Gov’t to begin negotiations for major Norman Island development
Premier Dr D Orlando Smith (foreground) and Governor Augustus Jaspert.
Cabinet has given the ‘go-ahead’ for local government to enter into an agreement for the development a major hotel/resort on Norman Island.
The agreement is being made with Audubon Holdings Limited, a local real estate holding and development company.
German-American businessman Dr Henry Jarecki, who owns Norman Island, is Chairman of the board of directors of the development company.
According to Cabinet’s report on its October 29 meeting, negotiations are now set to commence between government and the organisation.
A draft agreement is to be shared between both entities and “the terms included in the draft agreement shall be the basis for the negotiations with the developer”.
A final investment/economic development agreement and/or a planning development agreement is to be drafted at the end of negotiations.
The particulars of the draft agreement have not been disclosed to local media and it is not clear how soon negotiations and, subsequently, construction will begin.
The decision to develop a resort on the privately-owned outer island has been widely unpopular among residents since news of the development broke back in May.
But, Premier and Minister of Tourism Dr D Orlando Smith has said the resort will provide much-needed business opportunities and employment during and after construction.
He further said the development will add a significant number of rooms to the territory’s hotel stock for overnight guests.
The resort which will comprise hotels and villas is expected to be high-end.
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I thought that when he purchased the island 20 years ago he promised not to develop it in exchange for the government approving his purchase? What changed? Was I wrong?
When have you ever seen this government stick to an agreement ??
When have you ever seen anyone in the Territory stick to an agreement. Agreements and contracts in the Tereitory are meaningless. There is no way to enforce them in the kangaroo court system. Also the lawyers charge exorbitant fees and don’t know how to litigate
While I suppose anyone is entitled to develop a property they own, when we are dealing with projects of this magnitude, some questions are raised. One has to build the place, and no doubt contractors with the right connections will get a piece of the pie, but will it be BVIslanders doing the work? Most construction company work crews are not from here. When the place is built, what kinds of jobs will be created? One would imagine that a luxury resort will need a crew of service staff. In many places, these staff earn minimum wage. Will these jobs be work that BVIslanders want to do? These types of developments generally do not create meaningful career jobs for most of the staff, and often those jobs that are career oriented go to folks from somewhere else. For me, the business and employment opportunities that are project like this will offer will benefit the few well connected, and while no doubt it could turn out to be a stunning place, a project like this is unlikely to offer much in the way of jobs other than wait staff, bar tenders, landscapers, cleaners and the like. Is this the kind of future we want?
So you are essentially saying the island should not be developed because locals either cannot or wont do the jobs made available by the development? LMAO!!!!!!!!
Why don’t we change our outlook on industry in the BVI?Why aren’t we training and certifying persons in farming, landscaping, construction, housekeeping, bar tending, hotel and restaurant services, marine mechanics, scuba and diving instruction… Why can’t we take our tourism industry seriously and merge it with education properly in order to remove negative elitist stigmas, reduce our lopsided labor force to promote better wages and jobs for people already residing in the BVI.
I am sure this will be rushed through so these boys get their ‘piece of pie’ before elections. I’d urge Government to negotiate carefully and not give away everything just because this guy is one of your best private boosters!
Did this developer contributed any thing to us after the hurricanes?
You all like to chat nonsense eh. Jesus cant please you all b*****s in this place. Do you even know what the development entails? Do you have any idea the impact to the local economy? Im sure you could apply for a job and participate in the project once you have the requisite skills required.
Ayo see why he don’t want to call elections now?
Was ronnie and kedrick in that meeting?
why is their government negotiating when they should send their plans into Town & County after a EI study is done, all this leads to is back handers for the NDP on the way out.
Agreed.
Lets hope negotiations involve the professionals who would understand what is required. They would then inform/guide/recommend to government.
Lets hope also persons who negotiated the airplane deal aren’t sitting at the table.
Territories within the diaspora all have adopted and work within the capitalist system, where investments are made to garner profits, and rightly so.
Development of such investment produces “business opportunity and employment”, which is all good, but cometh with a double edge sword, an existential sword that will shred us to pieces one day.
How? We are being invaded by the Nahasi and Narmou folk and surrounded by/with the “Tamhou” colonies, (the results of land sale errors by our ancestors) whose inhabitants are mostly rich inheritors, while many others are just seeking riches.
Indeed, the “Tamhou” and the “Namou” are people who do not like the African descendant. Prejudices of him are paramount.
Concurrently, they do not assimilate only segregate. The rich, medium to small investor extract maximum labour and gigantic profits, at low wages, because mankind will not tolerate full slavery and its accompanying brutality and inhumanity any more.
The other edge of that sword will shred our identity, culture, customs and way of life , our freedom of movement and ability to utilize our resources such as sea food will be severely curtailed or stopped.
Therefore, a universal, political centralist system, one that will limit the political input of sacerdotal pretences and ostentation, often mentioned and believed to be corruptness that exists within the halls of power and money, the byproducts of capitalism, to one that centralises the total economic apparatus with the social, educational and psychological aspirations of the nations’ people. An economic philosophy inherently beneficial to the people.
Say wha?
Where did you copy that from? Can you translate it please?
if the question is in reference to Anonymous’s piece, be informed, it was written in five minutes and all thoughts, ideas and information came directly from a store house of knowledge in the mind.
No copy and paste here. With regards to translation, good comprehension skills would help, coupled with an extensive resource bank in history and other.
Wow!
Samo samo here. Get in under radar then wait for time to strike– while iron is hot. HEY! wait he’s not a belonger he can’t do anything here in BVI except wait on us– Belongers.
Hope he gets everything done and they do him like Willy T.
You folks are idiots…. contractors and citizens deserve each other– look at Scrub.
BVI government just doesn’t get it. There has been a demographic shift and North American tourists can no longer afford $500/night resorts. The answer is right in front of you. THE CHARTER BOAT industry. It was a shameful move to kick out the Willie T. Charterers will soon start visitng other islands like St Vincent & The Grenadines – they want to vacation in affordable bare boat charter destinations. The BVI are going the other way in a move that is so out of step. Look at the high end places on VG that have recently gone under. Talk to Peter Island Resort owners and they will tell you the numbers have been dropping for years. News flash – the high end resorts went under because the market has changed and tourists either can’t afford these kind of high end resort vacations or simply don’t want them.