The Nevis Island Administration has unveiled plans for a half billion dollar hotel and villa development on Pinney’s Estate that would provide employment to hundreds of Nevisians and whose ground breaking ceremony would be held in March next year.Premier and Minister of Finance, Mr Vance Amory, who delivered the feature address at a grand reception held Sunday evening on the grounds of Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland to introduce developers of the project, said that the function marked the beginning of the process of moving Nevis to a higher level.

Describing the event as a new dimension in the development of Nevis, the Premier recalled that that 18 years ago when he approached the people of Nevis, “they were gracious enough to have given my party and myself the opportunity to bring to reality the vision which we presented to you those long years ago.”

Premier Amory observed that he wanted to share with Nevisians “What we expect from New Found Development in partnership with us here in Nevis in respect to the development of a five star hotel and villa development with golf course on 600 acres of prime land at Pinney’s Estate.”

He told the gathering that the government had the opportunity initially of meeting with the principals of the company, and they decided that they would take their time and do due diligence, “but more importantly, when they suggested that we visit their property in Newfoundland, Canada, we decided that that might be also just as important as doing due diligence.”

The Minister of Tourism, Mr Malcolm Guishard, who had travelled to Newfoundland with the Premier, told the gathering: “The saying ‘Good things come to those who wait’ best describes my feelings today as we take a quantum leap in our quest to further the development of our tourism plant.”

He hit out at newspaper articles by prominent members of the Nevisian community suggesting that the project would not be of a five star quality. He said the wait by the government was to ensure that Nevis struck it big again.

“Nevis has become known and renowned for the quality accommodation that we were not willing to compromise,” commented Mr Guishard. “We wanted to match or even surpass in quality and amenity that which we already have. I am pleased to report today that the proposed development at Pinney’s would easily compare with any one the island.”

Master of Ceremonies, Mr Tyrone O’Flaherty, who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, introduced the three directors of New Found Properties Limited, Mr William Thompson, Mr James Cabourne and Mr Owen Pritchard, to the cheering gathering.

Mr Williams who gave an overview of their plans for the Pinney’s Estate lands said: “We are a company that believes in delivery, we do not take it lightly. We are delighted to be here. We didn’t choose Nevis randomly, I have seen all of the Caribbean islands and I have been around the world and I believe that we are going to develop something here that is going to be unprecedented anywhere and I do not say that lightly.”

He noted that in general terms through the construction phase they estimate about 650 people would be directly employed and through the operations they expect a staff of 1,000. Through knock-on and induced business, the project would bring to the island a total job creation of about 2,200.

“We would like to break ground in March 2006. We estimate the total project value at about half a billion dollars. We think that over an eight-year period government will receive, and we are delighted with this, of the order of 86 million dollars, which is obviously for the direct benefit of the Nevisian people. Coupled with the fact we expect ultimately we will get somewhere between a half million and a million people through here a year,” added Mr Williams.

From the pages of Caribbean Net News.
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