St. Kitts Marine Works Threatened with Eviction for Proposed Nigerian Development Project.

Reginald “Regiwell” Francis, owner and director of St. Kitts Marine Works, a cornerstone of the Federation’s marine industry for over two decades, finds his company embroiled in a bitter dispute with the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Government. Francis alleges the government is maneuvering to evict his business from its established location in New Guinea to pave the way for Nigerian investors interested in developing a container port. This move, Francis argues, not only threatens his livelihood and the jobs of his employees but also jeopardizes the entire marine sector of St. Kitts and Nevis, a sector he has tirelessly built and nurtured over the past 21 years.

The heart of the conflict appears to be a tangled web of financial and political maneuvering. Francis claims the government owes him $10 million for completed work on the Old Road fisheries project. Based on the anticipated payment, he entered into a $6.5 million agreement to purchase the land currently occupied by St. Kitts Marine Works. However, the government’s failure to remit the owed funds forced Francis to pursue legal action. He now contends that the government is using the threat of eviction as leverage to compel him to drop the lawsuit. This alleged retaliatory tactic raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to fair business practices and the rule of law.

The proposed container port at the New Guinea site, according to Francis, is fundamentally flawed. He points to several critical issues, including the inadequate size of the existing breakwater, the excessive depth of the ocean in the area, and the logistical nightmare of transporting hundreds of containers across the island’s main road, potentially crippling traffic flow. Furthermore, the proposed development is located adjacent to Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, raising concerns about the potential negative impact on this significant historical and cultural landmark. Francis argues that the government’s pursuit of this project represents a misguided approach to development, prioritizing short-term gains over the long-term health of the tourism sector, a sector that his company has actively contributed to for years.

St. Kitts Marine Works provides a range of crucial services to the maritime community, including marina haul-outs, salvage operations, dredging, and marine construction. Its facility, recognized as a pivotal resource in the northeastern Caribbean, currently supports approximately 200 vessels. Eviction, Francis warns, would effectively cripple the local marine industry, leaving boat owners with no local options for essential repairs and maintenance. They would be forced to seek services in other islands like St. Maarten, Antigua, or Trinidad, often an impractical or even impossible undertaking, particularly in cases of emergency or during hurricane season. This would not only inconvenience boat owners but also create significant safety and insurance challenges, potentially leading to severe economic consequences for the entire sector.

Francis also questions the transparency of the government’s actions, suggesting that undisclosed motives might be driving the push for his eviction. He queries the urgency behind the government’s actions and challenges their unwillingness to negotiate a fair resolution. His suspicions raise broader concerns about potential corruption and undue influence, leaving him to question who stands to benefit from his displacement. He firmly believes that the government’s actions are not in the best interests of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and are instead driven by hidden agendas that prioritize personal gain over the public good.

The future of St. Kitts Marine Works and the broader marine sector of St. Kitts and Nevis remains uncertain as this dispute continues. While Francis expresses his willingness to negotiate with the government, he fears that the decision to displace his business in favor of foreign investors has already been made. The implications of this potential outcome are far-reaching, threatening not only the livelihoods of those employed by St. Kitts Marine Works but also the overall health and sustainability of the Federation’s marine industry, a sector crucial to the island’s economy and tourism appeal. Francis’s long-term vision, which includes developing a pier to attract cruise ships directly to Brimstone Hill and further boost tourism on the western side of the island, is now jeopardized by the ongoing conflict. The clash highlights the complex interplay of business, politics, and development in a small island nation, where the decisions of a few can have profound and lasting consequences for the entire community.