CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – WORK on the Charlestown Redevelopment Plan orchestrated by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is expected to start before the end of the year.
Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry told reporters at the Bath Hotel on Monday (Oct. 26) that demolition of buildings in the identified area would begin shortly and would be followed by the construction stage, which is expected to start early in the new year and the first phase scheduled for completion by November 2010.
Speaking shortly before signing the lease and development agreement with developers Namdar Brothers Ltd., Premier Parry said the first edifice to be demolished would be the Customs Building while the government offices, the St. Kitts and Nevis Development Bank and the handicraft outlet would be relocated.
The Premier sought to put to rest any doubts as to the faith of businesses in the area, saying that all shops would remain open. He said the beach would also remain accessible to members of the public, although the developers had indicated an interest in it.
When completed, the project will see the entire waterfront, left of the Iron Shed, taking on a new appearance.
“Our intentions are that the whole area will have a new appearance and will enhance the whole of town,” said the Premier.
“We will also seek to enhance the area of the public market ourselves, and funds have already been identified for that.”
Premier Parry, who is also Nevis’ Minister of Tourism, said the development would bring more cruise visitors to the island, thus benefitting the restaurants, taxis and other businesses.
“The idea is to make the place attractive so that even land-based tourists will also want to visit the area.”
When completed the project is expected to employ some 75 persons.
Premier Parry said the Namdar Brothers, who are active in cruise tourism on St. Kitts, have an interest in ensuring that some of their top clients who visit there also come to Nevis and enjoy what this island has to offer.
Namdar first met with Premier Parry and Permanent Secretary of Tourism Tyrone O’Flaherty in Mexico and expressed an interest in setting up business on Nevis. Talks continued in Miami before the developers eventually came to Nevis and indicated that they were interested in setting up a first-class operation of very up-market shops on the Bay Front. According to the Premier, they expressed interest in the Customs Building, Cotton House and the Cotton Ginnery Mall as well as the Plaza and the open area on the Bay Front.
The NIA then assembled a committee that consisted of members of tourism, finance, customs, the ports and the Premier’s Ministry which met several times with the Namdar Brothers to work out how the development should proceed. The team also held consultations with the shop owners.
Premier Parry was expected to sign the agreement at the 16th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Cruise Conference and Trade Show in St. Lucia from October 26-30, but was unable to attend. Representatives of the Namdar Brothers will sign in St. Lucia.
Meanwhile, O’Flaherty, who was among those present at the signing, said that from a tourism standpoint the development is evidently a way forward for the island.
“We have always tried to attract tourists with money in their pockets. The worst thing is for them to go back with that money because we don’t have anything to sell them. People like to come here to have a good time.”
According to the PS, his ministry received feedback from the ships overtime that Nevis should have more in terms of local product development.
“All of this falls into place in terms of what we are going to do at the new development in Charlestown, as well as supplementary projects like the Artisan Village.”
O’Flaherty said the Ministry is on the verge of opening an artisan village, where tourists could “come and see exactly what we do here”.
“We won’t have finished products on the shelf but they can see us working and creating what we have to offer.”
He revealed that plans are also in train for the establishment of a Maritime Museum, “where people can see where we came from, whether it is fishing or sailing”.
“Nevis is an island, so most of our activities would have taken place on the water.”
O’Flaherty said the location is not yet decided but they are looking at somewhere close to the new Charlestown development.
