Meyers questions status of Pearl of China project

 

PHILIPSBURG–“What’s the status of the Pearl of China project,” Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers questioned in a letter to Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. The massive Chinese-backed project was announced by Gibson Sr. shortly before the September 26, 2016 Parliamentary Elections.

Gibson Sr. told attendees at the town-hall session, St. Maarten had “struck the jackpot” with the 326-room hotel with convention centre and 450 apartments set to be built on Belair Beachfront.

At the ground-breaking ceremony held on September 19, some two weeks after Gibson Sr.’s announcement, the developers said the US $120 million investment will yield 400 jobs for locals.

Meyers’ questions come after “talk” had pretty much died off about the project and the lack of any activity at the identified site for the project, “Have the investors revoked their financing of the project,” he asked in his letter forwarded to Gibson Sr. on Thursday.

“If said development is still moving ahead, when is the actual construction expected to commence? Are the plans that were initially discussed with the developer and Chinese Government, such as cheaper electricity options and ‘finding a water source’ to boost agriculture still on the table,” the MP enquired.

He added: “Has the Pearl of China and China Global Trade Centre recently met with the incumbent Council of Ministers? If yes, when did this happen and why was the public of St. Maarten not made aware on the progress of the project?

“Will the developers make a presentation to The Parliament of St. Maarten prior to the start of construction,” Meyers queried in his correspondence.

   The MP said he looks forward to answers from the Finance Minister as soon as possible.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/63892-meyers-questions-status-of-pearl-of-china-project

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