish was for the project to give full support to the local economy, Dr Harris commended the Captain, Tony Powell, who is a local person. He is the son of Ambassador Michael Powell who was at the press briefing. The Prime Minister also took note of the involvement of TDC and other players in terms of the supply of aggregates to the construction endeavour.
“This is an important investment in the tourism sector,” observed Prime Minister Harris, who is also the Minister of Finance. “But beyond tourism it is an important investment in the economy, because what we are investing in it is the productive assets of our country. We hope in due time to have rewards to experience growth in the cruise sector; to experience growth in the commercial and industrial sector as a result of the additional business and growth that would be facilitated from this significant expenditure undertaken.”
The Prime Minister congratulated the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and by extension the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and all those who are participating hoping that they will deliver excellence at the facility. Other parties include Canadian Commercial Corporation which is the prime contractor, JV Driver, the prime subcontractor, and American Bridge which is a United States-based construction company that is undertaking stage two of the construction which involves piling work.
The Honourable Prime Minister said the country should feel proud that it has an administration such as the Team Unity Administration that has been delivering. He reminded that the second cruise pier had been promised many years before the formation of Team Unity, saying that in the pages of the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party Manifesto for 2004 there was an explicit commitment that by 2005 the second cruise pier would have happened.
“2005 has come and gone and perhaps will never come back again,” said Prime Minister Harris. “It took a Team Unity Administration to deliver on things that were considered impossible in the social economic life of the country and we are happy to indicate we are not just an ordinary performing government – We are a government that does exceptional things. To God be the glory and may God bless the wonderful people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
1: Second cruise pier update: Prime Minister Harris addressing the media at Port Zante on Friday August 3.
2: Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, giving an update on the second cruise pier at Port Zante.
3: The Prime Minister was taken to a platform from where he was able to see the full extent of the work taking place.
