By Liz Rahaman
Parliament last week past a resolution that would allow the Federal Government to take more than 852 acres of land from private ownership.
The land, which is situated on the South East Peninsula, is to be transformed into a spectacular tourist resort.
During Parliamentary sitting last Thursday, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas moved a Resolution that paves the way for the Government to acquire land between the locations of Major’s Bay, Priddie’s Plateau and Black Coral Estate for the development of a five-star resort by the Auberge Firesky Five-Star Limited.
Douglas, however, did not say how the Government would acquire the land and if the owners of those lands would be compensated.
It is still very unclear on what kind of procedure the Government used to simply take those lands.
The Government last year April, entered into a multi-million dollar Concessionary Agreement for the construction of the 250-room resort, which according to PM Douglas, is expect to commence in a few months.
However, he told the National Assembly that the Agreement was in jeopardy if measures were not put in place for the acquisition of the privately owned lands.
In support of the Resolution, Attorney-General Delano Bart, explained that under the Concessionary Agreement between the Government and Developers to acquire the lands, Government would benefit from “two bites of the cherry.”
“Those lands out there have never been under the control of the Government, so all we could have done is to provide concessions to make things work…this puts us into a stronger position in relation to how things can be done because in terms of selling the land to the Developers,” Bart said. “We can now write into the terms of the Agreement, even more enhanced performance than we are asking for in costs in relation to the concessions we gave.”
Bart, however did not reveal what the concessions were.
PM Douglas further explained, that under Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act Chapter 273 and acting on the advice of Cabinet and with the approval of the National Assembly, the Governor-General can declare that the land be acquired for the purpose of a development project/
It is envisaged that some US$20 billion would be ploughed into the national economy over the projected 20-year period.
Speaking against the background of the closure of the 350 year-old sugar industry due to a major slump in the price for sugar on the world market, PM Douglas said that his Government is forced to concentrate primarily on the further development of its tourism industry with emphasis on upmarket tourism as the chief economic earner.
“This government took the bold step to close the industry, thus the transformation of the old economy based on sugar agriculture to a brand new vibrant economy that is led by services, in particular tourism and hospitality services here in our beautiful Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis…
Up market tourism provides the more potential or spin-off businesses on our beautiful island. It provides for more permanent jobs, better wages and salaries without the need for large hotel rooms. It therefore brings a lot more revenue to the island without the huge environmental impact caused by the large all-inclusive hotels.”
PM Douglas further noted that the surge in tourism in the (Caribbean) Region proves that tourists who patronise high-end hotels more money in the local community when compared to tourists who stay at the all-inclusive type of hotels.
“The high-end hotels have higher room occupancy rates all year round, thus blurring the distinction between in-season and off- season tourism. The government’s focus on up market tourism is for very good reasons, the values are tremendous,” he added.
The resort is slated to include a mega-size mariner, an 18-hole championship golf course, several spas and residential communities.
“This is what the Government signed with Auberge 5-Star Limited last year as we embark powerfully and strongly in our new thrust in up market tourism,” Douglas said and added that the project would provide untold employment opportunities in the construction industry for a long time.
“It is now literally the cornerstone of the country’s economic future and one of the more important elements that would provide for the development and international exposure of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” PM Douglas told the Assembly.
