|
 BASSETERRE,
ST. KITTS, MAY 26TH 2005 (CUOPM) – Four leading
fine jewelry and electronic stores in the Caribbean
and New York are eyeing the growing tourism market in
St. Kitts and Nevis.
General Manager of the Urban Development
Corporation (UDC), Mr. Jason Kelsick said Thursday that
construction of the first of four new buildings has
begun on Port Zante, the Federation's premier cruise
ship berth.
The announcement comes as the Barbados-based
Caribbean Development Bank reported a 32 per cent increase
in stayover visitors and a 78 per cent increase in cruise
ship passengers in 2004, with total visitor arrivals
nearing the 400,000 mark.
Mr. Kelsick also disclosed that separate
ground breaking ceremonies would be held over the next
few weeks for the construction of two more buildings
at Port Zante and a fourth is to start within a few
months.
Mr. Kelsick told the Communication's Unit
in the Office of the Prime Minister that the building
now under construction will be owned by Kay's Fine Jewelry
of St. Maarten. The company, established in St. Maarten
in 1989, recently opened a jewelry store on Port Zante,
in a building purchased from CONTEC.
"The 22,000 sq. ft. building will
house five large shops on the ground floor and an open
air restaurant and bar and space for offices on the
top floor," said Kelsick. Kay's Fine Jewelry operates
branches in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Curacao, Aruba
and Bonaire.
Mr. Kelsick disclosed that construction
of a building to house the world famous Boolchands stores,
which already opened a store in St. Kitts is to start
in a few weeks. Boolchands also operates in Aruba, St.
Thomas, Bonaire and Curacao.
"The 20,000 sq ft. building will
have the Boolchands stores on the ground floor and an
open air restaurant and offices on the top floor,"
said Kelsick.
St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands-based
Royal Caribbean - not to be confused with the famous
cruise ship line - it's a separate entity - will construct
a 41,000 sq. ft building on Port Zante.
"The facades are expected to be completed
in time for the 2005/2006 cruise ship season,"
said Kelsick.
He said that H.J. Namdar, a United States-based
company, which manufactures fine jewelry, will later
this year, begin construction of its own 35,000 sq ft
building on Port Zante, to lease to international upscale
retailers.
Former Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Dwyer
Astaphan, last year said that the opening of the world-famous
stores would boost the Federation's tourism product
and attract additional ships to St. Kitts.
Photo: Building under construction at
Port Zante to house Kay's Jewelry (photo by Erasmus
Williams) |
