by Bennette Roach
Little Bay – 2008 with Potato hill, bottom rt; Rendesvouz bluff, beach barely seen beyond, mid-left. (Barge stranded aground on shoreline below Potato Hill)
Premier the Hon. Donaldson Romeo has been touting on the transformation projects that are about to be rolled out by the end of this year. Among them is what his government sees as most integral to the development of Montserrat. As reported he is spouting great optimism surrounding the delivery of a new breakwater and berthing facility for Montserrat. Only that will not break ground until next year.
Earlier in this month like before, the Government was reportedly in negotiation with the European Union for an additional £5million to fund the project. This is expected to supplement the 14.4 million pounds or $50.8 million already allocated under the UK Caribbean Investment Fund, UK-CIF.
Government of Montserrat (GoM) confirmed that the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) delegation was due to travel to Montserrat soon, to move the project to the next stage.
The Premier explained, “following that we hope to go to procurement on the port a final decision as to what we’re doing with the port and go to procurement, hopefully as I said before we go towards having a contract in place and action on the port around this time next year, by this time next year with a view to spend those funds by 2020.”
He continued: “…a port would have to be in place completed by 2020,” as he confirms, “… that’s one certainty we have once we complete the negotiation successfully.”
He promises, “there will be activity over that period from next year right into 2020 which is good news for the man out there who wants that continuous work that I’ve spoken about.”
He said the visit by the bank was confirmed at the CDB’s forty seventh Annual General Meeting in Turks and Caicos being attended by the Hon Premier Donaldson Romeo, the Financial Secretary Collin Owen and Chief Economist Raja Cadre.
Economic Growth Strategy to get boost
The Premier reportedly has met with the CDB President Dr William Warren Smith and the full board of directors. Premier Romeo discussed the five transformational projects that Montserrat plan to take forward and focused on the partnership between the C.B.D. and Montserrat to deliver the breakwater facility.
It was also confirmed at the meeting that CDB’s Chief Economist will be visiting Montserrat to support the development of the economic growth strategy now being developed by the government.
Meanwhile in late news Friday, a Press Conference on Port Development Project is announced for Tuesday, August 21, 2018 advising that the Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Communications, Works, Energy and Labour.
The information says, that “Since the signing, the Ministry has been inviting and receiving tenders for several key aspects of the project, including, perhaps beginning with the provision of ‘Technical Consultancy and Supervision of the project.
This Press Conference will therefore provide an update on the tender process and the upcoming stages required as part of the project implementation.
Pics Premier
Little Bay
