Saint Lucia Cruise Port (SLCP) has settled over USD 17 million in outstanding cruise-related debts on behalf of the Saint Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), according to a press release.

The payment fulfills a term of the cruise port management agreement between the Government of Saint Lucia and Global Ports Holding, finalized in April. SLCP, a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding, made the announcement shortly after the April 30 ceremony marking the start of cruise port operations at the Northern Wharf of Port Castries.

In early May, a consultation with the SLASPA Seaport Management Team was held to finalize the operational plan, review berthing and cruise line support plans and address other maritime obligations as outlined in the concession agreement.

Lancelot Arnold, director of GPH Eastern Caribbean and general manager of Saint Lucia Cruise Port, said: “We are settling well into our new partnership. It has been extremely helpful to engage with the SLASPA executives and management team, who have been very supportive of our plans and are looking forward to our progress.  By working together and maintaining open lines of communication, we will further enhance the quality of our service delivery and the reputation of Saint Lucia as a top cruising destination.”

“The changes that we (SLCP), the SLAPSA team, and other partners in this transformative process will make today will positively impact generations of Saint Lucians for many years,” added Arnold. “We are meeting with all stakeholders because we want everyone to see the vision, to see its potential, and to understand that they have a role to play in driving our collective future. That is what this project is all about – all of us, working together to create a better tomorrow.”

SLCP executives will next meet with the SLASPA engineering team and key staff to present the investment plan and discuss its benefits for port partners, tenants, local businesses and the community.