Hotel & Marina Project Timely for Soufriere

September 27, 2001 - The announcement of the Soufriere South Bay Development Projects couldn't have come at a better time for Soufriere, especially for the victims of Hurricane Lennie and the gravely affected area between Coin d'Lance and Malgretoute.

While some of the affected residents have been comfortably relocated to an area above and with a splendid view of the scenic West Coast town, many others have remained in the devastated area in conditions several times worse than when the Hurricane struck two years ago.

Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony, who was on the scene on the day the Hurricane struck, visited the town a few weeks ago, when he revealed that several avenues were being pursued to secure the necessary resources for rebuilding the area most affected.

He assured Coin d'Lance residents during the official prime Minister's visit to the constituency that government's plans would fundamentally change the face of the area.  He also assured patients and nurses at the senior Citizens Home at Malgretoute that government would relocate them to premises elsewhere that were more suitable for treatment of those who have laboured and are no longer able to help themselves.

It was therefore with a mixture of both pleasure and anticipation that Prime Minister Anthony and MP for Soufriere Dr Walter Francois participated in a ceremony last week celebrating the signing of an agreement for the major US$35 million tourism project to be undertaken in the area between Coin d'Lance and Malgretoute.

The agreement is between the Government and a local company, Donald Monplaisir & Cop. Ltd, which has itself assembled am investment consortium interested in constructing and operating tourism-related facilities in the town. The consortium comprises four international groups: Saint Malo Nautic, French a charter yacht company; The Loffroy group, developers, owners and operators of hotels (also French); Century 21, a US-based international real estate marketing company; and HPH Prince Hosam of Saudi Arabia.

The project will include a marine charter facility of 15 yachts, a 4 -star 120 room hotel at Malgretoute, a marina and quay in the Coin d'Lance and a condominium complex.

According to the developers, the first stage of the project - which will cost some        US$20 million -- will comprise construction of a marina with moorings for 70-100 yachts, 80 apartments and a condominiums and commercial space for shops, restaurants and offices.

The second phase will feature a US$15 million 223,000 square-foot residential Project.

Phase One is expected to provide between 500 and 1,000 jobs for residents of Soufriere and surrounding areas and 250 permanent ones upon completion. It is also anticipated that the hotel will expand to 200 and 300 rooms in three and five years, respectively.

The Prime Minister has also confirmed that, as part of the project, the Senior Citizens Home will be relocated to a new, larger and more comfortable Geriatric Facility to be constructed in the south of the island.

“This project is coming at the right time for Coin d'Lance after the ravages of Hurricane Lennie," the Prime Minister said at the signing ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of the five groups involved.

He said this was an appropriate time for investing in the Caribbean's tourism industry and described the decision of the developers to locate here as a powerful vote of confidence in the future of St. Lucia and its tourism product.

The Prime Minister particularly welcomed the participation of the French investors in the project and recalled that St. Lucia has been working hard to facilitate French investment and tourism" He recalled that the need for passports by French nationals arriving here was abolished to facilitate an increase in visitors from Martinique and France that is already visible.

Dr Anthony said Cabinet had already approved concessions for the yacht charter company, which will be temporary located at the Rodney Bay Marina before the end of this year, until the Soufriere marina is constructed.

The project was first conceived some four years ago when Ralph Monplaisir, on behalf of his family, approached the new government. Two and a half years later, the Office for Private Sector Relations (OPSR) got in on the act.

The OPSR's Head, Adrian Augier, who is also Economic Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, said the signing ceremony marked the completion of a long process of painstaking work by the OPSR to bring the various elements of the project together.

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