Just read to-days Nation News “Business” Section and wondered how you feel about the reason Sandy Lane has postponed the building of $3 billion worth in condos around the Green Monkey golf course? Do you think that the reason might be a subtle form of intimidation to the present DLP Government that they open Greenland? What makes me laugh is this, it appears from the article that it does not matter to Sandy Lane where the dump is put so long as the smell coming from the St Thomas dump ends and the beautiful people buying the proposed condos do not have to put up with it. And that these Foreigners could care less if the ordinary Bajan who was born in Barbados and has been there for generations before these foreigners came has a dump in their backyard stinking them out or polluting their Environment!
Submitted by a BU family member
We usually receive many emails and comments from many quarters. We try to read them all in a timely manner and use them to stimulate ideas and or share for public consumption. We take this opportunity to thank you all! Here is one such comment which addresses the perennial matter of Sandy Lane’s investment strategy in Barbados. Is it stretching it to think that the Sandy Lane owners maybe just exercising their right to invest or not to invest given the prevailing condition of the global economy? Our commenter seems to think that the decision maybe linked to the change in government and the recent decision to address the change of role of the Greenland landfill. At the end of the day we would have thought that the people behind Sandy Lane are businessmen and would therefore be inclined to make business decisions.
Having read the comment quoted above a second time, we are mindful of the delicate balance which the government must manage, that is, the need to attract foreign investment and simultaneously satisfy the needs of Barbadians.
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According to the newspaper report no reason has been given for the delay in the project by their public relation agent AL Hart. We suspect that Prime Minister Thompson out of courtesy would have received an explanation from the Sandy Lane businessmen. Back in 2004 when the project was proposed Prime Minister Owen Arthur was generous in his praise of the project and the jobs and other benefits which would have been generated as a result. No doubt the subsequent decision by the government to host the World Cup of Golf and other similar events would have been made bearing in mind the commitment by the owners of Sandy Lane to invest significant sums in Barbados.
So the question of the commenter may still be valid. Are we seeing another example of a foreign investor showing annoyance at things not going their way? We have the current industrial matter pending, Mount Stinkeroo/Greenland issue and the fact that new relationships will have to be made now that Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Barney Lynch have vacated the government.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.