Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator, celebrated the commencement of cruise management services at Port Castries by Saint Lucia Cruise Port (SLCP) with the Government of Saint Lucia.
The event was observed at a special ceremony held at the Northern Wharf of the port and was attended by government dignitaries, GPH senior executives, and key port partners.
Saint Lucia Cruise Port is a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding.
Mehmet Kutman, Chairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding, expressed his team’s appreciation for its partnership with the government during his remarks at the event. “We are honored to be here on this momentous occasion and to partner with the Government of Saint Lucia to mark the commencement of our cruise port management services. We want to thank Prime Minister Philip Pierre, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister Stephenson King, and the entire government team for their commitment and cooperation in bringing this moment to fruition.”
Mr. Kutman placed special emphasis on the relationship between the Saint Lucia Cruise Port team and the community. “We would be remiss in not thanking all of the stakeholders who participated in the negotiations process and those who helped us to improve our plans by sharing your direct and prompt feedback. Your contributions and support have made it possible for us to be here today. Through our continued collaboration, this investment in our collective future will surely generate abundant returns for Saint Lucia for many years.”
Prime Minister Pierre thanked the GPH team and emphasized the nature of its historic partnership with the government. “What we have is a new economic arrangement. We will get the best of both worlds – we let you develop the infrastructure in exchange for a “rental” of the cruise port for 30 years, but you will pay us. You will employ people and you will improve the quality of life of the people of Saint Lucia. That is what is most important to me.” He added that, “We had very tough negotiations, but the end result will benefit the people of Saint Lucia and we are very happy. GPH has my full support. We need you to begin to do the work as soon as possible. The people of Soufriere, Bananes, the Vendors Arcade – we are expecting you to deliver. Welcome to Saint Lucia, thank you, and we hope to have a lasting relationship with you.”
Deputy Prime Minister Hilaire summarized one of the main reasons why GPH was selected as the preferred partner to manage the cruise port and related services. “There’s been a lot of criticism over the years about cruise tourism. Hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to our shores. And people ask, what do we get in return? The truth is, there is so much that you can get in return…they will come, they will go to your beaches, but they won’t spend money. GPH knows how to get visitors to spend more money in destinations, so [working with] GPH is a natural fit for us. And in Saint Lucia, we want exactly that. We want more visitors to come in and spend more money. We need to take Saint Lucia to a higher level…and GPH will come in now to assist in creating a higher level of experience [for our visitors].
Lancelot Arnold, Director of GPH Eastern Caribbean and General Manager of Saint Lucia Cruise Port, shared the enthusiasm of the SLCP team. “We are immensely proud to officially assume management of cruise operations at Port Castries. Today’s achievement is the result of an exceptional amount of hard work and commitment by many people. We have spent months preparing extensively for this moment and are ready to move full speed ahead. We are fully aligned with all key partners to ensure that we can begin operations with a seamless transfer of service.”
“Following today’s announcement,” he continued, “our project designs will undergo refinement in collaboration with our stakeholders prior to submission to government for approval. Construction will commence upon receipt of the requisite regulatory permits. Meanwhile, we will establish our offices and continue operation of the cruise port in preparation for the start of the new cruise season in October.”
He emphasized, “Enhancements to the berth at Pointe Seraphine in Castries will assist in reaching our passenger traffic targets by accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships. These days, cruise lines are constructing vessels that are wider and longer than ever before. It’s imperative that we modernize our port infrastructure to welcome these new ships and maintain our competitiveness as a premier cruising destination.”
Planning for the influx of larger ships and increased visitors also requires careful consideration of traffic management, a critical aspect of the redevelopment effort that the SLCP team will diligently address in collaboration with government and other stakeholders.
By introducing innovative strategies to enhance the flow of passenger and area traffic, including the establishment of new tender jetties and ferry services for transporting larger groups of people by sea, Arnold and his team foresee that the project will create more opportunities for Saint Lucian entrepreneurs.
“At GPH,” Arnold added,” our aim is to advance solutions that address the needs of the community while contributing to societal improvement and economic growth. By working with key stakeholders to create these kinds of initiatives, we will certainly achieve this goal in Saint Lucia.”
“Extensive work is currently in progress behind the scenes,” he affirmed. “We are committed to providing regular updates on our plans and progress to keep our community well-informed.”
SOURCE: Global Ports Holding
Hahaha! Sa ka bwilé Chas. 😂😂😂😂. Now let’s hear from the acolytes. . . The usual suspect. Should I name them like the honorable Highgrade did? 😂😂😂😂😂
I watching dem 4 Is there and i am sure they must suffer b 4 they die for their RIDICULOUSNESS.
But what about the roads………main roads and definitely side roads to communities?????
This is a very major investment. It will transform the harbor area and widen opportunities for bigger cruise ships. The 30-year “ownership” is in keeping with standards. It’s a plus for the place.
I heard no one talking about the hovel structures in Faux A Chaux. It’s an eye sore that was allowed to fester and grow. Such is the result when we don’t address early problems. We really can’t have these structures alongside the port area. Hope the government acts to address the situation.
Always take the words of a politician with a pinch of salt and vinegar and for added vim, chew on a clove of garlic. When Pierre said GPH will develop Port Castries (with their (GPH) own money) and will rent Port Castries from the Government of Saint Lucia for 30 years but you (ie GPH) will pay us (ie Government of Saint Lucia) a rental fee for 30 years and in the meantime employ Saint Lucians and improve their lives….one wonders in the world of corporate and capitalist macroeconomics, who benefits the most from this deal. Now before the uninitiated start to spill and choke on their steaming hot coffees by my aforementioned statement, let me make this clear. I am totally for the development of Saint Lucia, however, I want to see the small print of the deal that was signed . I want to see who gets what and especially what are we getting in return….all well and good we are getting to develop our Flagship Port but what are we giving away in return. The details are very thin on this. 30 years is a long time and I can assure you GPH will ensure it gets it’s pound of flesh for the monies they will spend in developing Port Castries. I want to see the details…I want to see design schematics, I want to see the projected financial numbers, the projected tourists foot fall…how will the port be managed, can any citizen patronise the Port when all the glamour lights come on..will local brand producers be allowed to open and display their creations next to global brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dulce and Gabbana and the like……are the Port design in keeping with the already approved 2008 design for the city of Castries ( millions were already spent on the feasibility study and drawing schematics). These are the things we want to know…..the details are few and far between.. I do hope they will be made public sooner rather than later…. meanwhile, I will be sipping my chateaux neuf du pâpe mille-sept-cent-quatrevignt neuf…
Neo colonialism rearing its head.
Good luck hope better disembarking levels than some.ports..ensure architecture design is St.lucian not California or neutral…ensure current retail also benefits
…..AND ABSENT WAS BAD MIND OPPOSITION LEADER WHICH WAS MOST FITTING FOR THIS OCCASION. O Really/ Nude the Fudge/Shock& Horror and The other Chameleon fools there there there cry a river Andy William’s for your ass Moon River blah blah blah Pierre killing them
@Lowgrade Puppet, Oh Really is an original, do not mistake me for people like Nudge.
check how cost of living going to go up, simply reason… the UWP/SLP do not know how to secure food to feed its nation, they take your votes and abuse it to the max. Throw you under the bus and scream out its investment but it is riddled with corruption and illegalities.
We just need to wake up and SEE what is happening to our country. Every where we look is another one of the boys getting a big job. Ernest hillaire’s friends are all benefitting tremendously from his tenure as minister. Thaddeus, Arnold brothers, etc. Frederick’s friends same thing. Pierre’s friends and family – same thing. When it’s uwp’s turn same thing. WE NEED TO WAKE THE HELL UP PPL
@hugh backfeet. I endorse this message!!!
The same poor people who go out and work for 3 to 5 EC dollars an hour that does go and vote for politicians and the red and yellow while they only represent the interest of the rich thieves who exploit the people and have them working for peanuts
GPH, where is all you Head office for me to apply for a job? NAMALCO is not hiring, it appears as if they are on a go slow.
I appauld this goverment for taking this bold step to restructure the port of castries and soufriere to attract more visitors to the country
When foreigners finish with stlucia we will ask ourselves who are we ??
Bolo, I support you, where is the head office for people to start applying for jobs?
I am hearing soufriere, castries acade and bananes so what about Vieux Fort with all the opportunity and space for development we are left out again. F… all you polititians.