“Christophe Harbour should finance Kennedy Simmonds Highway upgrade,” says Hamilton

BASSETERRE St.Kitts, January 25, 2011 - During a massive Public Meeting in his constituency #8 on Sunday Janaury 23rd Opposition Peoples Action Movement MP Hon. Eugene Hamilton issued a call to the government to engage investors at the Christophe Harbour development with a view to financing the upgrade of the Kennedy Simmonds Highway . Hamilton’s call came in light of Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas’ pronouncement during the budget debate in December that in 2011 the government intends to spend $12 million to upgrade the 20 year old Kennedy Simmonds Highway.

“It baffles me why the government would take $12 million of our taxpayers money  in these tough economic times to upgrade a road that runs through what is touted as the biggest foreign investment in our country’s history, while roads in my Constituency including roads in parts of St.Peters, Cayon, Keys, Conaree  and the rest of the country remain in disrepair. It simply makes absolutely no sense and frankly this may be another effort by the government to nefariously put money in the hands of some “friend and family” said Hamilton.

“The investors at Christophe Harbour are expecting to make millions if not billions from the project. They have already been given lands taken from locals by the government and are now set to make millions off the project. I think the least the developers could do is finance the upgrade of the road which really would benefit them just as much or even more than it would the rest of the country,” opined Hamilton.

Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas told the budget session on Tuesday December 15th 2010 that his government will be undertaking the upgrade of the Southeast Peninsular Road or Kennedy Simmonds Highway.

Dr. Douglas told legislators and the nation.,  “We must repair and rehabilitate the South East Peninsula Road during 2011 if we are to provide convenience and safety to our people who use that road and facilitate the establishment of the South East Peninsula as a major center of growth over the medium-term. This project, which will cost in the region of $12 million, will help to ensure that the South East Peninsula, with its abundance of exquisite natural attributes, realize its full potential to become one of the leading destinations in the world for high-end tourists and villa owners pursuing luxurious lifestyles.”

Hamilton  is adamant that the developers at the Southeast Peninsular who stand to benefit the most in particular Christophe Harbour should be strongly engaged by government to fully finance the upgrade.

The Christophe Harbor project lies on 2500 acres of land acquired by the government from locals and is expected to feature some 1400 villas along with a Tom Fazio designed 18holes golf course.