BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, October 26, 2023 (MMS-SKN) -- As St. Kitts readies itself to host the best Creative Arts Centre in the Hemisphere, stakeholders in the creative industry were on Monday October 23 given the exclusive opportunity to discuss the facility’s design and share their thoughts and ideas with the developers of the project.
“Today we are here to set a permanent residence - we are here to put a foundation that our creatives can look at and say, ‘that is my home’,” Federal Minister of Sports and The Creative Economy, the Hon Samal Duggins, told creatives who had assembled at the CUNA Conference Centre in Fortlands, West Basseterre, for the Creative Arts Centre Consultation and Mixer.
Referring to his background as an entertainment promoter through his company Island Expressions, he pointed out that for years he had to go through the struggles of finding places to host events. He therefore felt honoured, as the Minister of The Creative Economy, to be delivering the Creative Arts Centre.
“For years we had to struggle with venue operators and owners, trying to negotiate a space that we could have - some sort of a place that we could express ourselves and showcase our talents,” recalled Hon Duggins. “I struggled with that for nearly fifteen years, month after month.”
Referring to what is now on offer, a multi-storied edifice in the shape of a wave nestled on the hillside of Conaree-Half Moon Hills, he told the creatives: “That belongs to us. And not just because we are getting a home, but it will be the best home in the entire hemisphere.”
The Creative Arts Centre is one of the projects being undertaken courtesy of the Citizenship by Investment Programme, and introducing the developers was Mr Faron Lawrence, Owner and Manager of Lawrence Associates, who has been in the financial services in St. Kitts and Nevis for over 20 years. The company is an Authorised Service Provider under the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme.
“My duty is to let you know who the developers are behind this project,” said Mr Lawrence. “The first one is a gentleman by the name of Dr Sirous Motevessel, he lives in Dubai. He is a lawyer by training who holds a PhD in International Investment Law. The other gentleman is Mr Abbas Fahim; he is an engineer by training, and he has done many major projects in Dubai and most parts of the world.”
The two developers, who appeared virtually, became citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis through the Citizenship by Investment Programme, and according to Mr Lawrence, they immediately felt it was not enough for them just to have the St. Kitts and Nevis passport. They started looking to see what they could do for the country, and how they could make a difference.
“The project you are going to hear about is one that can be very similar to one that they have done in Dubai this year,” pointed out Mr Lawrence. “The Minister (Hon Duggins) went to Dubai to look at that facility. You are talking about a facility, it is a major facility too, and they have created it. They designed it, constructed it and are actually operating it. It has large spaces for events, games, and restaurants - similar to what they are proposing to do here.”
Mr Lawrence advised that the initial design was presented to Cabinet, and was approved in principle. He however noted that the Cabinet instructed that it would also want the input of all the stakeholders, and hence the holding of the consultations.
He observed that the Cabinet directive worked well with the developers, as they too also wanted the input of the stakeholders because their attitude was that they were building it for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, and must therefore reflect what the people of St. Kitts and Nevis need.
Evening’s activities were chaired by Dance Specialist in the Department of Creative Economy, Ms Marcia Jeffers. She was in the company of Drumming Specialist in her Department, Mr Royd Phipps, who sat at the back and followed the proceedings with that look of satisfaction that appeared to say: “Thank God we have a home!”
Present included Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and The Creative Economy, Ms Valencia Syder; Director of the Creative Economy, Ms Robertine Webbe; Director of Intangible Cultural Heritage within the Department of Creative Economy, Mr Pierre Liburd; and Hon Duggins’ wife, Mrs Ermelin Sebastian-Duggins.
Giving their views, were among others, the reigning Calypso Monarch, Ms Karissa ‘Miss Independent’ Willett; Director of Nubian Arts, Mrs Kesha Isaac-Adams; Architect, Mr Derrione Flemming; Registrar, Intellectual Property (IP) Office of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mrs Jihan Williams-Knight, in her capacity as a poet; and artisan, and owner of The Porter’s House Art Gallery and Studio, Ms Carla Astaphan.
After listening to the questions and suggestions made from the floor, developers Mr Abbas Fahim and Dr Sirous Motevessel, observed that the comments were very good and that they took notes and will revise the design according to those recommendations.
“I want to thank all the players involved,” said Hon Duggins, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “I want to thank Faron and the team of developers that would have worked diligently on this project. I want to thank the Prime Minister and the rest of my Cabinet colleagues, where I just had to leave the Cabinet to be here, for their support in this endeavour.”
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