BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A local entrepreneur has embarked on a new business venture in the Halfway Tree area which will add a boost to the tourism industry.
The entrepreneur, Regiwell Francis of the St. Kitts Marine Works, on Wednesday (Dec. 3) opened six slips of a new-80 slip yacht marina.
In a launching ceremony on the site of the new marina, Director of Maritime Affairs Mc Clean Hobson expressed his delight at seeing such a facility being constructed in St. Kitts, which he noted is key in the development of the yachting sector of the Federation.
“I am extremely pleased and I want to use the occasion to commend him for his efforts of putting this dry dock facility in place. This is critical in the development of the yachting industry in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“On behalf of the Department of Maritime Affairs and by extension the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, I want to say to you that the sky is the limit and keep building the yachting industry in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
In giving an overview of the project, Francis indicated that this was just the first step of a much larger venture he is about to undertake.
“What we have is the starting of an 80-slip marina. We have already done the boatyard and I think we have really done a lot better than we expected.
“We are taking the first steps. We have six slips out of 80 which we hope to…later on. We are welcoming everyone, especially the financial institutions, hopefully you could see and we could get some investment.”
He then made a plea for financers to come onboard to further develop the project.
“So far, we have done everything out of pocket. We want to show that locals can do things and it is important for locals to want to sit at the head table.
“What we have here this evening, two years ago I would not have believed it was possible. But right now I could say we have our own marina. We have decentralised all the activity from the Southeast Peninsula.”
Francis however noted that he was not seeking to provide competition for Christophe Harbour which has a similar facility, but rather add a compliment to the project.
“This facility here, it is not competition for Christophe Harbour; this compliments what they are doing. You know when mega yachts come here and other boats come to Christophe Harbour they will feel more comfortable knowing if something start happening to their boats and they start taking on water, they have an area they could come to close by and have their boats secured.
“This is the first step in a long journey, where eventually I would like to say in three years we would have 80 slips, including the ability to take 150-foot mega yachts. We have already had negotiations with Sol in providing high-speed fuelling, and if you look in the yard you will see a Customs port of entry.”
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas congratulated Francis on the new project.
“One year ago the Government received a proposal from Reg Francis to establish a new marina and, today, in keeping with his forward-looking persona and with his very special ability to identify a need and fill it, Reg has expanded the reach and the role of St. Kitts Marine Works with the opening of the first six slips of an 80-slip marina which we are celebrating here this afternoon.”
He added that Francis’ spirit is an example of what stable societies bank on for further development.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my Government has long stressed a spirit of entrepreneurship for the continued forward movement of our nation. Today I emphasise precisely that is what Reg Francis has done over the years and holding up to society as the competent efficient self-starter on which stable and vibrant societies depend for their own progress and development.”
The new business venture was named ‘Marina Telca’, the name of Regiwell Francis' mother whom he claimed is the strength and motivator in everything he did and is doing.
