Est.2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

,

On A Point Of Order Chairman Ralph Taylor

← Back

Your message to the BLOGMASTER was sent

CONTACT THE BLOGMASTER ONLY

Ralph Taylor
Ralph Taylor

Ralph W. Taylor, MBA, CHA, MCHIMA, JP Chairman and Managing Director of Almond Resorts Inc and Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority has become a very influential player in the local and regional tourism sector. Many admire and respect Taylor for his achievement as a leader in a sector known over the years to be controlled by foreigners. Taylor is still seen as the key driver of the Almond Resorts Inc all-inclusive model. Under his management Almond Resorts has demonstrated enterprise by spreading its wings to St. Lucia and it is regarded as a successful operations.

Against the above BU was alarmed when we had a quick look at the Almond Resorts Inc Financial Highlights Year Ended September 2008 published in the local newspaper (Nation p.14) today. Unfortunately we have not been able to find an online link to the financials but to support this blog we have scanned the financial results in three parts which are posted below.

We encourage members of the BU family who are so inclined to provide some critical feedback on the Almond financials. From a layman’s perspective we wish to ask Mr. Ralph Taylor the following questions:

  1. Year over year 2008 over 2007 saw a net loss of (BDS$756,325.00) against a net profit of BDS$6,614,270.00.
  2. Given the cut-off of the financial period for Almond as at September 2008 which was before the global financial collapse, what would have accounted for such a deterioration in financial performance?
  3. We see that like CLICO there is significant inter-company borrowings which moved to BDS$15,068,157 up from BDS$6,057,165 in 2007
  4. Based on the financials published how can we find out what were the occupancy levels by month in 2008?
  5. Interesting that in the face of a declining performance for 2008 the marketing expense declined! (BDS18.8 – 2008/BDS17.5-2007)

The BU family is acutely aware that Almond Resorts Inc now operates under the Neal & Massy (N&M) group of companies. We wonder given its recent poor financial performance if N&M will follow other Pan-Caribbean companies like Sagicor, One Caribbean Media (Nation Group of Companies) and others by retrenching staff.

All eyes will be on Chairman(s) Taylor to see how he wears his two hats in the coming weeks. Mr. Taylor should be aware that having received the kudos when his company was doing well he should equally be prepared to deal with the consequences of a lousy 2008 Almond financial performance. To what extent he will be able to chart the important tourism path for Barbados as Chairman of the BTA given the day to day challenge of managing a beleaguered Almond Resorts is another question we can ask.

Almond Resorts Financials 2008

Chairman’s Note
Balance Sheet
Statement of Income
Cash Flow

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

29 responses to “On A Point Of Order Chairman Ralph Taylor”

  1. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Do you know that any one seeking a job at Almond has to give of their time freely for as much as three months sometimes (volunteerism) while management has a chance to asses you?

    The trend is that the companies that declare healthy profits are the ones that are releasing staff. So the Almond staff should be safe. In any event they could all be reduced to volunteers again. Hmmm. This is not funny.

  2. Born again Avatar
    Born again

    BAFBFP // April 1, 2009 at 7:31 am

    Do you know that any one seeking a job at Almond has to give of their time freely for as much as three months sometimes (volunteerism) while management has a chance to asses you?
    …………………………………………………..
    Is this legal? Almond Resorts reputation as an employer is not one to be admired. Complaints over the years have been high. Taylor is a little black Ceasar.

  3. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    BU,

    There is no issue here, except that Thompson let the ink dry.

    Do you remember david thompson’s oath that if he become PM before the ink dries, he will stop the BS&T sale to T&T interest?

    But what is the result of his failure to act?

    Scores of people are being sent home from Almond, even though Ralph Taylor – Chairman of the BTA, said that hotels should not send home people.

    For all problems at BS&T, inter-party transaction; the Pier Head Project pulled; people loosing jobs at Almond, whatever – blame david thompson.

    He let the ink dry.

    Shammmmmmmmeeeeeee!!

  4. dominoes Avatar
    dominoes

    IS IT TRU THAT ALMOND HAS SELL OFF ONE OF THEM HOTELS TO NEIL& MASSEY

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Given the importance of tourism and the recent restructure of the BTA Board, Chairman Taylor should come to the public and outline how the new strategy will unfold. Last press conference the Minister did all the talking but we still have no sense of if there is a plan. Talking about a Tourism Master Plan didn’t former Minister Tourism Barney Lynch announce that there is a Master Plan for tourism?

  6. Point of Order Avatar
    Point of Order

    Muscle Mary Lynch master plan for tourism was the purchase of Grgg Farm plantation and acheivement of instant millionaire status.
    Lynchee master plan succeed.

  7. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Born again

    Your name’s got me a little uncomfortable… but yeah no one has challenged it. Apparently the practice takes place at a number of other hotels as well. Desperation spells exploitation!

  8. Avatar
    Anonymous

    David,
    Of course we got a Master Plan for Tourism. We got all kinds of Master Plans, Strategic Plans,Visions, Studies, Reports, etc etc. Unfortunately we don’t have ACTION plans.

    Y0u know we have a National Strategic Plan 2005-2025? Anyone checking to see if we are on track to achieving any of our aims and objectives now that we are in year 4?

  9. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    Talking about a Tourism Master Plan didn’t former Minister Tourism MM Blarney Lynch announce that there is a Master Plan for tourism.

    This is the same plan that the Board tried for 10 years to put into action then here comes the new gov’t and a new keen Minister Mr Richard Sealy and the plan has started to be put into action, sadly MM Blarney Lynch never had the balls to take the steps that were necessary or that were important, coupled with that the joke Wayne Capaldi is fully aware and knowledgeable of the plan to modernise the structure of the BTA and reports reaching me state that he in actual fact voted in support of the revision of the board, then he lets MM Blarney Lynch write a speech for him expressing surprise at the changing of the makeup of the board, what a childish act indeed.

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @WIV

    Can you address a fundamental question raised in the above?

    Can Taylor given the weight of managing a hotel with sinking fortunes devote the required time to the BTA given his pivotal role as Chairman?

  11. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    I do not think any of us can answer that at this moment, it is very clear to see that he has a vested interest in making the best for Barbados and Tourism that he can make it.

    I would not be too quick to try to demean him as a good leader of his own group of companies and a good person for tourism.

    Lets face it, there are real challenges for an island that is as tourism driven as we, the Bahamas, St Lucia, Grenada all are, and yes there will be some softening of the markets and that double or triple the effort will be required to hold us over, so to will the pressures be applied to managers and owners of hotel properties, but to rush off and suggest that the Minister makes changes for the sake of making changes is not really what should happen, to even consider moving Mr Taylor is not an option at this time, to replace him with another owner or manager of another stressed hotel ??

    What maybe worthy of note is, was there any strain put on the local group while they setup their operation in St.Lucia??

  12. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Barbados hotels holding on

    4/2/2009

    By Janelle Riley-Thornhill

    It is a credit to Barbados that no hotels have had to close their doors as yet, nor have they been engaged in any major lay-offs going into this period.

    According to Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, there are marquee destinations going into this period that unfortunately cannot say the same thing.

    “This is not gloating, but The Bahamas has seen lay-offs, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Florida, Las Vegas; we have been spared of that kind of fallout and therefore we are not going to gloat over it, because we have to work through the TIRF (Tourism Industry Relief Fund) or partners and so on, in an increased marketing effort to see that we can continue along those lines and even if there is to be some fallout, it would be minimal,” Sealy told the Barbados Advocate.
    ………………………………………
    Hear that crap! This is pure rubbish!!!

    Almond Beach sent home and is sending home scores of workers. TIRF or no TIRF. And that is an all-inclusive resort. Money paid up from before the global crisis!! Think people!!!

    Look!!!

    Barbados was never in the habbit of pushing for the type of visitor others do.
    We were always high-end.

    That there is a softening of the caribbean Market, may a cause for concern.

    But again, you have to blame thompson and the dlp for that. Remember: “Ever so welcome wait for a call.”

    That is what he told people who buy over 52% of our exports and who constitute our 3rd biggest toursit market.

    Silly and “LIARD”

    Little wonder that hartley henry wants to know when will Sealy and thompson start telling the truth!!!

  13. Andrew Nehaul Avatar
    Andrew Nehaul

    As a tour operator featuring and selling the Almond Resorts for many years and resident abroad, I cannot comment on the finances of the chain but I can say without hesitation that my company has always been delighted to work with them as their professionalism and dedication is unsurpassed. We have had many happy clients at all the resorts – both in Barbados & St. Lucia who have holidayed and/or been married at the properties.

    I personally have known Ralph, Monty, Nello & others for many years and as Barbadians we should not try to discredit this company but instead offer solutions to the industry on a whole which might make our tourism product survive the hard times of 2009.

    The brunt of the blow to a holiday in Barbados from Scandinavia is still high airfares. If one decides to travel in May or June to Barbados and takes BA or Virgin via London it means an overnight and a cost of about USD 1100 per ticket if you can find the cheapest fare. With Condor via Frankfurt, the similar cost is about USD 1200 (no overnight required).

    The trend today is late bookings and I think that the only way to try to capture visitors is to offer a USD 300 credit per person this summer for bookings of 7 nights or over. A type of Best of Barbados but I suggest that this USD 300 must be spent on the island and not as a reduction in airfare. Note that due to the numerous offers on the market, it will mean a lot of advertising to push this offer. Simply to have it and do nothing to advertise it, will be a waste of time.

    This is but one suggestion, I am sure that your readers have many other positive ideas which are far better than mine.

  14. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Andrew Nehaul

    I understand people in your line of business do exceptionally well. Is it posible for you to state the percentage commission that people in your field recieve on sales to Barbados? A fly on the wall says that it is quite a bit and one hotellier in paritcular (Do you want me to say his name?) says that it is damned high. Can it be that your kind forms part of the problem?

  15. David Avatar
    David

    This blog is not meant to stab at Taylor or his management team. Our question/concern is simple, given the burden of managing Almond |Resorts Inc is he the best man to head the BTA given the importance of tourism to Barbados?

  16. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Wishing In Vain // April 1, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    Talking about a Tourism Master Plan didn’t former Minister Tourism MM Blarney Lynch announce that there is a Master Plan for tourism
    ……………………………….

    You see that trademark DLP hogwash?

    How could this be true, when page 31 of the BLP 2008 Manifesto states that measures to promote further growth in the Tourism Industry, will include Completion of a Tourism Master Plan, as indicated in the National Strategic Plan?

    Yes!

    The same National Strategic Plan 2006-2025 that the DLP walked out of Parliament and refused to debate!!!

    Now, tell me – in what DLP document since Independence and on which page – is there any talk about a Tourism Master Plan?

    See what I tell you about an intellectually weak DLP outfit, violating all known copyrigh laws and claiming superior BLP policy as DLP innovation?

    See why Barbados is in a crisis?

    Even after lowering the bar, the DLP still does not have a clue!!!!!!

    This is so un-Barbadian!!

  17. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Dark Knight do blog a favour and vanish into the dark of night.

    Wiv your mate Andrew Nehaul return. You administer a beat down on him before elections.

    You reckoned he benefit as a result of his mother tourist board job.

    Bafbfp sees Nehaul commissions as part of B’dos high price problems.

    Waiting on your view.

  18. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense even consider replting to the Parro in a suit Sylvan Greenidge??

  19. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Wishing In Vain // April 1, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    This is the same plan that the Board tried for 10 years to put into action then here comes the new gov’t and a new keen Minister Mr Richard Sealy and the plan has started to be put into action,
    …………………………………
    This is yet another in a never ending series of DLP lies.

    Just recently the Cabinet agreed to contract May Hinds to try to put a Plan together.

    May Hinds would not even be able to recognise a Tourism Master Plan if it slapped her in her face.

    As for Barbados holding its own (sealy’ allegation)!

    Look!!!

    Curacao, St. Lucia and even Jamaica (with its crime rate) are doing much better than Barbados in term of arrivals.

    The truth is, under this poor-rakey DLP administration, tourism is on the decline, while country known more for thier high crime rate – are doing much better than Barbados.

  20. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    I wonder if the rabid thing is not aware that the same Mottley that the Parro in a Suit adores is in actual fact part of the poor rakey Parliament of which Owing speaks, after his blistering serious attack on Mottley, it is very clear to see that all his comments are directed at the same one and only Mottley moreso than the Gov’t of the day.
    Poor you, Parro In a Suit Greenidge you are really a very sad excuse of a person.

  21. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Wishing In Vain

    You can call me parro all you like, the fact remains that you are extracting $150,000 from the Treasury in circumstances where you lack the capacity to advise the poor-rakey DLP on matters of Finance and economic forecasting.

    You, like the dlp are out of your league and should do like the Jamaican Prime Minister: cut thompson’s salary too by 15%, and DLP Ministers by 10%.

    In you case, you cannot justify $155,000 and should stop accepting public funds when there is nothing you can show for it.

    How do you feel man!!!

    Do you not care that while you are hauling in $155,000, families in Barbados cannot buy food because the cost of living is double what it was under the BLP?

    When the BLP was in office, a barrel of oil on the world market was $104 and diesel at the pump was $1.46.

    When will the DLP stop price gouging Barbadians on land tax and petroleum products?

    Poor heartley!!!

  22. RA Avatar
    RA

    Very Interesting!!

    My concern regarding Ralph Taylor’s BTA and Almond Resorts roles has to do with directing both entities and any conflicts of interest that may exist now or in the future.

    Is it healthy to have this type of situation existing….should he be one or the other, but no both?

  23. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    @ RA

    You talk about conflict of interest. Now, analyse your comments in the context of Clico.

    14 years as attorney for Clico; now minister of finace, now PM and a shareholder (barbados government) trying to get ICB to be buy Clico life, simply to bailout a friend

    Look!!

    Leave poor Ralph alone.

    The issue is the US$5 million thompson again promised the Clico EC bailout fund.

    Check the Stabroek newspaper.

  24. RA Avatar
    RA

    RE: Clico

    Whatever else he is…PM, former attorney, shareholder….he is no longer the attorney and maybe you have a point!!….maybe in his case a certain level of transparency is required.

    In the case of Ralph, he has those current roles and there can be conflicts!!

    Why would you have an issue with one and not the other??

  25. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Maybe we should seriously analyse why Barbadians are loosing their jobs, even at Almond.

    Secondly, we should seriously discuss – what is the likely social impact, especially given that the DLP has already cut the vote to the Welfare Department by Seven Million.

    Somebody has already pointed to the fact that crime seems to be increasing.

    I haven’t noticed.

    Have you???

  26. RA Avatar
    RA

    I personally do not disagree with any of the points, statements or questions you’ve raised.

    In addition i have a lot of respect for Mr. Taylor….I however do not agree with his having the dual roles due to the potential conflicts.

    My position would be the same for any politicial who is leading a major public agency and at the same time leading a private/commercial organization within the same category.

    For example Mr. Taylor has led Almond Resorts in the “All Inclusive” direction…..would he then lead Barbados tourism in that direction as well??

    I do not think “all inclusive” is necessarily the way to go….maybe it works for Almond and it may work for other individual resorts but i do not think it is a good idea for Barbados tourism generally for any number of reasons!!!

  27. Dark Knight Avatar
    Dark Knight

    Everyone should take note that the the Speical Advisor to the Prime Minister hartley “the Klown” henry aka Wishin In Vain – has told the nation via BU that contrary to the projection of the Central Bank Governor and stakeholders in the industry, tourism numbers will grow significantly as a result of a recent trip to Canada by Tourism Minister Rickard Sealy.

    Wishing In Vain has also announced that Barbados’ room stock will increase.

    It is good news to know (according to the lead spokesman for the DLP,) that those tourism projects such as Four Seasons – will restart in a jiffy.

    Still, let us keep our fingers cross, especially since Barbadians were tricked by the DLP, as regards its 90 and 100 day promises, just like it tricked teachers, nurses and the police by promising them duty free cars and increase pay.

  28. Hope You Are The Right Man For The Job David Rice « Barbados Underground

    […] a previous blog we questioned the continued appointment of Ralph Taylor as Chairman of the BTA. Our concern was […]

  29. Msp cheats Avatar
    Msp cheats

    I am really grateful to the holder of this site who has shared this fantastic post at at this place.

The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading