Puerto Rico Launches New Luxury Mall Project in San Juan

By: - September 22nd, 2012

Above: a rendering of the Mall of San Juan

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño and San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini laid the foundation stone this week on the new Mall of San Juan luxury retail centre project.

The facility includes a $405 million private investment, and could create about 5,000 jobs, including 2,000 in the construction phase.

It is set to open its doors in 2014.

The two-level project will include a Nordstrom and a Saks Fifth Avenue, along with other famous brands such as Blue Martini and the Cheesecake Factory. The Nordstrom and Saks will be the first of each in the Caribbean.

It is the brainchild of Taubman Centers and New Century Development.

“These stores not only represent the expansion in the supply of high-quality products on the island, but they are a tourist attraction that will result in increased investment in our economy,” Fortuño said.

Fortuño said Puerto Rico’s commercial sector had seen a 2.2 percent increase in retail sales in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

Markets

Rum Journal: Tasting Don Q Gran Añejo Puerto Rican Rum

Although Bacardi is perhaps Puerto Rico’s more famous rum export, it’s Don Q that is the more popular at home, in terms of sales. And like Bacardi, the company has a long, storied history. Cataluña’s Don Juan Serrallés began the story by bringing a pot still to Puerto Rico from France, a tradition that has […]

Markets

Grenada PM Accepts Resignation of Environment Minister Glynis Roberts

Above: downtown St George’s Grenada and the old Parliament building (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has accepted the resignation of Environment Minister Glynis Roberts, he said in a statement. Roberts had earlier resigned from the ruling National Democratic Congress cabinet, as first reported on Thursday. She had previously […]

Markets

Haiti Creates Unit to Manage Country's National History Park

Above: King Henri-Christophe’s Sans-Souci Palace near Cap Haitien (UN Photo/Victoria Hazou) By the Caribbean Journal staff Nearly 30 years after it was first classified as a World Heritage Site by the United Nation Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Haiti’s National Historic Park is begin managed by an official government unit. The announcement was made […]

Haiti President Michel Martelly Meets With CARICOM Delegation

Above: the delegation’s meeting in Haiti (Photo: OP Haiti) By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti President Michel Martelly met Thursday with a delegation from the Caribbean Community led by Secretary General Irwin LaRocque. The working visit by CARICOM was aimed at initiating early discussions over Haiti’s assumption of the CARICOM chairmanship, which will begin Jan. […]

Trinidad PM Revokes Appointment of Justice Minister

 Above: Trinidad PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar By the Caribbean Journal staff Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has asked Acting President Timothy Hamel Smith to revoke the appointment of Justice Minister Herbert Volney. The move came after a controversy over the passing of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act, 2011, which was had […]

UN Investigating Death of Rwandan Peacekeeper in Haiti

Above: the delegation’s meeting in Haiti (Photo: OP Haiti) By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti President Michel Martelly met Thursday with a delegation from the Caribbean Community led by Secretary General Irwin LaRocque. The working visit by CARICOM was aimed at initiating early discussions over Haiti’s assumption of the CARICOM chairmanship, which will begin Jan. […]

Grenada Environment Minister Glynis Roberts Resigns from Government

Above: Minister Glynis Roberts (second from left) By Alexander Britell Glynis Roberts has resigned her position as Grenada’s Minister of Environment, Foreign Trade and Export Development. The move is the third resignation of a cabinet official from Prime Minister Tillman Thomas’ ruling National Democratic Congress government since April, following those of Tourism Minister Peter David […]