St. Lucia Cruise Port settles $17m in Air & Sea Ports Authority debt

This payment was a part of the terms of the cruise port management agreement between the government of St. Lucia and GPH, which was finalized in April.

SLASPA responsibilities

Stevedoring services continue to be retained by SLASPA and handled through its contracted stevedoring company. SLASPA also maintains responsibility for access to all ports of entry, including Port Castries. The SLASPA Port Police Department oversees security for Port Castries and ensures compliance with International Ship and Port Facility Security requirements.

'We are settling well into our new partnership [with SLASPA],' said Lancelot Arnold, director of GPH Eastern Caribbean and GM of St. Lucia Cruise Port. '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 St. Lucia as a top cruising destination.'

Further stakeholder meetings

Next, St. Lucia Cruise Port executives will meet with the SLAPSA engineering team and other key staff members to share details of the investment plan and its anticipated benefits for port partners, tenants, local business owners and the community. 

'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,' Arnold said.

Publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, GPH, which recently accepted a cash offer from its largest shareholder, has filed to delist effective Aug. 9.