The construction of the Argyle International Airport continues to open pathways for business and investment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
At a press conference on Tuesday 21st June, Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Invest SVG, Mrs. Bernadette Ambrose-Black; and representatives from National Properties Limited; hosted Trinidadian investor, Mr. Derek Chin, to continue talks about the proposed new city at the site of E. T. Joshua Airport, upon completion of the Argyle International Airport.
Also in attendance was the technical team from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), who is collaborating with Mr. Chin to construct two MovieTowne entertainment centres in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, respectively. In light of this, CHEC’s technical team will begin talks with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Port Authority on the proposed modernisation of the Kingstown deep water harbor.
Prime Minister Gonsalves met with Mr. Chin and representatives from CHEC at Cabinet room. According to the Prime Minister, the Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with Mr. Chin and he wanted him to share some of his ideas in respect of the MOU, although there has not yet been a fully hammered out agreement.
In his introduction Mr. Chin, who became popular after creating the MovieTowne chain of entertainment centres in Trinidad and Tobago said MovieTowne developed from an idea he had to see a higher quality of entertainment and recreation in his country; this idea has grown to three MovieTowne entertainment centres in Trinidad and Tobago.
Chin admitted that his plans for the proposed new city at Arnos Vale are still in the preliminary stages. These plans, explained Chin, will be determined by the land space and other technical assessments. He disclosed that the possibility exists for a wholesale store, restaurant, conference, cinema, and shopping mall, among others. The Trinidadian investor noted that the new entertainment centre will have a Vincentian identity, offer high quality entertainment and amenities, and will be family friendly.
In reference to Invest SVG’s Chief Executive Officer, he stated, “Bernadette has been very hard working. She is very persistent. I appreciate that and l like that. I told her at the end of the day, we are going to do something. We are now here to put that together and see whether we can make it happen, probably next year”.
Mrs. Ambrose-Black explained that when she joined the company in 2013, she conducted a needs assessment not just of the organisation, but also of the island itself, and what we can bring to the island to enhance the livelihood of Vincentians. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, but of Vincentian descent, Ambrose-Back said that she was familiar with MovieTowne and felt that it would be an appropriate development for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
After conducting the needs assessment, she met with Mr. Chin a year later. The initial meeting, stated Ambrose-Black, was a fruitful one and I asked the Hon. Prime Minister if he would consider meeting with Mr. Chin himself and that began the courtship of MovieTowne and the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. To this end, the Invest SVG’s CEO is very positive about this investment. “Mr. Chin is a credible investor, his track record speaks for itself,” she further stated.
Ambrose-Black also said that she looks forward to the enhancement of socio-economic well-being of Vincentians and that the investment will generate employment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She added that it is something that is needed here and I think it will aptly complement the opening of Argyle International Airport.
As Mr. Derek Chin has a partnership with the CHEC and the Government is discussing plans for the new Kingstown harbour, Business Manager of the CHEC Guyana Branch, Mr. Xiaoshuai (Peter) Sun, introduced the company. According to Sun, CHEC is a wholly state owned company by People’s Republic of China with more than 70 branches all over the world.
In the Caribbean, CHEC has projects in Guyana and Jamaica; and in the Americas, in Costa Rica, Cuba, and Colombia, explained Sun. “We are looking forward to finding out what we can do here,” stated Sun.
In his concluding remarks, the Business Manager of CHEC said that they wanted to do something in the country to help the local people and to provide infrastructure development as well.
