Officials of the Government Employees Retirement System and the West Indian Co. joined Gov. John deJongh Jr. Monday morning to sign an agreement facilitating WICO’s continued management of the Havensight Shopping Mall.
The agreement has been five years in the making. GERS purchased the shopping mall in 1993 and, since that time, WICO has managed the mall on behalf of the retirement system. In 2009 the management contract was put out to bid, and WICO had managed the property on a month-to-month contract since then.
According to a news release from Government House, the management agreement took effect immediately upon signing Monday. It is a five-year pact.
No other details of the contract were made available.
The signing is an important step in ensuring the health of the territory’s tourism industry, the governor said.
“One of the most important aspects of our economic development is ensuring that we solidify and grow the cruise ship traffic into all islands," deJongh said at the signing ceremony. "I see today as a first step in that direction.”
Present for Monday’s signing were WICO Board Chairman and Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, GERS Board Chairman Vincent Liger, GERS Administrator Austin Nibbs, WICO President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boschulte and President of the Havensight Mall Association Ram Mipuri. Members of both the GERS and WICO governing boards and management staff were also on hand, as were members of the Havensight Mall Association.
