BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –The US $3 billion Basseterre expansion project is underway, despite a finalised blueprint of the plan still not being reached between government and the investors.
The expansion project was initially announced in early December last year and was expected to include the expansion of the sea port facilities, the construction of a second cruise pier, the development of a marina and enhancement of a beach front among other things.
According to Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, the project, which originally sought to develop the eastern wing of Port Zante, was drastically changed after negotiations between the two main developers, Namdar Brothers and Royal Caribbean Cruise, failed to reach an agreement.
“[The Namdar Brothers] wanted to come in and purchase from the government the eastern portion of Port Zante and develop that. However, the development was focused on the western portion since that joint venture...has fallen through,” Douglas informed in his monthly press conference for March.
Douglas, however, added that although there had been a number of changes to the plan, the New York-based Namdar Brothers has resumed its development at the Port Zante entrance.
“Namdar has continued with their initial investment on the western end [on what used to be the car park]. They have started that development already...and would be putting a multipurpose building there. I think they own the small area that is in front of the marina and also would be building a business downtown hotel in that area.”
SKNVibes contacted Ebby Nambar, Executive Member of the Namdar Group who confirmed that although plans were changed, the company still intends to continue its development in the Port Zante area.
He said that the details of the project would not be made public at this time, but indicated that as it comes closer to completion, the public would be made aware.
The Prime Minister said that recently a proposal was made by the Port Authority to a cruise line, which he only referred to as “the Sea Train”, for a new partnership to build the second pier scrapped by Namdar and the Royal Caribbean Cruise line.
