Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 11, 2016 (SKNIS): Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Honourable Lindsay Grant, continued his series of tours over to Nevis where he visited Island Molding Wooden Windows and Doors, Nevis Spring Water and Nevis Hot Springs to get greater insight into Nevis’ manufacturing and tourism sector.
The minister was pleased with Island Molding Wooden Windows and Doors which has been supplying St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla-Trading and Development Company Limited (TDC) with molding for the past 10 years. The factory has even attracted the likes of the five star luxury resort Kittitian Hill, supplying them with doors and windows, said Owner and Director Donald O. Hendrickson.
The factory, which produces its products from African wood, uses advanced machinery that can rival international products. “The quality I see here is excellent,” said the minister, while admiring some of the finished products.
Mr. Hendrickson stated that there is much potential for exporting the company’s products to other islands and moving forward with its goal with the help of the government.
The waste material which is produced is used as mulch in pigpens and for horses. Mr. Hendrickson said that the factory is hoping to bag and sell it at a reasonable rate.
Minister Grant then made his way to the family owned water plant, Nevis Spring Water. Tour guide and member of the family Gary Wade said that the plant has been in existence since 1998.
According to Mr. Wade, the water comes from the mountains, goes into the earth and goes into a well. In that well, there is a submerged pump that pulls the water from the well which brings it to the Reverse Osmosis (RO) machine. From that machine, it is led to a tank which fills the bottles.
Mr. Wade said that the company has been able to stay afloat despite the ongoing drought.
The plant’s biggest client is currently the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis.
Another highlight of the tour was Nevis Hot Springs, which is said to have medicinal properties. Eldaria Jones and Ken Evelyn, who led the Hot Springs tour, revealed that persons travel from all across the globe to experience the natural hot springs. It was also said that persons with ailments, such as arthritis, were cured after bathing.
The minister was also led through the historic bath house and commented that this historic site must continue to be preserved as it adds to Nevis’ tourism product.
The tour guides explained that the bath house has been around for 300 years and, while it is not operational, it should be an ideal spot for taxies to add to their tourist itinerary.