BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER missing its September deadline for the completion of the second cruise pier, November 8 has been established as the new date for completion of the docking facility.
That is according to the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), which has responsibility for the new facility.
During a recent media tour of the facility, Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Hon. Ian Liburd had indicated that it would be completed by September 23.
However, SCASPA announced the new date in a statement, which said that the change was triggered by irreparable damage to the contractor’s equipment.
Many have questioned whether the pier would have in fact been completed by the specified timeframe laid out by SCASPA and the Government.
In its statement, SCASPA said: “This plan was scuttled in September when the passage of Tropical Storm Dorian impacted the ocean currents in and around St. Kitts and Nevis and further south of the Federation, resulting in significant damage to three on-site operating barges. The damage to these barges consequently delayed completion time for the second cruise ship pier.”
According to SCASPA, “Expeditious measures were immediately taken by the contractor to secure a replacement barge to complete the work. A barge was secured and is currently en route to St. Kitts from the USA.”
The government agency gave its assurances that the delay “is minimal as the new facility is already at the 98% completion stage and will be completed on November 8, 2019 in time to accommodate the 2019/2020 Cruise Season”.
