The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly has approved a resolution to acquire the 15-acre 108-room three-storey Angelus Resort and Spa at Frigate Bay, St. Kitts.
Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, during a sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, also received parliamentary approval for the acquisition of two other pieces land nearby for "a public purpose, namely for the purpose of a 5-star hotel."
Government's decision comes amidst a long-running legal battle for the resort, which sits on prime tourism beachfront property. Government has been concerned that the present owners and operators could not move forward with further investment and development of the resort because of the ongoing court battle.
Prime Minister Douglas told Parliament that as tourism is the main stay of the local economy and the resort is in a prime tourism area, government has expressed its concerns whether the hotel's management can meet its obligations to provide the basic services to guests and guarantee the continued employment of the local workforce.
"We are aware of the litigation that is going on with regard to persons who claim that they have invested in The Angelus, but who now feel that something is amiss when they made their investments and are going to the courts of the land in order to have redress and to settle what they claim to be unfair treatment with regard to their investment," Prime Minister Douglas told Parliament.
Dr. Douglas noted The Angelus is mortgaged and commercial houses and other providers of services to the resort continue to anxiously await the settlement of the problems being experienced and most importantly, "fulfill the specific obligation that they gave to this government when the government first approved the construction of that facility."
He told Parliament and the Nation that after "many difficult days and nights and soul-searching (and) after I've had consultations with the Governor General and have had his full support that the Government will proceed to acquire The Angelus and the adjacent 6.5 acres in order to continue to realise the government's public policy with regard to the continued expansion of the tourism plant in St. Kitts and Nevis."
Prime Minister Douglas gave the assurance that his Government has been in close contact with the present owners and they support the move to acquire the property "because they are unable to do anything else in terms of the further expansion of the property."
He also disclosed that the owners of the adjacent two properties of five acres and one and a half acres respectively, have been contacted by government and are in support of the decision to acquire.
"They would comply and would support and cooperate with the government in order to bring some new development thrust to the 20 acres of land that includes The Angelus and another 6.5 acres adjacent to it," Dr. Douglas said.
He gave the assurance that his government's decision to acquire The Angelus and the two pieces of adjacent land was "not a frivolous act."
~~Adz:Left~~"This is a very serious action that is attempting to maximise the use of important beachfront real estate and this government will continue to shoulder its responsibility to facilitate the development of the Frigate Bay area," said Prime Minister Douglas.
The Angelus has a 5000 sq ft spa with a wide range of massage, facial and body treatments; an outdoor whirlpool; a three level 4,800 sq ft swimming pool with swim up bar and grill; Moon Dance beach bar and grill and Le Caribee gourmet restaurant.
