BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Government of National Unity would be offering for sale that parcel of land on Port Zante upon which the Latin Festival and some Carnival activities were hosted, according to Minister with Responsibility for Urban Development the Hon. Ian Liburd.
Liburd said that the land was to be sold during the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party’s tenure in office but that administration had put a hold on it.
“From my understanding, the former administration and the former Minister had put a stop on the sale which didn’t make much sense economically, politically or otherwise.”
That location was used by the Government during the 2015/2016 Carnival season to host a number of activities instead of the traditional Carnival Village on Victoria Road.
Asked to state the Government's position on the land and if it would replace the Carnival Village, the Minister intimated that it was only used as a temporary location for the National Carnival and the Latin Festival.
“It was a temporary arrangement for that and the Latin Festival. In fact, it’s Urban Development Corporation land which is up for sale.”
According to Minister Liburd, the sale would be done in order to continue with the developmental plans for the Federation, notably in Port Zante.
“We are going to dispose of the land as part of the development process of that area. We try to sell or get rid of the land to continue with development of UDC or the Port Zante property. This is a new development on that side of Port Zante with some seven acres of land.”
Liburd is optimistic that the Ministry of Culture and the Carnival Committee would seek to develop the Carnival Village for all their activities, while noting that the facility would be there for future use as a Plan B.
