Opposition Leader: Clear the air on hotel projects

A CALL has been made for greater clarity on the hotel projects earmarked for development on the island which are said to represent an investment of nearly $2 billion in a three-year period.

Speaking in the Lower Chamber on Thursday night, Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley in this reply to the Appropriation Bill 2019 called into question, the Hyatt Hotel, the Sam Lord’s Castle project, the injection of funds to the Hilton Barbados and the property at Paradise.

“Humbly, I suggest that we need some further clarity on government’s position with respect to the Hilton. We have been told the government is not selling the Hilton as the last administration apparently were determined to do. We are told the Hilton needs $40 million of injected investment. We are told that having renegotiated the deal, I am using the language – ‘we have successfully renegotiated that deal so that government remains in full ownership. The $40-million investment still takes place and is funded by a share of new profits’.”

“In other words, and I’m quoting, ‘profits over and above what the government is now receiving’. That language is not clear to me and maybe the fault lies with me, but I understand that the former government made some arrangements to sell. That deal is now a matter of past but this government has indicated it is not interested in so doing.”

“I still would like to know – the past administration intended to sell – to whom it intended to sell the Hilton? What is the source of the $40-million investment which will still be inserted into the mix of things with reference to the Hilton and what are the profit sharing arrangements of which the statement of yesterday spoke?”

Additionally he called for greater elucidation on the Hyatt Hotel and the property next to it which has been compulsorily acquired.

“The question I would ask is what is the market value of that old property? Are there any planning gains to be associated with the potential development relative to the Hyatt? What is the current status of the planning process around the Hyatt project?”

“Controversy had swirled around this project relative to the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment. We are now advised further than the development will be configured otherwise than originally planned and with completely different proportions over a larger land space. So one would hope that the appropriate consultations with the community mostly impacted would have taken place or that there are taking place. That the requisite studies would have been undertaken or in the process of being undertaken. Studies with reference to environmental, coastal and community impact.”

As it relates to the future of Sam Lord’s Castle, he said the presentation by Prime Minister Mottley on Wednesday suggested the sale of Sam Lord’s Castle. “This would perhaps be unfortunate if this option for sale prevailed over the equity investment arrangement option which it also seems to be in existence.”

“Parliament needs to be updated on the property-related debt issues and the extent to which these debt issues has been tidied up.”

He also queried about the envisioned development of Paradise, and called for greater information on the failed project.

“Information relative to the high level of National Insurance Funds invested in the project over which there is still not full declaration as to the eventual outcome with respect to those funds and investment in the project, and also Government’s guarantee of $120 million to the Ansa Bank Trinidad and Tobago.”

“Paradise, over the years has had a lot of controversy attached to the site. In more recent years a lot of controversy in various phases. Barbadians need to hear to the extent that this information is... What has become of investment relative to NIS funding and the government guarantee for the $120 million out of the bank in Trinidad?” he queried. (JH)