BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas said he is pleased with the progress seen at Christophe Harbour, which is an important component of his government’s economic transformation strategy.
Speaking at a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Tuesday (Aug. 27) for the launch of two major residential projects at Christophe Harbour on the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts, Dr. Douglas was in high praise of the developers and investors involved in the project.
“I believe that all of you here know that my government has very solid reputations to encourage private investment that is of good quality and that which is compatible with our country’s development objectives, including the empowerment of our people and the sustainability of our islands and government and culture. I am therefore always pleased to see progress being made here at Christophe Harbour; a development vision that is shared by my government and a project that continues to be an important component of my government’s economic transformation strategy.”
He briefly spoke to past challenges experienced by Christophe Harbour which had caused the entity not to meet expected deadlines, but noted that it has since quickened its pace and has provided quality jobs for many citizens of the Federation.
“Like most other resort area developments in the Caribbean, I am very much aware that Christophe Harbour has experienced various growth-related challenges and internal issues since the financial meltdown and global economic recession first began in the United States of America over four years ago.
“Consequently, some of the projects and vision for Christophe Harbour have been moving at a much slower pace than was expected. However, I have chosen to join you for this ceremony because I continue to be convinced that the overall vision for Christophe Harbour and millions of dollars that have been invested here so far are very important to my government’s efforts to improve the quality of life for all our citizens. I am also aware that many of those citizens have found good quality jobs here at Christophe Harbour.”
The two major residential projects, the Windswept Residence Club and the new Ocean Grove Villas, together involve nearly US$90M in development and sales. The former, located at Sandy Bank Bay, will comprise 90 fractional units, while the former will encompass some 50 villas.
“These two new projects with which I am associating our government today,” Dr. Douglas said, “imbued the Ocean Grove Villas; the product of a joint venture agreement between the Christophe Harbour Development Company and the Canada-based Apex Capital Partners Corporation.
“I want to thank especially Mr. Nuri Katz and his partners for preserving their dream and for also persevering on this particular dream for St. Kitts, and for joining the long list of investors in Christophe Harbour.”
The Prime Minister also noted that the investment projects are especially welcomed “because they tell the story of an upsurge in investment here in St. Kitts and Nevis in the year that my government predicted will be the year for fiscal recovery and a return to economic growth”.
He also told the developers and investors that his government is looking forward to the start of construction of the villas, which would be strategically located next to the area of the Pavilion Beach Club, noting that the project is also significant because it is “the first major investment to be put together in St. Kitts by a Russian group”.
“So, it is not by any accident therefore that this investment comes at a time when my government is in the process of removing the requirement of an entry visa for Russian visitors. We see Russia as a new and desirable market for both investors and visitors for our country, and you can be assured that my government will continue to take the necessary steps to improve the flow of trade and investment between our two democratic countries,” Dr. Douglas added.
Also making presentations at the ceremony were Chief Executive Officer of Christophe Harbour Buddy Darby, Christophe Harbour’s Chief Operating Officer Bill Lee and President of Apex Capital Partners Nuri Katz.
Addressing the audience, which included the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence and Lady Hulda Lawrence; Government Ministers; tourism officials; and members of the business community, Darby said, “As they say, ‘It takes a village’ and Christophe Harbour’s transformation will take many hands…skilled craftsmen to build, landscapers to maintain, property managers to oversee. And as each unit comes online, our village will grow, new jobs are created, and tourism dollars generated.”
Lee told his audience that the two residential projects would be under the purview of the newly-established Christophe Harbour Management Company.
“These two enclaves bring us closer to the realisation of the vision of Sandy Bank Bay resort complex, the premier residential resort community within Christophe Harbour, which will soon be followed by the same in the Christophe Harbour Marina Village,” Lee said.
And Katz said: “We are investing tens of millions of dollars here and anticipate the project to employ more than 150 new employees. Ocean Grove Villas will be home to approximately 47 families and will also be an attractive rental product with a variety of amenities. I believe that we will attract buyers from around the world, and I am counting on many of those buyers coming from my former home…Canada.”
It was also noted that from among the 150 new employees, 80 percent would be locals.
