Sandals signs commencement contract with SVG

The St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is one step closer to reality with the signing of a commencement contract at Cabinet Room on Monday, October 26, 2020.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves; Minister of Tourism Cecil Mc Kie; and Deputy Chairman SRI Adam Stewart signed the contract in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Sir Louis Straker; Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves; other Government officials; Invest SVG staff; SRI CEO Gebhard Rainer; Director of Development Richard Hamilton, Project Manager Terence Des Vignes; and Heads of Human Resources, Communications, Social Media, Supply and Procurement, respectively.

Deputy Chairman of SRI Adam Stewart stated that their team left St Vincent and the Grenadines on a high from their July visit. He said the Resort’s design will be inclusive on every level of the development that everything at this point is still conceptual, and that interior designs are yet to be finalised.

Stewart explained that Sandals SVG Resort will be the first of their chains to debut several features, including, glamping. He said these types of accommodation will be located on the backside of the property and will feature the most premium rooms. There will also be spa treatment rooms along the river, which, Stewart said provides a “beautiful opportunity”.

According to Stewart, the Sandals SVG Resort construction is scheduled to commence in April, 2021. Stewart disclosed that the construction will see about 1000 workers at the peak of construction, in the initial phase, with a proposed December 2022 opening. He thanked the Prime Minister and his team for “facilitating us today. We felt that we’ve achieved. We still have a lot of details to go through but we’re well on the way now. Finance is in place for the development, our wider team knows about it. We’re in the press constantly… St Vincent is the future. And that will carry on until we really ramp it up six months to opening. It’s gonna be amazing. I want you to rest assured that we’re gonna build something here that is second to none anywhere in this part of the world,” the Deputy Chairman of SRI affirmed.

Prime Minister Gonsalves welcomed the contingent from SRI. He described the master plan as “good stuff” and that he is “looking forward to the boots on the ground in April,” in reference to the construction phase of the project.
The proposed Beaches/Sandals SVG Resort will accommodate on average, 1200 guests. It will boast an over water chapel, a La Soufriere volcano water park, bowling alley, conference centre with 300 seating capacity, Pirates of the Caribbean kids feature, walking and BMX trails, food court, restaurants, night club, and sporting facilities, among others.(API)