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| A section of the residents at the Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 31ST 2006 - Residents of Newton Ground, St. Pauls and the surrounding areas have given the thumbs up for the construction of the US$300 million Kittitian Heights Resorts in the Belmont area of St. Kitts.
Managing Director of Belmont Resorts Limited, Mr. Val Kempadoo told scores of residents and government officials on Tuesday night that the mixed-use resort set on a total of 390 acres will employ 300 construction workers, create over 1,000 rooms and 1,600 permanent jobs when fully completed.
"It comprises the Artists Village, a Boutique Hotel, a Media Arts Centre, a Destination Spa, an 18-hole Ian Woosnam signature golf course, luxury villas and three condominium developments "St. Christopher's Estate, Belmont Village and Willet's Bluff," said Kempadoo, who said the local company will target all markets, primarily the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as the United States and other Caribbean countries and the Middle East.
Phase One will be built on 96 acres of land, Phase Two 80 acres and the golf course on 200 acres will be leased from the Government.
"The designs of the buildings are based on the architecture of Basseterre. We have no building more than two-stories high. They will look like the older buildings on Basseterre with lapage board, the stones, storm shutters and shingle roofs. There will be no massive building and all of our architecture is very low key and is spread out amongst the landscape, which is very important to us," said Mr. Kempadoo, adding: "We have gone to great lengths to ensure that the area looks like Basseterre and the buildings are broken up in a number of cottages."
Mr. Kempadoo disclosed that when completely built out, the resort will have over 1,000 rooms spread over a large acreage with very low density and it will look nothing more than a village in the landscape.
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| Artists impression of Kittitian Heights Resort. |
He said Kittitian Heights will have no fences or no gates. "Kittitian Heights is a resort that believes that it is a resort for everyone and it also believe that people should have free access. We will have a main public road access that goes up to the trail that leads to the mountain. That road will be a public access road and it will be completely available to the public.
There will be no fences around this development. We believe that this development is important to the people and that the people of this community are our most valuable assets," said Kempadoo.
He reiterated: "We are not talking about fencing, we are not talking about blocking off roads and we are not talking about security guards stopping anyone from going into this resort."
Kempadoo said the Artistes Village will be the core of the resort and will comprise of shops, bars and restaurants, cafes and cinema.
"We plan a Saturday Market place where we will invite community residents to come and sell local items," said Kempadoo.
He said there are 267 lots for villas in Phase One and 42 lots in Phase Two. The St. Christopher Estate is earmarked for town house units and Belmont Village and Willet's Bluff for condominium development.
Kempadoo said Belmont Resort intends to invest EC$800 million and will create over 1,000 four-to-five-star high-quality rooms for St. Kitts.
"In terms of employment in the construction of Phase One, we will employ over 300 people for the four-year period. In the operation and these are permanent jobs, we are going to employ when this resort is completely built out over six years, over 1,600 persons, most of which will be hopefully coming from this community," said Kempadoo, who said he intends to work with the community in the development of small businesses that can work with Kittitian Heights Resort.
"We have already spoken to some persons who are farmers and are committed to purchasing their produce of fruits and vegetables.
~~Adz:Left~~"There are going to be opportunities in growing cut flowers, taxis, selling craft and other products. We as developers are totally committed to helping the community identify some of these business opportunities and helping them to realise them," said Kempadoo, who pointed out that the company will also work with village and community leaders in developing suitable social programmes.
According to Kempadoo, the company will also conduct training programmes for those persons who wish to work on the golf course, the hotel, villas, maintenance of the property, the grounds and the swimming pools.
"Kittitian Heights is deeply committed to working with this community and other communities in this area and making this resort a reality, will require a combine effort with all persons and the government," said Kempadoo.
slocal ,vps, rbars re are t. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative for the area, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas expressed thanks to all persons who aim is to assist the community residents in leading "happy. Decent, productive and profitable lives."
Dr. Douglas called on the residents of the community in particular and St. Kitts and Nevis in general to ensure that they position themselves to be employed in all positions including that of management and supervisory staff.
