The Board of Directors of Invest Saint Lucia Thursday embarked on a familiarization tour of a number of ongoing investment and supporting infrastructural projects in an effort to better acquaint itself with the status of those initiatives.
One such visit was to the new national hospital (NNH) to have a better understanding of the project, as well as those areas that Invest Saint Lucia can assist in promoting as potential investments.
Commenting at the end of the tour of the new hospital site, CEO of Invest Saint Lucia, McHale Andrew said, “ISL is encouraged by the fact that some potential investors have expressed an interest in a number of related areas such as medical tourism and the establishment of offshore medical schools on Saint Lucia, which could only benefit from the presence of the state of the art new hospital that the NNH is poised to become.”
The Board also paid a courtesy call on the representatives of Six Senses, designated operator of the Freedom Bay Project in Soufriere. Close to 35 employees have already begun the construction of at least four villas expected to be completed by early next year. It is anticipated that work on a spa and restaurant will begin in 2016.
While on the west coast, the team also visited Anse Mahaut which is the home of Bellevedere Estate, recently acquired by John Kennedy of the Boka Group. The new owners are planning to utilize only seven percent of the 234 acres to build close to 140 rooms. The new construction is expected to retain the natural features of the Estate.
Two other sites – Morne Le Blanc in Laborie and proposed Marina in Vieux-Fort – were also toured by the group. According to the CEO, “Morne Le Blanc presents serious potential for tourism development and we are in constant contact with the owners to ensure this development comes to fruition.” He added, “Invest Saint Lucia has been actively negotiating with a US-based private equity company for the establishment of a Marina in the town of Vieux-Fort.”
Invest Saint Lucia will be conducting similar tours to potential investment projects in the near future in keeping with its mandate to promote and facilitate sustainable investments on Saint Lucia.