BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE convenient car and passenger ferry, Sea Bridge (SKN) Inc. would be soon relocated farther inland to accommodate the construction of the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the overall Christophe Harbour development plan – a decision that has jolted an unfavourable backlash.
The two-way ferry was established in early August 2007 and has since been a favoured option to transport vehicles and passengers from Major’s Bay, St. Kitts to Cades Bay, Nevis – two of the closest points between the sister islands.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Le Grand Elebash informed that the relocation of the ferry was part of the initial agreement between the developers and the government, adding that the ferry would not fit well in the master plan.
“It is a government’s obligation to our company as part of our agreement that they would relocate the ferry at such time we were ready to build the [Mandarin Oriental] Hotel. It was agreed by both parties that the Sea Bridge is in an area that is not compatible with a five-star hotel environment,” Elebash noted.
The COO said talks of relocation had surfaced before but have now been identified as “an issue to be addressed” since the construction of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has not yet begun. He stated that the decision to move the ferry was necessary to ensure that the Christophe Harbour development secured the agreement with its five-star counterpart.
Elebash indicated that although the construction of the hotel has not yet started, the development project continues to prepare the plan of the site. When asked about relocation of the pier, he informed that it would be determined by the government.
“We have an agreement with the hotel for its construction. It is clear that we would not be able to get that agreement if we did not get the assurance from the government to relocate the ferry. I don’t know the relationship between the government and the Sea Bridge but my understanding is that the government may have told them that it’s not a permanent location, but I was not part of that agreement,” Elebash further stated.
SKNVibes contacted Rawlinson Isaac, CEO of the Sea Bridge, who informed that although initial discussions with the Planning Unit indicated that changes may have to be made to the project plan for the ferry, there was no concrete agreement or decision made regarding the relocation of his business. He said he is hopeful that negotiations surrounding the matter would be favourable in order to allow the continued success of his company.
“I was not informed by Christophe Harbour that I would have to move. In fact, they are not in a position to instruct me! The Planning Unit did indicate to me that there may be a change in the plan which suggests that the arrangements would be subject to negotiation. I invested EC$10 million already, so it would have to be properly discussed and negotiated,” Isaac told SKNVibes.
Isaac said when the government granted his company permission to construct the pier, he did not foresee any obstruction to the development plan of Christophe Harbour, especially since the pier is built on the end of the Main Road and extends over reclaimed land.
“Government gave us the authority to construct a pier at Majors Bay, knowing full well that the development was going on. The pier is on reclaimed land at the end of the Kennedy Simmonds Highway – Government land, Crown land! We are not on anybody’s land! No Christophe Harbour could move me! The government would have to request that we move. And, if the government asks me to move without making the proper arrangements for me to maintain a sustainable and viable business, they are asking me to kill my business,” Isaac asserted.
According to Acting Director of Physical Planning Randolph Edmeade, there was only some mention of the relocation of pier in early discussions, but there was no official statement made regarding the steps the Planning Unit would be making. He informed that permission for the pier’s construction was granted at a time when he held the office of Senior Environmental Officer.
“When the proposal for the Sea Bridge was made, it was assessed and a decision was made for its location. In the strategic environmental assessment that Christophe Harbour presented to the Development Control and Planning Board, some mention was made about relocating the car ferry dock, but what happened after that, I don’t know.
“I have not received anything official stating that we are taking steps to relocate the Sea Bridge. I don’t know what discussions went on between the developers at Christophe Harbour and the owners of the Sea Bridge,” Edmeade said.
Permission for the Sea Bridge was granted under the directorship of Edmeade’s predecessor Ellis Hazel, former Director of Physical Planning, who is now fully employed by Christophe Harbour Development Company as Director of Planning and Government Relations.
When asked about the relocation of the pier, Hazel said, “I am no longer qualified to speak to decisions I would have taken while I was working with government. I am on Christophe Harbour’s side now and it would not be professional of me.
“I’m certain though that the permission that was granted to the Sea Bridge was given with conditions,” Hazel said.
