Second cruise pier to be built in St. Kitts by 2019 cruise season

Minister Liburd and Marie Legault signing the contract.

ST. KITTS–The official Contract Signing Ceremony between the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) for the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante in St. Kitts took place at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI), on November 22.

  Minister of Public Infrastructure Ian “Patches” Liburd marked the occasion as “one of vision,” highlighting that the project has been in the works for a number of years and deemed it a necessary expenditure for the growth of the tourism industry in the Federation.

  The initial plans for the second cruise pier project, which began back in 2012, laid the road map for the current project, which is set to start by the end of the first quarter of 2018. The construction of the pier is expected to be completed within 18 months in time for the 2019 cruise season.

  Minister Liburd said additions had been made to the initial plans to allow the pier to accommodate two Oasis-sized cruise ships, the world’s largest and longest passenger ships, rather than only one. He stated that plans for building the pier also took into consideration withstanding the effects of adverse weather and harsh climate change.

  He said the undertaking would be funded through the joint efforts of local business establishments. The St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB) has pledged support to the tune of US $34 million, the St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board has assured an amount of US $7 million, the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) US $5 million and the Trading and Development Company (TDC) US $2 million, totalling US $48 million to fund the project.

  “This is a testament to the commitment of the Canadian Government to this project and the improvement of our government-to-government relationships, which we hope will bear many more fruits in the future,” said Minister Liburd, as he commended Marie Legault, High Commissioner of Canada to St. Kitts and Nevis, for Canada’s continued support of the Federation.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71189-second-cruise-pier-to-be-built-in-st-kitts-by-2019-cruise-season