BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 4TH 2013 (CUOPM) – Construction of the first phase of the Park Hyatt St. Kitts will create some 300 jobs in the construction sector and associated activities.
Speaking at Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the major 5-star luxury hotel at St. Kitts’ Banana Bay as part of the Christophe Harbour Development, Vice President of Range Developments, Mohammed Asaria said Monday that the project is not so much about Range Development and Park Hyatt.
He said the construction of the high-end resort is more about St. Kitts and the vision and testament of the Labour Party Administration of the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, which has made this development possible.
“This project, we are committed to the people of St. Kitts to deliver and to deliver to ensure maximum benefit to the island. Today is another milestone in the development of this project. This afternoon work will start on the Park Hyatt Hotel in St. Kitts. Tomorrow the clearing away of land will start, followed by grading, then excavation, and then followed by construction. By 2015 or the end of 2015, we are committed to deliver phase 1 of the Park Hyatt Hotel in St. Kitts,” Mr. Asaria told invited guests including Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence; Deputy Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin; Partner, South Street Partners, Mr. Christopher F. Randolph and private sector and public sector officials.
“Today is a new development of the chapter in the development of Park Hyatt St. Kitts, because from tomorrow, jobs would be created for the local economy. We estimate that Phase 1, will create 350 jobs in construction and directly associated activities for the island and people of St. Kitts,” said Mr. Asaria, adding:
“The project is yours. Our project director, he is a new citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, but he is a citizen and he believes adamantly and vociferously that this a project for the people of St. Kitts who should benefit and become our partners in developing the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Our support, your business, we look forward to it and look forward to holding hands with you to make this a reality.”
Mr. Asaria said the Park Hyatt project is a classic example of the successful Private-Public Partnership.
“Capital by the private sector, incentives by the government and working together to ensure that in this difficult economy, a major 5-star luxury hotel can be built which would rival any resort in the Caribbean,” he said.
Mr. Asaria said that the overall vision of all the players in the project is for St. Kitts to become the Caribbean hotspot for tourism.
“We are surrounded by beautiful land, beautiful weather, and there is no reason why this hotel development cannot be an example for another 3 or another 4 or 5 hotels to be built on the island of St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said.
Mr. Asaria is of the view that with a vision based on tourism and foreign direct investment and public and private partnership “employment will rise, tourists will flock and ensure that Park Hyatt St. Kitts and its partners in the economy are vibrant businesses which would have a long lasting and ever reaching benefits for the island of St. Kitts and Nevis.”