SEA Port officials are working assiduously to complete renovations works at the island’s major seaports, while also looking to utilize the coastal waters as an option to transport cruise passengers to remedy the bothersome traffic congestion in the city.
The officials state that despite some challenges, they intend to complete a major upgrade of these ports and to keep within an allocated time frame.
In the meantime, personnel from the Global Ports Holding (GPH) state that they are awaiting approval from the Development Control Authority (DCA) to proceed with works at the respective sites. The ‘highly anticipated’ multi-million projects, estimated at USD 50 million will entail renovations to Port Castries and the Soufriere seaport.
Officials say the ‘transformational and development’ project is advancing and is projected to provide substantial enhancements to these ports. The project is due to last at least two years, subject to the DCA’s approval.
“Our implementation strategy and our commitment are on approval from DCA, (and) within four months all the developments at all the sites would be completed, and we are pretty sure that we can achieve that,” Dr. Sean Matthews, GPH’s US and Caribbean Development Coordinator told reporters at a recent media briefing.
He assured that GPH is confident in their ability to achieve their goals, since “we know how to get things done.”
Though the renovation works may likely disrupt some of SLASPA’s daily operations, officials say efforts will be made to mitigate the impact.
“GPH with their global experience and expertise would be able to schedule these works with the minimal disruptions to the customer,” explained SLASPA’s General Manager Daren Cenac. “So, they are aware and SLASPA (too) is aware of how we will be undertaking those works and it is a collaborative effort.”
Noting the urgency of the project and its significance to the island’s port services, Dr. Matthews interjected, stating that “we can’t say that you will not get some disruption…once you have an existing operation, and you go through construction there is a level of disruption. But, we will be open enough to make sure the stakeholders are aware of every stage.”
Another factor of note, pertains to the issue of traffic congestion in the city and GPH personnel say they intend to seek solutions to that matter.
In an effort to enhance the visitor experience, Dr. Mathews said, with boatloads of passengers disembarking on the island and going on tours, “there is a need to manage the traffic in Castries, and even now it’s’ very challenging. So, one of the initiatives since we are going to have Bananes Bay is to have proper sized ferries to take people across and then they could take their tours from Bananes Bay and go to Soufriere or what not.”
The GPH official added that “we (are) also going to look at initiatives of moving people around the island via sea. We don’t utilize (these) types of advantages, but it’s not just structured and organized as yet. We would definitely like to look into that and see what initiatives we can partner with locals …because we don’t want to dictate and do it, we want to find people, invest with them, they manage it and we’re part of the ownership.”
While the project does not include additional berths, GPH however, will expand the cruise port infrastructure to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels.
Said Dr. Matthews: “We are going to be introducing a number of tender jetties in Castries and Bananes Bay. In Port Soufriere there are two existing berths – one is a finger-pier and the other is L-shaped, both of them are in a state of disrepair.
“We are required to repair it and reinstate it’s use, and with that we’re going to increase its berthing capacity by two-fold on the L-shaped, and we are also going to be putting some additional tender jetties right through the Baron’s Drive area and also at a location close to the market, where we intend to put an Amphitheatre.”
He explained that there will be additional berthing capacity for smaller vessels, “but when it comes to the Cruise Lines, the intention is to shore up Berth #1 at Point Seraphine to take (in) the biggest vessel in the world.”
Officials sources disclosed that the multi-million projects are estimated at a cost of USD 50 million, while SLASPA and the Government of Saint Lucia will retain ownership of the ports and GPH will manage the assets.
[R.A].