Basseterre, St. Kitts (September 08, 2006): The U.S. five million dollar Old Road Fisheries Complex is scheduled to be complete by November this year.
This is according to Japanese Consultant and Resident Engineer Kunita Nataka of the Fisheries Development Department of ICONS International Corporation. Mr. Nataka said that they are putting the final touches to the jetty and the building is 60 to 65 percent finished. He also said that the placement of the concrete tetrapods should be concluded by the middle of October.
Minister responsible for Fisheries, Honourable Cedric Liburd reminded that the project commenced in January and fortunately there had not been any major hurricanes nor setbacks and as such the work was still on schedule. He expressed pleasure with the progress of the contractors and subcontractors. The government Representative also said that there were 50 local employees along with 10 persons from the Japan as part of the technical working staff.
~~Adz:Right~~Minister Liburd explained that while the project cost a total of US$5,000,000, it was the governments responsibility to fence and connect the utilities of electricity and water. He further noted that a four tonne truck with a crane was one of the assets of the project that would permanently remain on site at the Old Road Fisheries. This he said could be used to assist fishermen in the event that their boats became beached. The Minister said this would be very useful during times of emergency.
The aspect of the improvement and upgrade in the quality of life of the people of the area was also highlighted. Pertaining to the Federation as a whole, Minister Liburd said that the output from the Old Road Fisheries should reduce the overall imports of fish into the Federation. He said that his ministry was in discussion with the St. Kitts Development Bank and querying the possibility of receiving money from the Empowerment Fund.
Minister Liburd took the opportunity to thank the Old Road Fishermans Cooperative for working with the Fisheries Ministry in monitoring the project because the hoped for end result was to have both entities working together in the management of the complex.
