Former Pm and Leader of the Opposition SKNLP Dr. Denzil Douglas says a bridge linking St. Kitts and Nevis by 2020, as outlined by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Ian “Patches” Liburd, is a “laughable matter”.
Speaking to Freedom Fm’s Newsdesk on Thursday Morning, Dr Douglas said it was unrealistic that a bridge linking the islands could be constructed by 2020, given the size and scale of the project, from the technical planning and sourcing of funds, through the physical construction and completion of the bridge.
But at a recent “Discussions for Prosperity” town hall meeting in St. Peters, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, announced that there are two proposals awaiting consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers, which could see the much talked about bridge come to fruition.
I commit to you that as the Minister of Public Infrastructure that I will drive that [initiative],” he said, to much applause from the audience. “And I know I have the full support of the entire Cabinet and the Minister of Finance [Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris].”
Minister Liburd said that this project will bring the peoples of the islands closer together and facilitate greater inter-island travel. He referenced plans that the Federal Cabinet already has of alternating meetings between St. Kitts and Nevis. Minister Liburd said he expects the project to be completed before the end of the first term of the Government of National Unity, which constitutionally ends in 2020.
The former Pm recalled that during his tenure in office, three different proposals were submitted to build a bridge between St. Kitts and Nevis, which his cabinet had reviewed. Dr Douglas said it was perhaps these same proposals left behind by the Labour government, which the TUG had seen and were now anxious to implement, as a means of propping up their dismal performances since taking office. Dr Douglas credited the Bradshaw Government’s Minister of Tourism, the late C.A Paul Southwell for having the vision to conceive a plan to unite SKN by building a bridge.