The Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Honorable Denzil Llewellyn Douglas and other distinguished members of the community were on hand to commemorate the announcement and express their support for the project.  The marina excavation project will be managed by St. Kitts Marine Works, which is owned and operated by Kittitian Regiwell Francis.  The $6 million project is expected to take between 14-16 months and provide numerous employment opportunities for other members of the St. Kitts National Association of Heavy Equipment Operators.

“The commencement of the marina marks a significant and positive step forward in the overall development of Christophe Harbour,” said LeGrand Elebash, chief operating officer, Christophe Harbour Development Company, Limited.  “Regiwell Francis has an impressive track record for completing large scale projects like the St. Kitts Marine Works Boatyard here on St. Kitts and elsewhere in the region.  Given his reputation and local knowledge of this area, we feel extremely confident in awarding this contract to St. Kitts Marine Works.”

The first phase of the Christophe Harbour marina work will achieve a number of development goals related both to the marina itself and other aspects of the community.  The primary goal for the project is to excavate the marina to a depth of 20 feet which will then accommodate mega-yachts.  The work will also create 42 new harbourfront home sites, of which the initial 9 will be available for sale this April.  The project is also designed to refill the area where a number of golf holes will exist.  In addition to that, a stockpile of excavated sand will be kept in reserve to renourish the beaches at Ballast Bay and Whitehouse Bay.  As phase one of the marina work is complete, St. Kitts Marine Works will then open the channel to Ballast Bay and bring the harbour to the appropriate depths for mega-yachts. In doing this, Christophe Harbour and St. Kitts offers a safe and convenient port-of-call for all mega-yachts when cruising in the Caribbean.