Caribbean Times 8th Issue

Wednesday 1st March 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7
Tourism industry gets major boost as
gov’t breaks ground on 5-star property
By Joanna Paris
On Tuesday, government
officials, members
of the diplomatic corps
and other specially invited
guests journeyed to Old
Road where they witnessed
the landmark ground breaking
ceremony for the Callaloo
Cay development.
The project will be executed
by Al Caribi Antigua,
which is a joint venture
between billionaire Sheik
Tariq Faisal Al Qassemi of
Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and the
government of Antigua and
Barbuda.
As part of the highly-anticipated
development, 95-
100 rooms and 40 villas
will be constructed.
They will play a crucial
role in attracting individuals
to the twin island destination.
The development will
also feature a community
park, which will have
a number of activities for
adults and children alike.
Speaking during the
ceremony, the Senior Vice
President of Business Development,
Dawood Shah,
said “that it was a great day
for the developers, since
the ground breaking signalled
the first step in the
multiphase development”.
He expressed thanks
to all the key agencies involved
to include the Environment
Division and
the Development Control
Authority (DCA) for their
cooperation as the company
sort to meet all the prerequisites
necessary for the
construction phase.
He added that the development
will be one that
will be mutually beneficial
for both the investors and
the government as by extension
the people of Antigua
and Barbuda.
He said that the hotel
management agreement is
currently being worked out
and promised that an official
announcement of the
manager will be made in a
matter of weeks.
Tourism Minister, the
Honourable Asot Michael
is equally excited that the
project is finally about to
begin.
“Callaloo Cay will lead
to increasing the room
availability, and broadening
our twin-island nation’s
portfolio of distinguished
properties.
“Increasing the room
availability – in a sustainable
manner and representing
a quality that matches
the standard of Antigua and
Barbuda - is of utmost distinction
and importance”,
he said.
He expressed his profound
gratitude to the developers
for their zeal in
cont’d from pg 6
tal assistants and this is just the tip of the
iceberg.
“The real truth is that a dental assistant
training program is really one year
certificate and two years diploma and
we are trying to do this course in twelve
weeks,” Williams noted.
Dr. Williams said that following graduation,
some dental assistants will be
asked to fill the current vacancies that exist
in the Government sector, while others
will find employment among private
practices.
“There are some vacancies in the Government
Department and of course the
trainees will have to do an exam and then
apply officially for these spots; those that
are selected to be employed will be employed
in the health system while the others
will probably end up in private practices”,
Dr. Williams explained.
Currently, there are ten students who
are attending the classes which are being
held on Wednesdays from 1:30 pm to
4:30 pm.
The initiative is a joint venture between
the Ministry of Health and the Environment,
the Training Division and the
Ministry of Labour.
assisting the government in
achieving the status of becoming
an economic powerhouse.
“We would not be here
today without the vision
and investment of Sheik
Tariq Faisal Al Qassemi,
as well as the expertise and
knowledge of our partners,
and developers.
“I would like to thank
and congratulate Sheik
Traiq and his representative
Mr. Dawood Shah for
the confidence that they
have shown in Antigua
and Barbuda and the ABLP
Government led by the Hon
Gaston Browne and for this
significant investment in
our tourism product and the
future of our country”, he
added.
Minister of Foreign
Affairs, the Honourable
Charles “Max” Fernandez
congratulated the developers
on the milestone and indicated
that the partnership
which exists between the
UAE and the government
continues to bear fruit.
Also addressing the
gathering, was Prime Minister
the Honourable Gaston
Browne, who noted that
from the onset the developers
of the Callaloo Cay
project have been easy to
work with and always adhered
to the rules in the
process.
Construction is expected
to begin shortly.