Submitted by Anthony Davis
“The start of construction on the highly anticipated Beaches Resort in Barbados has been set back. “Speaking to the media following a tour of the Sandals Barbados property this afternoon, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts International – the operator of the Beaches and Sandals brands – said work on the property in Heywoods, St. Peter, had been pushed back due to the complexity of the project.” Source: Barbados Today
When the Minister of Tourism, and the Minister of Finance decided to give Sandals Resorts International the go-ahead for taking over the Almond Beach Village Resort, the excuse was that the projected time for Manager of the Crane Resorts and Residences’ Paul Doyle’s finishing of the hotel he proposed would take longer than Sandals. There was just a couple of months difference between the two, but this Government was adamant that Sandals had the best proposal and gave it to them. All of a sudden a third party became involved.
Was this stated in the MOU?
Did Government give permission for the property to be subleased – as part of its sweetheart deal which the other hotels could not receive before the opening of the Sandals hotel?
Did this not give Sandals a head start?
If so, is Government getting its fair dues from this venture?
It is alleged that Mr. Weatherhead wants that property for himself.
If so, how will that transaction take place?
Mr. Stewart said that the work would not start this year, but “soon after”.
What is meant by “soon after” in this context?
Am I to take the word “soon” from its meaning in the dictionary or as Government’s meaning when applied to the “All Seasons” hotel on which work was “soon to start” on a number of occasions?
Seeing that the reporter put ‘soon after’ in quotation marks, this could mean any time after 2015 – whether 2016 or thereafter. I quote the meanings of the word soon here for those who pretend that they don’t know it. According to “Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Eleventh Edition”, soon means:
1) Without undue time lapse; before long
2) In a prompt manner; speedily.
Mr. Stewart must be made to state a specific time frame within which the building is due to start, if not everybody can come and do the same just to get the nod for any project that is up for tender. This means that the project will take much longer than the time specified by Mr. Doyle whose hotel brand is as good as Sandals, and who is always expanding his hotel. It cannot be business as usual if the project at Heywoods will be stalled indefinitely!
The same can be said for the Harlequin Resorts.
I would like to know how much Government pumped into that project although the owner was wanted by the British Government for defrauding a number of British citizens who had invested in such an endeavour in Thailand.
What is the status of those hotels?
Did Government check up on Dave Ames’ credentials, or did they take it for granted that if he came from Britain he would be an upstanding citizen?
What are the criteria for inviting the various persons to build here – especially when it comes to hotels, as we always hear that tourism is our business?
“Digging for facts is better mental exercise than jumping to conclusions” must be the mantra when it comes to setting up businesses here.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.