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| Premier Hon Mr. Vance Amory |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July14, 2005) -- Premier Honourable Mr. Vance Amory has described his recent trip to Newfoundland, Canada as fruitful. His comment came during an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) on Thursday following his return from a three-day trip to meet with a team of developers there.
I am satisfied that our discussions with the principals in Canada were fruitful and we will see a natural progression, I feel, a final closure within the next couple of months, he said.
A team spearheaded by Premier Amory and Minister of Tourism Hon Mr. Malcolm Guishard visited the developers at their request for a first hand look at an upscale tourism development they are engaged in.
We were able to meet with the principals and to have a first hand look at what they were developing, in terms of providing the amenities for tourism development, and how they were able to change an area which was economically depressed into an area which is now economically viable and vibrant after the depression of the fishing industry and the lumbering industry, which were the important economical activities in that part of Canada, he said.
Premier Amory noted that one important aspect of the development his team saw is that it is reflective of what the Administration has been discussing with other potential developers, some of who did not respect what they wanted.
So we have been searching for a team of developers which would respond to the governments ideas and ensure that the development we get at the Pinneys Estate will accord with the quality and the size which would make it a long term, viable project for the people of Nevis, he said.
According to Premier Amory, discussions were held on all of the conditions under which the development would take place and confirmed that they had arrived at on some mutual agreements. However, there were still some outstanding areas to be refined and for that reason, the developers were invited to visit Nevis.
We are inviting the principal developers, with their team of technical persons to visit Nevis to have another look at the site, to do some surveys to ensure that they are satisfied with the topography which exists, to look at what is possible in terms of responding to the governments needs.
We expect that they will be here in Nevis to meet with our technical team in another two weeks. At that time we hope we can clear up any areas which we have not yet nailed down and to be able in short order to settle and agree on the terms for the development.
I am very hopeful that we are working along with persons who appreciate the conditions which the government has established and persons who will provide a development of the quality which the government and people of Nevis can be satisfied with, Premier Amory said.
The Premier contends that his Administration has concerns over unemployment on Nevis although indications are that the island currently enjoys a low unemployment level.
He explained that the Nevis Island Administration wanted to be ahead of the curve, and put in place investment to meet with the demands of employment of Nevisians in the future.
Premier Amory noted that that his Administrations planned investment at the Pinneys Estate would be consist of a development comparable to the Four Seasons.
Our main objective in this development is to have a five star hotel with at least 150 rooms, a similar development with amenities as the Four Seasons with a golf course and villas, he said.
Premier Amory noted that he was hopeful that his Administration would be in a position to make a formal announcement with respect of the development shortly.
