Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 19, 2018 (SKNIS): Approximately 50 nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis are currently employed in the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante with the potential for another 50 persons to gain employment as the work progresses.
This was reported by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris during his 2019 Budget Address on December 12, 2018. The prime minister said that the engagement of locals is in keeping with the government’s efforts to ensure that local technicians are involved in the developmental process.
During his contribution to The Appropriation (2019) Bill, 2018, debate, Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, said that local businesses are also reaping the benefits of the project. He said that reports have shown that approximately $500,000 is being spent monthly on local supplies.
“So far, Mr. Speaker, 1650 cubic yards of concrete were purchased from the St. Kitts Masonry Products and by the end of the construction it is anticipated that 9,000 cubic yards of concrete would be procured from the St. Kitts Masonry Products,” he said.
Two major companies in St. Kitts and Nevis, TDC Group of Companies and S.L. Horsford’s, are also benefiting from this project immensely.
“I am happy for TDC in particular because TDC put their money where their mouth is and invested in this project when they put up 2.5 million to the construction of the new pier. We must applaud TDC.”
The project is expected to use 1000 tons of steel. Fifty-five percent of the steel will come from TDC.
The building of the new pier started in May, 2018, with the breaking of the seabed rock at Port Zante. The project is scheduled to take 18 months to complete.
