Be sure to hit the notification bell below to get further updates on this and other stories.
The government of St. Lucia entered a historic partnership with cruise port operator Global Ports Holdings, on August 2nd which officially formalizes an arrangement to develop Port Castries and the Soufriere Waterfront. Also included in the deal will be the development of Pointe Seraphine and the Vendors Arcade in Castries, as well as the settlement of a $US 20 million loan owed by SLASPA.
According to Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, the moves signals a clear thrust towards transforming St. Lucia’s cruise product.
“GPH is a worldwide company and the number of visitors, the number of cruise passengers have increased anytime there has been work done by GPH, because they bring an array of services, they bring a lot of experience, to the ports” Pierre said.
The PM stressed further that none of the tenants or vendors will be displaced during the development phase of the project
The move, however has not sat well with Opposition operatives. According to a post on its social media platforms, the United Worker’s Party questioned whether or not this deal took the natural surroundings into consideration.
‘The decision by the government of Saint Lucia to sell Port Castries and the Soufriere waterfront for a mere $42 million has left citizens and environmentalists dismayed.” the post read. “This move raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to preserving the nation’s natural heritage and protecting its maritime interests.”
With strong divisions in opinion between the two sides, only time will tell whether the partnership was productive or not,
For more information on this and similar stories, join us for the Hot 7 TV news at 6:45 on Flow channel 117, Kiss FM, the Caribbean Hot FM mobile app and the Caribbean Hot 7 TV Facebook page. We are also available on the HOT 7 Plug and Play antennae. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at 1(758)452-6040 if you have a story of interest to share. We are your official source for breaking news.
