Tourism Minister Skerritt says attempts by PAM to destroy the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis will fail
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Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt speaking in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly. (photo by Erasmus Williams)
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 4TH 2008 (CUOPM) – Minister of State for Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt says the multi-million dollar Kittitian Hill project is very much alive and is an integral part of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Government’s visionary effort to diversify the previous sugar-based economy and improve the quality of life for the residents of the surrounding villages of Newton Ground, St. Paul’s, Dieppe Bay, Parson’s and Saddlers and that wider Whitegate area of St Kitts.
He told Members of Parliament and the public at large on Wednesday that the ongoing attempts by the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) which holds one-seat in the 15-memberlaw making body that the sabotage of the Kittitian Hill project through mounting billboards and all of the other propaganda based methods, will fail.
Minister Skerritt accused the People’s Action Movement (PAM) of spreading propaganda designed to create an attitude and atmosphere of doom and gloom in the country and to attack the integrity of the Government’s hard work and outstanding achievements in the transformation and development of the economy.
Minister Skerritt noted that over the past few days, agents of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) have been mounting a number of large billboards all over the St. Kitts landscape.
“Mr. Speaker, I will not waste the time of this Honourable Assembly by repeating what we all already see and know….that it is the well established motive and policy of the People’s Action Movement to attempt to destroy the economy of our country as long as they do not hold the reins of government…. And it is clear to me that these PAM political billboards are part of PAM’s desperate attack on the exceptionally high level of investor confidence and positive buzz that has been generated in the North American and United Kingdom marketplaces about the future of our tourism sector,” Minister Skerritt told the National Assembly. ~~Adz:Right~~
In laying the serious charge of political sabotage of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis by the opposition PAM, Minister Skerritt referred to what he said was the sad fact that some of these PAM political billboards have sought to attack the integrity of the emerging Kittitian Hill Resort project in the Belmont Estate area, where a world-class golf course and boutique hotel and villa resort project is currently being designed and mobilised by Belmont Resorts Limited, the owners of the Kittitian Hill brand.
“The marketing of this brand has already commenced in the real estate investment markets of North America and the United Kingdom, and the reputable Sedona Resorts of the USA have already announced a formal relationship with Belmont Resorts Limited as future operators of the Kittitian Hill brand,” said the Minister of State for Tourism.
Minister Skerritt said the Chairman of the Board of Belmont Resort Limited, who was advised by his local staff of this blatant attack on his brand and project, called him on Tuesday to express his concern and is now seeking legal advice on the matter.
“This politically-motivated and unwarranted attack by PAM on this legitimate, well-documented and much publicised investment project which is owned by reputable regional investors, is just another unfortunate example of how low some politicians will stoop in their mission to get hold of the reins of government at any cost,” said Minister Skerritt, who added that he has extended apologies on behalf of the Government and on behalf of all well-meaning citizens to the Chairman and Members of the Directors of Belmont Resort Limited.
