NHLDC ships 3,000 tons of aggregate to St. Maarten; first shipment of its kind for Nevis
![Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Minister responsible for Natural Resources in the Nevis Island Administration and Chairman of the Nevis Housing and Land Corporation’s Board of Directors, at the quarry at New River on February 28, 2017](https://nia.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Jeffers 1_1-3-2017.jpg)
Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Minister responsible for Natural Resources in the Nevis Island Administration and Chairman of the Nevis Housing and Land Corporation’s Board of Directors, at the quarry at New River on February 28, 2017
NIA CHARLESTOWNN NEVIS (March 01, 2017) — The Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation (NHLDC) hit a milestone of February 28, 2017, with the export of 3,000 tons of aggregate from the quarry at New River. The shipment left Long Point Port on a barge later in the day bound for St. Maarten.
Minister responsible for Natural Resources in the NIA Hon. Alexis Jeffers, who is also the Chairman of the NHLDC Board of Directors, hailed the accomplishment as a historic one for Nevis.
“Today is a historic day for not only us at the quarry but also to the NHLDC and also the Nevis Island Administration on a whole. Today marks the first ever occasion on which material is being shipped off Nevis to another island…
![Local truckers at the quarry at New River on February 28, 2017, fill up with aggregate at the, bound for the Long Point Port for shipment to St. Maarten](https://nia.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/truckers%20at%20quarry%202_1-3-2017.jpg)
The Minister used the opportunity to commend the four equipment operators at the quarry for their diligent work and expressed satisfaction they were able to meet the target.
Meantime, Mr. Jeffers believes that the export would have a ripple effect on the economy of Nevis. He said the corporation had engaged the services of 15 local truckers to transport the aggregate from New River to the Long Point Port.
“The commercial activity that is created from this little business today, is certainly huge for the island of Nevis.
![Some of the 3,000 tons of aggregate from the quarry at New River being offloaded on a barge at the Long Point Port on February 28, 2017](https://nia.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/offloading%203_1-3-2017.jpg)
The minister expressed hope that the first shipment is the start of good things to come for Nevis. He said the second shipment is expected to be ready for shipping to St. Maarten in two months time.
However, Mr. Jeffers calmed fears that the quarry would be unable to satisfy the local demand at the same time. He said it is a continuous process and they continue to sell material to the local market.
![The barge carrying the 3,000 tons of aggregate from the quarry at New River to St. Maarten, docked at the Long Point Port on February 28, 2017](https://nia.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/barge%204_1-3-2017.jpg)
He said although they have been able to produce material in the past, the recent purchase of new equipment, has brought production to another level.
Mr. Jeffers believes that the production at the quarry is sustainable and all will be done to ensure that a return is realised on the investment there.