BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SIGNATURES were affixed to documents of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that preludes an actual contract signing for construction of a second pier at Port Zante.
A press conference for the signing of the MOU was held yesterday morning (May. 17) at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
The estimated US$31M civil engineering-type project would be undertaken by Jay Cashman Incorporated, a US-based company from Massachusetts, in partnership with the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA).
It is understood that the company has been in operation for over 42 years.
Signatories to the MOU were the President of Jay Cashma Inc., Jay Cashman; Chief Executive Officer of SCASPA, Jonathon Bass; and Minister of Tourism and International Trade, the Hon. Richard 'Ricky' Skerritt.
Legal counsel at SCASPA, Shelley Isles, bore witness to the signatory inking.
Acting CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority Carolyn James revealed that over 750 000 visitors are expected to grace the shores of St. Kitts during the upcoming cruise ship season.
"The cruise sector is a worldwide multi-billion industry that shows no sign of slowing its pace of growth. If we are to continue to reap the benefit of this industry, today's activity is significant," she said.
SCASPA’s CEO told the press that the signing of the MOU is something all of the parties concerned were waiting for.
“It is an occasion that we at SCASPA, along with the other stakeholders in the tourism and cruise industry, have long been awaiting. I know that the signing of the agreement and the subsequent discussions will result in the construction of a well needed second pier at Port Zante.”
Bass disclosed that discussions for the project began "just over two months ago and is proceeding very quickly and smoothly thus far".
He informed that construction is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed in November 2014.
Bass also talked about the importance of the second pier in rectifying berthing issues at Port Zante.
"The signing of this MOU is indeed a timely response to the challenges that SCASPA is facing with respect to berthing facilities. The unprecedented growth in the cruise tourism sub-sector that St. Kitts has experienced over the past six years has placed tremendous pressure on our berthing infrastructure, particularly on days when more than three vessels request berthing."
He added: "Moreover, as St. Kitts continues to grow in status as a must-visit Caribbean destination, the need for additional berthing is paramount for us to be able to meet the projected growth in demand for berthing and sustained cruise industry."
Cashman, during his remarks, spoke about the essence of working together in order to see the project a reality.
“The success of St. Kitts is also my success and my company's success, and so we have a partnership where everybody needs to work together in order to create a product that's gonna basically drive the economy here and the tourism for St. Kitts.”
David Vingiano, Vice President Business Development of Cashman Inc., said the company is looking forward to building a long-term relationship with the island.
“Our company has an extraordinary capability to undertake this kind of work. We have established relationship with cruise lines and we really look forward to developing the project and being in a long-term relationship with St. Kitts.”
