Plans for a housing development in Rock Hall, Castries will proceed although the contract with privately-owned construction company Bemax LLC has been suspended, according to Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre.
However, he did not provide details on how and when the Rock Hall Housing Development Project would continue.
Pierre made the disclosure at his end-of-year media conference on Wednesday when questioned about the status of the project.
Bemax had been tasked with finalising the design, financing, and construction of 66 apartments, 14 commercial units, and a recreational area, with the first phase of the development to begin in February. However, there has not been much progress.
Pierre explained: “What stopped the work was our adherence to principle and policy. We were not continuing unless we had planning approval. That’s how this government behaves, that’s how we act.”
Further pressed about the contract with Bemax, he responded: “That has been suspended…long time…because the government decided that because of the discussion happening that we will stop the contract.”
The agreement was signed between the government and Bemax on November 3, 2023, for the construction of the housing complex, under the infrastructure option in the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).
Contractual start dates were reportedly listed as February 1, 2024, for Phase 1; July 1, 2024, for Phase 2; November 1, 2024, for Phase 3; and the project’s estimated completion was set for June 1, 2025.
However, in February, Bemax co-owner Aleksandar Mijajlovic was arrested in Montenegro on accusations of being involved in the illicit trade of tobacco.
Despite the setbacks, the prime minister insisted that “the housing project in Rock Hall is continuing”.
However, he did not provide further details or clarity about whether it would remain a CIP project.
