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$600m resort hits snag
Trucks and other equipment lying idle in a fenced area at the construction site in Black Bess, St Peter.
Published on: 11/13/2009.
by MARIA BRADSHAW
CONSTRUCTION of yet another major hotel resort project has been put on hold indefinitely.
The $600 million joint venture project between Asian international hotel chain Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and local company Bacassa Developments Ltd has apparently hit a snag.
The Black Bess, St Peter resort, along with the Four Seasons resort in Black Rock, St Michael, on hold for several months now, were billed as major projects that would add value to Barbados' tourism product.
The Banyan project is on a 300-acre site south of the Black Bess Quarry. It was planned to include 80 condominiums and 120 private villas as well as an 18-hole championship golf course and an ultramodern spa.
Construction began in 2005 and was expected to be completed by 2008, but apart from hundreds of thousands of dollars in excavation work on the massive site, no other physical development has taken place.
Earlier this week when the WEEKEND NATION attempted to speak to director Mark King at his Black Bess office, he said: "I don't discuss any matters with the Press."
However, in an email response to the WEEKEND NATION query about the resort, Alison Jap, senior manager, pre-opening sales operations at Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in Singapore, said: "At this time Banyan Tree Barbados is on hold and we do not have an estimated date of opening. I will be sure to update you if there are any new developments on the status of the project."
Banyan, known for luxury resorts and spas, was said to have a 20 per cent interest in the local resort, with Bacassa having 80 per cent.
All references to Barbados have been removed from the Banyan website and it is also not included on its list of upcoming destinations until 2013.
A source close to the project told the WEEKEND NATION work had been halted for several months. He pointed out that one of the directors parted ways with the company while several workers were sent home until the project restarts.
In February, work came to a premature halt on the Four Seasons hotel. Seven hundred and fifty workers were sent home at that time, followed by others in subsequent months.
The situation with that resort also remains in limbo despite reports that the development had been able to attract a new investor.
* mariabradshaw@ nationnews.com
24 comment found!
See the Threat : 11/19/2009
First I want to say that the” rich investor” must either be joking or he has serious guts. I will say that the policies of the past couple years has helped to foster that type of thinking so I can understand where that is coming from. Secondly I know that the fascination that exists in Barbados with the perception of money is enough to make some people feel more entitled to Barbados than they should, even if you are a rich investor you are still just a guess. Do not get comfortable. The most disturbing aspect of that comment is how completely stupid, ignorant and arrogant “rich investor” sounds, Do you realize that Barbados is only 166 Sq miles, that means that if you marginalize and disenfranchise the population of a country neither you or your investment will safe, those same people will indeed become your worst nightmare. It sounds like you would like all Bajans to remain poor and hungry, let me tell you this “A hungry man is an angry man” that goes for the docile people of Barbados as well. The other contributors to this article should pay attention to that comment and realize that the true threat is not from Guyana, it is from people like “rich investor” that obviously has a very serious problem.
Investigation Due : 11/18/2009
It seems that there will be quite a few of these major uncompleted eyesores with equally ugly fences dotting the landscape of Barbados for a while. It also seems that many of these so-called rich developers with never-ending deep pockets made a lot of empty promises such as foreign currency earning potential and local jobs that now cannot be delivered. Let this be a wake up call for our Government before Barbados becomes one large never-to-be-finished construction site. If I were not 150% patriotic I too would be tempted to laugh at the state of these affairs, but it greives me to see the beauty of Barbados being destroyed. We need to have a thorough investigation of the finances of these investors before they are given the green light to start these monstrous projects.
HA,HA,HA : 11/18/2009
What are Bajans plan to do about it (nothing)
Do you think the government is listening? NO all of you that are talking will do the same thing buy all the land and fence it round,you all are just talking because you are broke and cant afford nothing,the world are full of a bunch of greedy people,seems like Bajans are jealous and weak,cant stand up, your land is already gone,any bajan that pay $50,000 for a house 30years ago on or near the beach and can sell it now for one million will do so,so shut up Bajans we will buy out every one of you,so you can party on reggae on the hill,and we shall take this island back that we lent you,this land will be full of whites in 20 years blacks will continue to live in slums take drugs and commit crime,where blacks live will worth nothing,and for granma she can be relocate in an old people home seems she is already deserted by her family. HA;HA;HA
Bajans helping to keep Bajans poor : 11/17/2009
This is nothing new just politics as usual,the citizen foot the bill,after these politicans fill their pockets & the bigshots,leave their mess for the little guy to clean up after them. This way of doing buisness is very unfair,corrupt etc. There need to make this unlawful,these investors are abusing the courtesy & intelligence of the nation.In their minds you are suckers.Barbados do not need this type of comercialism,you are just driving the poor into the mud. It's not in the Nations best intrest. Bajans wake up,let your anger be heard at the pols,time for change. Visitor who fell in love with the Island @ the age of 6
Bajans need to wake up : 11/17/2009
I am tired of hearing bout how bajans arent given the opportunity to buy land and have nowhere to live. All that is wrong with wanna bajans is that you are all lazy and dont want to work for nothing and expect everything to fall into your laps. What u all need to realise is that you have to start working and making your voice be heard otherwise the politicans will keep on doing what they are doing and that is sellin off BIM to outsiders and making money for themselves while the ordinary bajan gets SCREWED. Bajans should put it to the politicans that the land should no longer be sold to outsiders and that locals should be given priority. U ALL NEED TO START CHALLENGIN THE GOVERNMENT CAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE
Stand for something : 11/17/2009
In reading the comment, I want to say that I think that foreign national seem to get it. It is a pity that many locals do not. I was living in BIM until a few years ago and I always wondered what was going on. I saw land being quoted in US dollars and priced outside the reach of most the population. I saw the then government spend millions on Kensington Oval while the QEH basically dropped down.
I remember the health inspectors turn back a shipment of onions and you could not find any onions anywhere for about 2 weeks yet some idiots insist that turning BIM into golf central is the way forward for Barbados. So here it is that we have a land shortage for agriculture and for homes and we are still building more high-end properties with golf courses. All I can say is that we Bajans better treat Guyana a lot better because if this continues they will be feeding BIM for sure.
I should not even make any comments, after all, the BARBADOS national Bank is owned by Trinidad and everyone in BIM seem happy with it. So good luck.
Bajans better stand for something or they will fall for anything
Not The English : 11/16/2009
England gave you your country,yes thats true.but its your government that is now in charge of its destiny.if they choose to be corrupt and screw up you cannot be blaming others.
Shut up Bajans : 11/16/2009
Wannah Bajans can shut up,there is nothing you all could do about it,the white people and the Trinis already take over Barbados,if wannah want some place to live go some where on the east coast,or in the bush in St.Andrew.I does laugh when i read these comments to see how stupid Bajans are,when de Guyanese come every body had something to say,the same politition that selling all the land is the same people that getting the votes,but my advise to all stupid Bajans is go to the ant thou sluggerd consider wannah ways and be wise.
: 11/15/2009
Bajan need place to live, and people on the outside keep coming to barbados to make things much harder for the poor. I is Bajan lived oversea and would love to come home need a place to live, and the govenment keep leting people coming and do what their like on the island.After England give the land why is things not be done.Foe the people of barbados
Resorts in Snag : 11/13/2009
And yet another golf course being built. How many golfers are there in Barbados and how many visitors come that really want to play for what it costs. Does it merit building another course. Here I am in Florida and have seen what used to be the attraction of home owners here back in the 70's 80's and 90's and gone down down the drain, I am speaking of golf courses. The construction of golf courses only adds to the cost of the homes, and here in Florida,unless you are living in a VERY exclusive community, and I mean homes $400k and up there is a chance that the golf course has felt the impact of the economic times. There are many that were private that have gone semi-private or public just to remain opened. There are others that have closed and the public ones have dropped the price. WELLLL! What does that have to do with all of this? Driving around this state I have seen many developments come to a halt because of the recession, foreclosures are on the increase and many commercial offices and strip malls are empty. Having said that, the vicious circle continues and if investors are losing money and banks have stopped making loans, wouldn't it be fair to say that this is the reason for the abandonment of these projects in Barbados? Just my two cents.
Elected officials!!!! : 11/13/2009
I remembered when my cuz'n E. Barrow was P.M. of Bim, he put a stop of the sale of land to outsiders, given the size of Barbados, they can't afford to sell that provided food for the people. The past(Arthur and cronies)administration sold out Bajans, I would not be surprise that some in his administration benefited at the expense of Bajans... Access to some of the beaches have been denied, the current administration (Thompson) will not do any better, it is every man for himself - soon Bajans will once again be enslaved to the Europeans. Wake up guys, plz recall your politicians, make them accountable!!!
: 11/13/2009
And they are planning another monstosity in St Philip??
Help grandma : 11/13/2009
I don't have a political horn to blow I don't belong to any party. These are the things that get me mad.Who was the represenaitive for the area when this project was ok to be built. Who was the prime minister.Who is the represenaitive now for BLP for the DLP how come I dont hear from them. Where are all the political people that you see at voteing time. How come you don't hear Owen Arthur is he the rep for that area. Or is he too busy talking about Mia
NOW WHAT? : 11/13/2009
Now that construction on these projects have been halted does it now mean that Bajans who are complaining about not being able to buy a "piece of de rock" can now indeed buy up some of this land? Or do they just complain and criticise for the sake of complaining and criticising?
: 11/13/2009
Now that the work on this project has stopped prematurely, I sincerely hope that the Developer will ensure that the safety of Ms Springer and her property is secured without any delay This is the second major project in Barbados that has been put on hold indefinitely. The Government should take note of this and not grant permission for any further major developments like these, without assurances that they have secured the necessary funding. I sincerely hope that there is someone in Barbados looking after(her parliamentary representative) Ms Springer's interest. I wonder if Ms Springer was consulted when this project was submitted for approval by the Town Planning Department. Did the Engineers at the Town Planning Department took the safety of the resident(s) into consideration before they approved the project. If Mr King does not speak to the press maybe he should be speaking to Ms Springer Lawyer. ANNOYED
Middle Class : 11/13/2009
I am one of those middle class tourists who for the past twentyseven years have vacationed in Barbados.I have never stayed in a hotel,we have always rented a private house.We have stayed all over the island in wooden houses,half brick half wood.The hotel holiday is not for us.Over the years I have seen so many new hotels built and within a few years many of them are standing derelict,the only occupants being rats and wino`s.Why and who gives the permission for more hotels to be built.Every year as that virgin plane brings me into the island I see less and less green and more and more concrete.It breaks my heart and I am only a tourist,it doesnt take a lot to imagine what its doing to the locals born on this beautiful island.
STUPID... : 11/13/2009
Why does Barbados need another hotel??? and another golf course. Barbados and Barbadians are going to regret selling off their island...Folks this does not work unless someone in the goverment is sleeping or getting rich... The average Barbadian will have to move to Guyana to afford a piece of land...
Gran : 11/13/2009
Thank you Lord, you have not forgotten us. The awful treatment of poor granny, shows that one cannot always do wrong and reap a plentiful harvest. It is now up to the Barbados Gvt. to ensure that this lady's property is protected from land slide and water etc. Ego-Ottawa.
DAMAGES : 11/13/2009
Case closed. Business stopped, drainage work incomplete, old lady Springer's property damaged as a result. DAMAGESSSSSSSS! ALZIMA'S
: 11/13/2009
I suppose Mark King was not paid either, was warned not to speak and that is why his response was harsh.
: 11/13/2009
So work halted! That means that management left the conditions in a state oblivious of the fact that rain water, running water, dust, and loose material like sand could effect the nearby residents. I hope somebody stands up for Ms Springer. I don't how much more permission id going to be granted for this type of development and why sucesive Governments will continue to let this happen when NHC reminds us daily that they are unable to provide land and homes. I guess they expect that the locals will give up, give way and decide to hold a spot in the sea and gullies? Bermuda demands that their lands are for their nationals. Try as an outsider to buy a piece of their rock and see what happens. What is wrong with us, Bajans? Retired.
: 11/13/2009
Nation News had not for you we would not have known there was another project laying idle along with the hotel at pardise beach. So the question is who is going to build that wall to stop the water from flooding grandma house. Is Mr king the watchman for the project. Is he a barbadian. I said this was one of Arthur's projects he allowed all kinds of people to start things in bim and sold out the country.That land could be growing food.Greed is the name of the game
In The Pawn Shop : 11/13/2009
This project is in deep financial trouble. It is doubtful if it will ever get off the ground again. They had to sell off their crown jewel last year - a spot on Mullins Beach they had earmarked for a beach club. You know things are really, really bad for them when they are in the pawn shop like that.
Resort Hits Snag : 11/13/2009
Don't get me wrong I love my country of birth, i go to no other island when i have vacay...but come on now when will these constructions of luxury condos end. Tourism is not all about the rich, the middle class would love to visit Barbados too.These so called hotels and luxury homes being built are not as much in demand as it seems. How about apartments buildings ppl, or townhouses even....see what happens when you cater to the rich only lmao. Time to come off the high horse!
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