By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 19, 2019 (ZIZ News): Members of the media were treated with a tour of the 2nd Cruise pier at Port Zante on Monday August 19 2019.
During the tour, Project Engineer, Jonathon Daduut updated the media on the ongoing works which included the pouring of concrete and laying of steel.
“It’s a big day for us because we are pouring concrete on the deck. If you look behind you will see that we have completed the deck all the way up here”, he said as he pointed his finger behind the media representatives. He added, “We are probably 90 percent almost and here you see the last sections of the deck getting poured so there’s steel that is in place and right now you see the guys pouring concrete to bring it up to the final deck elevation”.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Ian Liburd explained that the Pile Cap process has been completed and just about 85 percent of the concrete work is also complete.
“The dredging work is completed I am advised and just some divers who are completing one or two hard spots alongside the pier. The piling works I am advised are 100 percent complete and all the concrete works are 85 percent complete”, he expressed.
Several local Contractors, Sub-Contractors and Suppliers have been hired to complete the second cruise pier project. The Infrastructure minister said he is pleased to announce that 90 percent of the workers are local employees.
He said, “What is most heart-warming to me as the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Transport is that there are 125 workers on this site and I am advised that some 90 percent of those workers are all procured or hired from the local pool of workers”.
The USD 48 million dollar project is financed under a syndicate between the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, which has committed US$34 million; the St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security Board which has pledged US$7 million; the St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation with US$5 million and TDC which has committed another US$2 million.
Once constructed, the pier will be able to accommodate two mega cruise ships.
Minister Liburd said considering that the second cruise pier is on schedule, completion of the 60 feet wide and 670 feet long project is expected by September 23rd.