Leader of the Opposition Godwin Friday says he welcomes the announcement that Sandals Resort International will take over the failed Buccament Bay Resort, but he would like to know the details of the deal.
“There is some, too much opaqueness, not enough transparency about it,” he said, adding that his New Democratic party would like to see the reopening of the facility – which closed in December 2016.
“And I think the more open they are about it, the better it is because it will inspire more confidence in people that there’s something finally positive is happening about it,” Friday said.
“The way they went about it in the first place, that is a story in itself and needs to be properly examined to make sure we don’t miss and make these mistakes again. And some of those mistakes were easily avoidable,” the opposition leader said Monday on the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) radio programme on NICE Radio.
Very little has been made public about the contract that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and deputy chair of Sandals, Adam Stewart signed last week Wednesday, at the resort.
“Buccament Bay Resort has been almost like a sad tale of woe. It’s been closed now for three years,” Friday said Monday on the NDP’s programme on NICE Radio.
He said that the former owners of the resort owed taxes to the state as well as private contractors and resort staff when it closed in 2016 after its electricity connection was severed because of non-payment.
“And then they have a situation where there was talk of one developer after another, one group of persons who were coming to buy it and in the parliament, the prime minister said it should have been open since two Christmases ago,” Friday said.
He said these developments have created a lack of confidence within the people.
“And it’s not just a private development, because you don’t forget when these things come, they get a lot of concessions and so on, to attract them to come and to enable them to get the facility built, and up and running as quickly as possible,” Friday said.
“So we, as a nation, we have a stake in it as well from that point of view,” he said adding that the nation’s interest also includes the jobs that the investment creates.
Friday further noted that there were issues relating to land ownership at the resort.
What was formerly known as Buccament Bay Resort occupied about 25 acres of land, including the beachfront, which belongs to the state.
The government has acquired those 25 acres of land and a further 15 acres, including land belonging to three active farms, for on-selling to Sandals.
He said land title has always been a big problem at the resort.
“… the developer, with the acquiescence of the government, obviously, had built and profited… Those things have to all be settled fairly and equitably. You can’t just simply railroad people’s rights because, they really want to be able to get it open, especially they want to do it now before — at least make an announcement before an election, to make a look that something finally is being done.
But it still has to be done right because in the first place, it wasn’t done right. So now that we’re moving forward, it has to be done right. So those matters have to be settled; the people who have articulated their claims … have to be dealt with in a fair and just manner to make sure that they’re settled properly to the interests of all parties involved. You can’t just simply brush them aside,” Friday said.
Will the Gonsalves be making a detailed statement to Parliament? Old man Gonsalves loves to tell us how democratic he is, which we know is far from reality, yet can he grace our Parliament with a full statement and debate? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejnuYRMa_wk We await his noble condencention!
It’s amazing the opposition is embracing this deal…but it’s a good thing…they already know they have not plans for jumping starting the economy…except for the citizenship by investment program which is a big gamble as seen in other region….so let’s just hop aboard Ralph train because he seems to be getting some better action.
Are you aware Ralph Gonsalves has granted citizenship with right to passports to hundreds of people since 2001. Even to Cubans…
With a real program that could not and would not happen.
Hope the people of SVG know what exactly is a all-inclusive hotel all services are paid for in a package most likely in the country
Embarking from most if not all the high paying jobs will be foreigners the workers are not even allowed to take tips in actual fact no money is exchange at a all-inclusive hotel even the trip from the airport and back again is in the package.
Mr Friday do we know if the previous employees of the Buccament bay resort will be paid their monies owing to them ?the government is to be blamed a lot for us not being able to be paid , we made appointments several time for the government to step in on we the citizens behalf and they never did ,we were never paid service charges and they charged the guest for it always m, the resort were closed and lots of monies owing to staff , I need my money I worked so hard as a Security supervisor there and still have thousands of $$ owing to me.
Dear friend accept you will be getting nothing and save being further disappointed.
I remember when Arnhim asked Gonsalves to show parliament the books for Argyle Airport, the comrade told him, ÿou want me to show you the deeds to my house”?
So, Mr Friday, do you really believe for one moment Gonsalves will give you the details of the deal struck in Florida between Ralph and boy and Butch and boy? This is a family affair, and for the comrade perhaps even a dynasty affair.
I bet you a shilling Godwin you have not had site of a thing since your request.