Premier Amory addressing the gathering

His comment came while he delivered the feature address at the official launching ceremony held at Nugents Heights to mark the sale of residential and commercial lots at Pinney's Estate by the Pinney's Estate Development Agency (PEDA) on Thursday October 20, 2005.

I am satisfied that over the tenure of this government that every single Nevisian has seen an improvement in his or her quality of life. The environment which this government has created to make it conducive for investment has also spawned increased opportunity for employment, has increased the government's revenue so that we could improve the quality of our schools and our health service and our infrastructure, he said.

The Premier also pointed to the unprecedented levels of development in Nevis commercial sector citing that his government's achievements is no mystery but was a result of his government's approach to a job they had been given with seriousness and with the desire to deliver on the promises they had made mindful not to promise more that they could deliver.

Mr Amory explained also that when his administration sought to acquire approximately 738 acres of virgin land at Pinney's, Belmont and Clark estates and in Upper Jessups Estate in 2004, they had encountered a number of difficulties but remained focussed on what they wanted for the people of Nevis and made very serious efforts to ensure that lands would be made available to Nevisians along with foreign investment and that the development of these lands would generate new wealth for the people of Nevis.

It is in fact our stated position and policy to make this tract of  real estate which we have purchased for the development for the five star hotel and villas and for our own people to invest in commercial and residential activity to make this the means to generate new wealth for the people of Nevis and to ensure that persons here who have an idea and are able to raise the financing can have an opportunity to invest to make themselves better off and also to add to the value of this country, he said.

Premier Amory noted that the government would benefit from the development of the area through the collection of revenue and urged Nevisians to become involved in the project he said adding that unless the government was able to recoup the US$10million investment and to have money to provide the services it would be difficult.

Mr. Amory said that he was convinced that the development of the area had great potential to transform and take Nevis to a higher level of socio economic development including the creation of 1-1,500 jobs within the next five years. He termed the development futuristic noting that much of Nevis future development hinged heavily on the development adding that it had the potential to provide more than 25 times the initial US$10million debt.

The creation of the US$10million debt to purchase this property, even though we had persons being critical of it, has a greater potential to provide more than 25 times the initial debt which has been created and it is not just the monetary returns.

It is in fact the long term benefits which will accrue to the people of this country in terms of employment, in terms of better services, in terms of something which is not always quantifiable that is in terms of the pride and the dignity which our people will feel in seeing this land developed and sharing and partnering with government in the development of this land, he said.

Mr. Amory also explained that the development would also provide an opportunity for the expansion of Charlestown, a location which would provide a good quality rural and urban feel to Nevis. He also announced his administration's intention to construct a performing arts theatre outfitted with conference facilities.

He took the opportunity to thank all government agencies that worked together to ensure that the development far surpassed any other on Nevis in an effort to deliver the next level of prosperity for the people of Nevis.

A cross section of persons who attended the ceremony at Nugents Heights

Mr. Guishard also announced that the NIA was seeking to subdivide 100 acres of land in the Upper Jessups area they owned and offer them for sale as another site as soon as the lots are sold out at Pinney's Estate adding that it was the government's intention to engage the services of the same persons who were involved in the Pinneys Project.

The Housing and lands Minister also took the opportunity to give an update on the Newfoundland Developers on the five star hotel at Pinney's. 

Let me say that plans for the construction of this hotel are proceeding smoothly.  The Nevis Housing and land Development Corporation (NHLDC) has been approached by the Secretary to Newfound Developers seeking to bring a number of persons together in Nevis to speak about the development.

They will be coming with concepts they have already to present to the people. They are looking at meeting with contractors and the like, other business persons in the community and others who have an interest in the hotel development so it is on its way, he said.

He thanked Mr Bob Hull Project Manager of the PEDA and his team for a job well done and offered them offer encouragement.  The agency is a division of the Nevis Housing and Lands development Corporation.

Brief remarks came from Mr. Lloyd Lescott Manager of the NHLDC, Ms. Lillith Richards Ag Director of physical Planning and Mr. Nicholas Brisbane Engineer Consultant, Mr. Basil Manners rendered the National Anthem on pan, Pastor Theophilus Kelly Pastor of the Emmaus Chapel gave the invocation while Mr. Hull served as Chairman.