BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) is awaiting a response from the Minister with responsibility for Social Security Board, Hon. Sam Condor, concerning a report an in-house committee compiled and submitted about the contentious Beacon Heights Residential Development Project.
The project, funded by the Social Security Board (SSB), came under intense scrutiny, as did the Board, for what some believed to be the excessive disbursement of funds with minimal returns on the investment.
It was later revealed that the Board had disbursed $30M in excess of the budged $50M, with a meager $25,000 return on the investment being realised. Other concerns raised include the fact that construction of the first 10 of the 191 homes was to have been completed by the end of June 2011. And up to that year’s end, they had not yet been completed.
Construction Technologies Limited (CONTEC), the company contracted to undertake the project, was also heavily ctiticised for failing to complete the first phase of the project at the scheduled time.
The CIC had expressed its concerns over the matter and, in November last year, indicated that it had established a group of private-sector operatives “to advise the Board of Chamber on the matter”.
According to a press release issued by the CIC yesterday (Feb. 20) the established committee “has reported and raised several concerns and questions regarding the development”.
The committee, which comprised of private-sector members “with experience in real estate development”, was tasked with reviewing “the information on the project which was in the public domain”.
According to the communiqué, the committee’s report had been forwarded to Min. Condor and he has been invited to respond “to the questions raised in the Committee’s report”.
CIC Chairman Michael Morton told SKNVibes that Min. Condor is being given a “reasonable time” to respond and, in the absence of that, “the board will then decide on the next course of action”.
Further information issued by the CIC indicates that the committee comprises Messrs. Anthony Evelyn, Nicholas Brisbane, Nicholas Menon, Jacques Cramer, Victor Williams, Anthony Kelsick, Charles Wilkin and Calvin Cable.
Despite rampant misgivings over the Beacon Heights Residential Development Project, Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas maintained that it remains a priority for his government and has economy-stimulating, job-creating potential.
