CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – PREMIER of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley has confirmed that construction of the Fisheries Complex in Charlestown is shelved due in large measures to the two parties involved not agreeing on a location.
Brantley explained that the facility was slated for construction in the heart of the capital along Prince William Street, but the location did not find favour with the Premier and the Nevis Island Administration.
He said the Prince William Street location would mean that the complex would be located on a “protected area” where the cruise ships would arrive with passengers.
Brantley emphasised that it would be a breach of the ISP Codes and Security Cordons, should a facility be placed at that location.
“I think I have made it clear in the past that the Fisheries Complex is now off the table because the previous administration agreed to do a fisheries complex in the heart of Charlestown. We thought when we got into government that was an unwise decision to have a fisheries complex at the bottom of Prince William Street,” said Brantley.
He further stated that the Government did not see it appropriate for a country to dictate where such a facility should be constructed.
The Premier was referring to the $12M Agreement that was signed in 2012 between the NIA and the Government of Japan, which paved the way for the facility at the Charlestown location.
Following the change of government, the project did not find favour with the Concerned Citizens Movement led by Brantley.
According to the Premier, he prefers the facility to be constructed at a fishing village – especially the Bath Village area.
“…we proposed a site, they came and they evaluated that site, and they [Japanese] concluded that the site was not to their liking. And the Japanese position was we are going to put the Fisheries Complex in town because that is what was agreed. Our position as a government was that that does not work for us,” explained Brantley.
He lamented that a building of that size could not be placed in Charlestown, as there would be no room for expansion.
