BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 30, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, has commended the Zuliani family for its continued interest and investment in St. Kitts and Nevis. This was as the family broke ground on Friday April 30 for the construction of a 10,000 square foot commercial development, Royal Plaza II, at their Royal St. Kitts Hotel in Frigate Bay.
“I want to thank (President of Royal St. Kitts Hotel) John (Zuliani) for inviting me to be part of the continuing expansion of the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, and to say to him how proud we are in St. Kitts and Nevis of the presence of Royal St. Kitts Hotel, formerly Jack Tar, and to thank him for continuing on expanding upon the vision of his father before him, Mr (Alceo ‘Archie’) Zuliani.”
According to the Honourable Prime Minister, the Zuliani family’s contribution to the tourism plant has been significant. He pointed out that at one point the hotel, then referred to as Jack Tar, was the largest hotel facility in St. Kitts and Nevis, boasting some 200-plus rooms. It is presently the second largest in St. Kitts, second only to the Marriott for which the late Mr Zuliani would have been part of the earlier promoters of the facility.
Present at the ceremony which was chaired by Royal St. Kitts Hotel Front Office Manager, Ms Rohanda Devent, was Ambassador His Excellency Michael Powell, who was the Minister of Tourism when the late Mr Archie Zuliani set up business on St. Kitts, pointing out that he actually invited Mr Zuliani to St. Kitts. Also present was the CEO of St. Kitts and Nevis Citizen by Investment Unit, Mr Les Khan, and renowned lawyer, Mr Tony Ross QC.
“I want to thank them (Zuliani family) for their ongoing confidence in the Government and People of St. Kitts and Nevis; in their confidence that the better and safer future awaits us all here,” said Dr Harris. “I took note of the fact that one of the factors that impacted upon the decision to invest has been the fact that we have been able, as a Government, to keep all who reside here very safe, and I want to say we must never take that for granted.”
The Honourable Prime Minister pointed out that the confidence is moving from one generation to the next, saying that it is a positive story. He extended his commendation to Dr Danielle Zuliani, wife of Mr John Zuliani, for insisting to her husband that she wanted to be in the safest place on earth, which is St. Kitts and Nevis. He also commended Dr Ursula Higgins, Mr John Zuliani’s mother, for falling in love with St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Construction is critical to our returning the country back to normalcy,” stated Prime Minister Harris. “Construction means work for people during construction phase, and work for people when the property becomes available to provide the range of services that you all intended.”
The project, Dr Harris said, provides a win-win situation for the people of St. Kitts, as it will provide more jobs, and higher incomes as it gives people the ability to see and to take advantage of new opportunities both in the construction phase and in the service provision that will come thereafter.
He wished for the project to be a most profitable venture for Mr John Zuliani, who as a private developer, will only continue to invest if he will get good results. He wished Mr Zuliani to have good results for him to move from Plaza II to Plaza III and then something even greater and bigger than any of them could have conceived.
“Thank you for inviting me,” concluded Prime Minister Harris. “Thank you for having the Government being here because my Team Unity Government Administration will want to partner with you, and partner with all serious developers in St. Kitts and Nevis as we advance the country further towards the stronger, the better, and safer future.”
