(SKNIS): The popular tourist attraction Black Rocks, in Bellevue, St. Kitts, is now home to five chattel house styled vendor booths, which will not only empower vendors, but provide additional luster to the island’s tourism product.
Speaking at a small ceremony at Black Rocks to mark the event on December 27, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay Grant said that the government remains mindful that destinations around the world continue to compete for visitors by upgrading and adding to their historic sites and attractions and ensuring the high quality of their guests’ experiences.
“In St. Kitts, we can do no less. We must never fall victim to complacency, but instead continually strive to improve. To this end, the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority are implementing a number of projects and programmes designed to enhance our growing tourism product. Today, we are here to celebrate yet another milestone and achievement and it is the commissioning of the first five vendor booths here at Black Rocks in the Bellevue area,” the minister said.
Minister Grant said that renovations to Black Rocks started last year and that through several meetings it was agreed that there was an urgent need for intervention. The intervention was to raise the standard of the facility so that it can provide a much improved vendor and visitor experience “befitting one of the most popular iconic and natural tourism attractions in St. Kitts,” said the minister.
“We fast-forward to today and there is ample evidence of the work that has been done and the progress that has been made to bring about the transformation of this historic venue,” he said.
The tourism minister commended the White Gate Development Corporation generally and Mr. Ellis Hazel, CEO and Managing Director specifically for their financial and moral support to a significant portion of the project.
“The landscaping of the facility and the environs, the construction of roads and drainage systems, signage and lawn furniture are all courtesies of the White Gate Development Corporation to the tune of over 600,000,” Minister Grant said.
The first five chattel house style vendor booths have been funded by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at a cost of over $250,000. Five additional vendor booths are currently under construction.
Other additions at Black Rocks include viewing platforms, stalls for the primate petting vendors and persons selling local fruit, vegetables and preserves.
The revitalization of the site provides entrepreneurs from nearby communities with a space to make and supplement their livelihoods, said Minister Grant.