By Steve Thomas
Nevis Observer Editor
(Nevis) – The sun hasn’t set on Sunshine’s.
Llewllyn Caines, owner of the landmark Sunshine’s Restaurant and Bar, is planning to re-open at a temporary site on Sunday, March 9, after the owner of the land where his establishment was located got a court order directing him to leave the grounds.
“I am going back in business on Sunday. I am going to put a tent up,” Mr. Caines said Thursday afternoon.
Demolition equipment arrived at the site of the 20-year-old Nevis dining institution on Wednesday morning, March 5.
On Thursday, the wrecking began.
Mr. Caines plans to open his temporary operation south of Chevy’s Bar, on government-owned land that is earmarked for economic development.
He is ready to keep going.
“People are coming over from St. Kitts Sunday for lunch,” he said. “I don’t want to lose that business. I’ve gotten a lot of support from the people of Nevis and St. Kitts. It’s going to be all right.”
In the long term, Mr. Caines said he will build a new, permanent establishment.
“We are going to come back, better, stronger,” he said.
The land on which the Sunshine’s was located is owned by Pinneys Beach Resort LTD.
According to Mr. Caines’ attorney, Mrs. Lenora Walwyn-Bowrin, Mr. Caines did not hold title or lease to the land where the bar was located.
An attorney for the owner, Pinneys Beach Resort LTD, said they were not authorized to comment on the story.
According to court records, on Jan. 11, 2008, Mr. Caines was ordered by the Honourable Justice Ianthea Leigterwood-Octave to vacate the property owned by Pinneys Beach Resort LTD on or before March 1, 2008.
According to Mrs. Walwyn-Bowrin, the landowner wants the property completely vacated in order to complete the sale of the property.
She said the Nevis Island Administration is working on a relocation site for Sunshine’s and other nearby businesses, but nothing has been finalized.
The government owns14 acres located adjacent to the Pinneys Beach Resort LTD land, to the south. It is to be developed as a business park.
