The Government of Saint Lucia and Global Port Holdings (GPH) have finalized a landmark agreement to redevelop Port Castries and the Soufriere waterfront.
In addition to undertaking needed upgrades to Port Castries, Saint Lucia will be poised to receive larger cruise passenger volumes and increased port calls.
Saint Lucia’s tourism sector stakeholders, including vendors, taxi drivers, land and sea tour operators, will benefit directly from the increased commercial activity.
The development project will inject millions of dollars into the economy, create new jobs during construction and launch the careers of hundreds of Saint Lucians aspiring to work in the cruise ship industry.
“We have to find ways to allow you to make the return on your investment but we also have to find ways to make the people benefit. There can be no agreement that doesn’t involve the people of the country…,” Pierre said recently.
Mehmet Kutman, Chairman of GPH noted that “none of our destinations be it from Vietnam all the way to (Bahamas)… don’t have a single expat working, it’s all locals. If we can’t find the human resources (locally)… we train them and we bring them back, that’s our policy.”
Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire said “we certainly look forward with eager excitement to the immediate commencement of works and the implementation of the agreements. The Castries Waterfront will look a lot better with a redeveloped Vendors Arcade; included also is the removal of the old Customs Building and the rationalization of that area.”
Another exciting addition, he noted, “is the boardwalk that will be built from the Vendors Arcade to the Sans Souci bridge. I think it would create a whole new added experience for cruise passengers … just having that experience along the waterfront… will be something special.”
The Soufriere Waterfront, although not included in GPH’s original development plans, is now affixed in the final agreement thanks to strong lobbying efforts by the Member of Parliament for Soufriere, Fond St Jacques, Emma Hippolyte.
Said Hippolyte: “I want to thank the Chairman of GPH for agreeing to include Soufriere in this project. I could remember very clearly when I approached the people of Soufriere in the election my tagline was ‘together let us transform Soufriere, Fond St Jacques’. I am pleased that this project will be an integral part of this transformation.”
Saint Lucia has agreed to a 30-year concession with a potential 10-year extension option for the cruise-related operation. Once completed, the project will invite greater participation in the tourism sector by more Saint Lucians and will also create new business opportunities for Saint Lucia’s tourism industry stakeholders.
Minister for Infrastructure Stephenson King said “I’m hoping that that experience and that development will more or less present itself as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the urban areas of Castries.”
The GPH Project is expected to be completed by 2025 and is expected to lead to a rise in passenger volumes. GPH is investing more than US4 40 million into the project.