Reynold Austin, president of the Democratic Labour Party Canada branch
It seems like yesterday, although it was June 2010, when a frail David Thompson turned the the ceremonial sod to announce the coming of the Pickering Housing and Town Centre development project. Depending on which local media outlet is sourced for information about the project the figures 800 million or 1.7 billion are mentioned . BU cannot remember so many projects going ‘bellyup’ in such a short time period when compared to the last 3 years. Have we compromised on our due diligence method for recognizing quality foreign investment? Have a read of the lofty words uttered by the late Prime Minister Thompson to describe the Pickering Housing and Town Centre development.
Prime Minister Stuart and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) need to explain the stench wafting from this project which appears to be stillborn 3 years later. Before the fowls begin to cackle, here is why. In the Nation article Not Jolly a Canadian businessman is reported to have invested USD750,000 in the Pickering project after being approached by a Reynold Austin who was and still is the president of the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) Canadian branch. It seems a sordid affair that Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart is being advertised as guest speaker at the 6th Annual Errol Barrow Memorial dinner being planned by the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) Canadian branch. One wonders what the late Errol Barrow would have to say to Reynold Austin if he were to be reincarnated at his memorial function – see DLP Canada website.
Evelyn Greaves, former minister in DLP government
Back to the Pickering Housing and Town Centre development project. A Google search (not surprisingly) found no concrete financial information concerning the Pickering project, although a number of newspaper and blogs was generated which provided additional information about the project.
The Pickering Barbados website refers to the Pickering Plantation Development project as “possibly one of the largest project of its kind in the Caribbean”. (How many names does this project go by anyway). Under the “Organization Tab” there is an organization chart; but no names of officers and directors. Extracted from the website, “All architectural and engineering design is currently being undertaken by teams of professionals located in Miami, Florida and in Barbados. Construction is expected to span the period 2008-2012” A June 20, 2010, Nation article said – “Cuban American architect Danny Martinez told specially invited guests that the multimillion-dollar investment would be sustainable, compact, diverse and walkable.” Our research did not reveal anything for Cuban American architect Danny Martinez connected to Pickering.
Further, click on Construction Tab and the website www.trinityconstruction.com at DomainMarket.com which has the domain for sale, suggesting the company no longer exists. How about clicking the Contact Tab which shows locations as c/o Wayne P Cumberbatch and Company in Barbados, and 3800 Sanctuary Drive, Coral Springs, Florida. The latter address is a modest home which was until June 2012, owned by Yusuff and Indra Mohamed. It sold for $245,000.00 in June 2012, Hardly the type of home you would expect of a big-time developer heading up a $1 billion project. If Jolly is the successful businessman he is being touted to be he should have done some due diligence before he plunked down $750,000.00.
A Nation newspaper article posted that North Ridge Development Company has five directors including former long-standing former St Lucy MP Evelyn Greaves and two other Barbadians in Stanley Yearwood and Wayne Cumberbatch. The others are Rayhana Rahim and chairman Yussuf Mohamed. Note that Evelyn Greaves is the High Commissioner to Canada and former minister in a DLP government.
So who are Rayhana Rahim and Yussuf Mohamed listed as executives and the key movers in the company North Ridge Development. We assume this is the holding company which was incorporated to manage the Pickering project. Rayhana Rahim is a professor at the University of South Florida and Yusuff Mohamed is listed as a United States entrepreneur – see a detailed bio.
In a relatively short time researching this matter on the Internet the sketchy information available about these characters raises immediate concerns. And then there is the obvious DLP connection.
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Why isn’t there anything of substance about “possibly one of the largest projects of its kind in the Caribbean” to be found in the public domain?
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Why did the President of DLP (Canada) allegedly solicit funds from a Canadian investor for the project?
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How come the Barbados High Commissioner to Canada is a Director (and presumably investor) in the private sector venture? Is this not a conflict of interest?
Whu loss!
Can you imagine that not a murmur about such an explosive issue like the Pickering project was made an issue by the opposition seemingly struggling for issues in the last election. Can it be that one of their own might be involved in the project as well?
balance your best post Mia is making $2 million plus as lawyer for 4 seasons and some other big government project, sugar point or the marina. When it comes to hypocrisy the blp is the ceo of the company.
@ balance | September 20, 2013 at 4:12 AM |
The only real Opposition this DLP administration has is right here on BU.
Those people in Parliament are ‘parties’ in the game called “piggy-in-the-middle” and you know where the taxpayers are standing.
Can you imagine the PM telling the people the country’s educational system must produce more thinkers and more problem-solvers rather than people with many paper qualifications?
He would be better off looking into the mirror and in a moment of silent soliloquy pose the related question: ‘Is this statement applicable to those currently in charge of the affairs of the nation’?
Come on Mr. PM, you are the epitome of what the same educational system stands for and are the perfect model that has come off the production line. Why kick down the ladder that raised you up?
Any time a person that possesses the same qualities you are trying to extol attempts to demonstrate or apply them he or she is automatically perceived as a trouble-maker trying to rock the boat and treated as a social pariah.
Ask any person who has lived or studied in a more enlightened society and tries to be too “uppity” especially when dealing with the envious angry civil servants and even the political class.
The ignorance, ABC aka Waiting bringing the argument that you are doing it so we can do it too.
Are you reading ABC right David?
It MUST be clear to all by now that we are doomed.
It is a sordid mess.
There really in no point in exposing any more of the filth….can it get any worse?
Question is……WHAT DO WE DO?
@Bush Tea
The system has the people on lock down or so it seems. History details what is required to create meaningful change but the catalyst remains elusive.
Reblogged this on CARIBBEAN VIBE – Blog.
Question is……WHAT DO WE DO?
People Power
but people lazy and indolent
Bruggadung is corred
Lazy
Lazy
Lazy
Bajans
will continued to be controlled by any force
————————————-
Yaaaaaaaaaagga
Question is……WHAT DO WE DO?
People Power is the answer
but people lazy and indolent
Bruggadung is correct
Lazy
Lazy
Lazy-ass
Bajans
will continue to be controlled by any force /
Trini/Guyana /China/Jamaica-music/USA products/Remy Hair
————————————-
Yaaaaaaaaaagga —again !!!
It is being reported in the press today that PM Stuart is away for a week on a private visit to Canada. His equally taciturn collegue Richard Sealy will act in his absence.
Pickering Housing and Town Centre @ We can see that most think Plantation Deeds is a joke.
Just think for a moment , Investors from overseas will STOP any project if there is no CLEAR TITLE TO THE LAND. Unlike Bajan lawyers and Minister who dont care about FRAUD , tHE REST OF THE WORLD IS DEALING WITH RULE OF LAW.
So until the DLP/ BLP remove the cloud on the TITLES OR LIENS , THEY will have Hell to complete any deals.
Produce the Plantation Deeds for Barbados,,, We We also CLAIM PICKERINGS PLANTATION ,
PICKERINGS 383 ACREAGE 1913 , FENWICK OWNER.
PICKERINGS 383 ACREAGE 1920 F.M FENWICK STILL OWNER
TO BEATRICE HENRY TO VIOLET BECKLES TO HER HEIRS ,
LETS GET BACK TO LAW , CLEAR TITLES ,, NOT FRAUD DLP TITLE WITH NO ROOTS.
Mia Mottley has so many skeletons in her families as well as her own closet, there is no way she can ever be an effective opposition leader. Met a bajan domiciled in Bim at a mall this morning, he told me in no uncertain terms that the damage done to Barbados by both the DLP and BLP is completely irreparable. We can safely say that if it was not the Chinese, Trinis, Europeans, North Americans, Japanese or whomever dictating to the government(s) island, it would be definitely someone else, why? because for all the best education Barbados is supposed to have, they have managed to produce the biggest idiots with the most useless mentalities to date.
Carson……before you jump in talking about Grenada, let me refresh your memory, Grenada has had two very unlikely hurricanes within an 8 month period (natural disasters) that completely devastated the island’s infrastructure and agriculture, i believe it was in 2004-2005 for which they have had to recover, their deficit is expected, now you can tell me the excuse for Barbados, by all means feel free,
That 2004 hurricane (Ivan) was on course to hit Barbados, but because (God is a Bajan) it veered of course to hit Grenada and Barbados was spared. That really had nothing to do with Carson’s DLP crowd
Due Diligence…….that’s why i am trying to find out from Carson where Barbados’ burgeoning, ballooning and forever expanding deficit came from, you know he has all the answers.
balance | September 20, 2013 at 4:12 AM |
Can you imagine that not a murmur about such an explosive issue like the Pickering project was made an issue by the opposition seemingly struggling for issues in the last election. Can it be that one of their own might be involved in the project as well?
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
balance,
Did you not hear Owen Arthur exposed this project over and over again telling all and sundry that the project was phony and that the so called investors did not have two red cents to rub together?
Did you not hear how Chris Stinkliar “light” into OSA in the house, called him the worse names and assured Barbadians that the project was out to tender and that Bajan contractors “mind” OSA and would not tender for the works and now all of them have been awarded to foreign contractors.
What more you want the BLP to say? BU highlighted this story a few weeks ago. If I were the BLP, I would not say a word…………….just let everything unravel as we now are seeing……………the project was never viable in the first place, only a mad man would envision a project like this for the middle of nowhere. Remember the refrain …..”we won, the BLP lost?”
Talk about things unravelling…………..look how the Minister of Health could now talk about user fees after telling people a few days ago that the 35 million dollar cut would not result in cuts to the service delivery, they would be cutting out wastage.
They don’t even let their lies dry before they start telling more!
@Prodigal
I said a few months ago,if I were the BLP I would not say a word on this country called Barbados and I note that OSA has gone silent,silent as a lamb.That is the way to treat the current situation.The truth will out!The lies will come to light.Let the morons called DLP stew in their own mess.Bahans will now see what the true story is.
Perhaps the PM will return with glad tidings of great joy about Pickering.
would love to he Mr. Keelyman on this project.
by the way, has Mr. Lowe gone home as yet?
David (not BU)
His mother died, so this seems to have set him back a bit!
Kellman? You would not hear a word on this from him…………he will call Brasstacks but if asked about anything connected to his ministry, he will say that he did not come on to speak about that!
How the people of St Lucy can keep re-electing him is beyond comprehension. Just Asking….shades of St John?
@ David | September 20, 2013 at 3:26 PM |
It is rumoured in inner circles he would take the opportunity to bring back a wife.
Is there any update on Minister Lowe’s health? His mother died and this could put additional stress on his already fragile health. We wish him well in his time of grieving.
We should give Lowe some space even though BLPites will show interest as October approaches.
David | September 20, 2013 at 3:26 PM |
Perhaps the PM will return with glad tidings of great joy about Pickering.
Only if Mr. Jolly does not catch up with him while he is in Canada.
@ Prodigal Son | September 20, 2013 at 2:28 PM |
Talk about things unravelling…………..look how the Minister of Health could now talk about user fees after telling people a few days ago that the 35 million dollar cut would not result in cuts to the service delivery, they would be cutting out wastage.”
Only goes to show that the former MoH was just full of lying bullshit hot air about cleaning up all the waste at the QEH thereby improving care delivery and brining about efficiencies in management processes.
This is a major let down by this DLP administration. The calf called Free University Education born out of the political sacred cow of free tertiary education could be sacrificed on the altar of financial necessity and might not have immediate far reaching implications given the current oversupply of graduates and the opportunity for overseas training. But to implement measures that could seriously undermine public health is a journey too far into the realm of asinine stupidity, shortsightedness and excessive risk taking that could jeopardize the social and economic health of the nation.
The introduction of user fees will result in the application of means testing for all public users. This is a massively risky arrangement when dealing with people who require emergency or urgent treatment especially for communicable diseases or life threatening in nature. Would the unemployed be subject to these fees?
This is a shameful admission and glaring indication the country is in serious economic and financial troubles and these wild boys haven’t a clue as to what to do.
The day a country’s public health is put as serious risk is the day that country undertakes a journey that leads to social and economic dislocation.
Prodigal Son you are a person of faith, you better pray to God to help Bim.
Miller………Carson is soiling his tighty whities, we can sense what will happen next..
David my question about Mr. Lowe was not meant to a dangerous one. I just wanted to know about the guys’ health as the PM said he will be home soon and i personally have not heard anything else after that comment from the PM.
i wish him a speedy recovery.
miller,
Here is a prayer we say for our beloved Barbados:
We pray for our leaders and all who are called to make decisions on our behalf that they may be guided by the Spirit to direct our affairs in righteousness and peace….
Father in Heaven, please hear our prayer.
Prodigal Son We pray for our leaders and all who are called to make decisions on our behalf that they may be guided by the Spirit to direct our affairs in
righteousness and peace….
Father in Heaven, please hear our prayer.
……………………………………………………………………..
I cannot vouch for the Catholics ,but this prayer is part of the fare in many Anglican churches on Sundays, and it doesn’t seem to wuk . Perhaps we should engage Pastor Millington, he claims that he is able to raise the dead, providing its not too cold.
@Advocate “Noting that the Pickering Estate is associated with the lives of two national heroes of Barbados, Charles Duncan O’Neal and Errol Barrow”
Follow the money.
Maybe Mr. Jolly has “lost” his money but money cannot just disappear.
Follow the money.
Who has gained from this project so far?
Follow the money
Maybe a family was trying to get an unprofitable plantation offa their hands.
Follow the money
Which family?
Follow the money
Evelyn”Breakthrough”arrived from Trinidad one day in 1987 and joyfully let it be known to Barbados via the Nation newspaper that he had made a BREAKTHROUGH in negotiations with his Trinidad counterparts and that Bajan fisherman will soon be able to fish in Trinidad and Tobago waters without fear of arrest.LIE and MORE LIE.You tink it easy.Bwoi DLP bin tellin’lie from mawnin’eh pappy!eh!eh!It have a man dat can tell lie bwoi.’im name Evelyn Greaves.Show we the money Greaves!You got racehorse?We got Law Courts…..
What can be said for sure is that Richard Sealy is now regarded as a Stuart loyalist and Jones has been kicked to the curb. Maybe it us an E11 thing. We should not forget however that he did join with his mates to boot Mascoll in fav our of the return of Thompson. He is therefore not averse to holding a position when forced.
David – Ronald Jones has fallen from grace with Stuart. In his absence the now usually turns to Sealy (a waste of time and space) or alternatively Estwick (a no nonsense guy). The PM has effectively killed off (politically speaking) both ring leaders in the Eager 11, Sinckler and Jones and their financial sponsors Bjerkhamn, Tempro and Maloney.
The PM would be wise to appreciate that Sealy has been close to Bjerkhamn and Maloney for a long time. Both financially supported him, on a monthly basis, while he was on the opposition benches.
The next time Bjerkhamn and Maloney move to take out (politically) Stuart, it will be likely that Sealy’s hand will be on the handle of the sword.
@Jack Links
When you suggest that Sealy was supported by Bjerkhamn you mean by giving him work in his profession as an engineer?
David, you seem to know.
Sealy is an engineer?
When is he going to engineer a makeover of tourism to reverse the downward spiral of arrivals
Jack Links | September 21, 2013 at 7:14 AM |
David – Ronald Jones has fallen from grace with Stuart. In his absence the now usually turns to Sealy (a waste of time and space) or alternatively Estwick (a no nonsense guy). The PM has effectively killed off (politically speaking) both ring leaders in the Eager 11, Sinckler and Jones and their financial sponsors Bjerkhamn, Tempro and Maloney.
___________________________________
How typical, Barbados can’t very well be condemning the Syrian and have a dumb minister talking about cracking heads and shooting people in Barbados, if Jones did not have so much info on Stuart he would have been fired………..in saying that, when will black men (government ministers) learn that you do not sell out your own people for a few dollars or photo ops with these lowlifes mentioned about for any reason……….Carson, where are you, explain to us this new low of corruption.
Should read:
Barbados can’t very well be condemning the Syrian government/rebels for atrocities against the Syrian people, and have a dumb minister talking about cracking heads and shooting people in Barbados
@ Jack Links | September 21, 2013 at 7:14 AM |
“The PM has effectively killed off (politically speaking) both ring leaders in the Eager 11, Sinckler and Jones and their financial sponsors Bjerkhamn, Tempro and Maloney.”
Joke! The PM is a joker and yard boy when it comes to Bjerkhamn, Tempro and Maloney. These men have him in their financial pockets and hence would be pulling the political puppet strings of the ‘yes’ man.
Could you tell us who has the construction contracts for the Valerie project and the one to go up at the Grotto and in whose constituency they are in?
Miller………….a bunch of silly, sissy little boys (government ministers) who do not have the ability to man up, waiting for the likes of the above to tell them what to do or put some money in their pockets. Absolutely refusing to look after their own race through up liftment.
Simple Simon
Please explain what two long departed National Heros could have anything to do with Mr Jolly’s $750,000.00
Follow the money?
In Barbados?
After paying finder’s fees, and fees to consultants, architects & engineers, and teams of professionals located in Miami, Florida and in Barbados do you really think there would be anything to pay to a family trying to get an unprofitable plantation off their hands. Oh, and do not forget the biggest fees of all – the lawyers fees.
Follow the money? Through the lawyers’ trust accounts? Ya sure.
What money? How many others invested in Pickering? Due Diligence wonders how many other “investors” will come forward to recover money invested.
North Ridge Development Company Limited was incorporated August 20, 2007. Pickering Court Development Inc. was incorporated April 22, 2009. Which owns what? Which does what? Does either have title to the lands?Has either of them ever filed or published financial reports
.
Follow the money?
That would require a forensic audit.
Four Seasons, Harlequin/Merricks, Pure Beach, Pickering
Sorting out those messes would keep, Deloittes, E&Y, KPMG and PWC busy for years.
How likely is it that that will happen?
Simon, it is not simple to Follow the Money.
Just when I thought I have heard it all, I came across this article in the Nation.
BY RICKY JORDAN | SAT, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 – 12:05 AM
A Canadian entity is looking at investing in the northern section of Barbados through a multimillion-dollar sports tourism programme.
Minister of Housing and Rural Development Denis Kellman revealed yesterday that the group was looking at the possibility of building an indoor stadium with an Olympic-size swimming pool, a hockey field and facilities for baseball at North Point, St Lucy.
“I know they are working feverishly on it and are looking at how they can raise the funds,” he told the SATURDAY SUN in an interview.
Noting that the proposal was not yet concluded so he would not wish to name the potential investors, the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for St Lucy, said it would be an ideal boost for the north as a centre of community activity and for Barbados as a whole in attracting more North American visitors.
“One of the reasons we’ve not been able to attract a large number of American tourists is because we do not really have anything to bring them here. After the United States naval base left [in 1979], they should have taken my foolish advice and started a baseball programme since the climate conditions are perfect for it. Unlike the British who come here and know they have football and cricket, we have nothing for visitors from North America,” he pointed out.
“The numbers of American tourists were greater than the British here in the 1970s, and those would have declined after the naval base was decommissioned. It shows that people are not obligated to come to our country; we have to do something to get them to come.”
Kellman said he had been in discussion with the Canadian investors for more than a year, having met them via a social media network and then hosted one of them at his office in Moon Town, St Lucy, recently. He also noted a keen interest in the project by Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley, and the fact that Barbados needed another competitive swimming facility beside the 24-year-old Aquatic Centre at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
The time frame for the sports tourism project at North Point depends on how soon the Canadians can raise the funds, he said.
Seeing the investment as an extension of the community tourism practised in his constituency, Kellman said whenever he heard tourism players describe the Barbadian product as “stale”, it sent a strong message for him to create activities and open new attractions in rural Barbados.
“If visitors are saying we need to improve our product, it is a message to me that the sector must have a base – a mass base. When you have a mass base and build it out, you achieve a lot more . . . similar to what I’m doing with North Stars and Moon Town and with community tourism overall. And I know the Minister of Tourism [Richard Sealy] is on board but I’d like to see a lot more people on board and appreciate what community tourism is doing for Barbados in Heywoods, Maynards, Colleton Gardens, Half Moon Fort and St Elmo’s Terrace (all in the north).”
Kellman said rural development was not just about roads and houses, but creating the infrastructure for housing, tourism, agriculture, industry and culture.
He therefore urged Barbadians to stop “bad-mouthing” projects like the proposed North Point initiative, Four Seasons, Almond and Pickering.
“By bad-mouthing the Pickering project, it turned away some very good investments. I have met with some investors on more than one occasion and they were a bit worried that they might be getting involved in a political battle, and I don’t think that says a lot for our country,” he said.
“I know for a fact that Four Seasons would have suffered from the same thing, and if we do not watch ourselves, the same will happen with Almond,” Kellman said.”
A Canadian entity is looking at the possibility of building an indoor stadium with an Olympic-size swimming pool, a hockey field and facilities for baseball at North Point, St Lucy? It will help attracting more North American visitors?
One small hitch; they need to find the financing.
But, it gets better:
“One of the reasons we’ve not been able to attract a large number of American tourists is because we do not really have anything to bring them here”
Pardon, I must have misread; a Minister of Government would never say “we do not really have anything to bring them here”
“It shows that people are not obligated to come to our country; we have to do something to get them to come.”
Really? Is it not the job of BTA to do something to get them to come. Try some advertising.
He met the Canadian investors via a social media network. What kind of investor do you meet via social media. Was the Minister surfing the net and just happened to come across an investor(who needs to find the money) looking to do something in Barbados?
And the stuff about bad-mouthing the troubles projects, he forgot to mention the apparently still-borne projects known as The Merricks and Pure Beach at Foul Bay
The whole article must be a bad joke.
Of course DD does not have all the facts and may be all wrong; and there is a real need for a privately-owned indoor stadium with an Olympic size pool for the thousands of people getting ready to move into their new homes in nearby Pickering Village, and to compete with the government –
owned Gary Sobers Spots Complex.
If so, perhaps the Prime Minister will meet with the Canadian investors to seal the deal while he is on his “private” visit to Canada this week.
“I know for a fact that Four Seasons would have suffered from the same thing”
you ought to know for the flames for the fire which contributed to the demise of the Four seasons project were fanned by the vituperative calls daily by DLP apologists to the Brasstacks programme against the project and Sir Roy’s stance which led to the withdrawal of the planned for labour force.
Prodigal Son | September 20, 2013 at 4:21 PM |
Kellman? You would not hear a word on this from him…………he will call Brasstacks but if asked about anything connected to his ministry, he will say that he did not come on to speak about that! How the people of St Lucy can keep re-electing him is beyond comprehension.
………………………………
have to agree with you balance what is Kellman really doing? He has not said one word on housing since he took over that Ministry.
When Michael Lashley was there housing was the star of the government’s show. The country was kept abreast of housing developments.
We saw Kellman’s lack of usefulness as flying fish ambassador . The man achieved exactly nothing and said very little on flying fish / TnT matters. Kellman talks so much baloney unrelated to his portfolio its difficult to comprehend how he gets elected.
There are a mob a ton of houses finished under the last Minister just standing idle while kellman talks nonsense about the long defunct St. Lucy naval base.
God help us with this joker
Short ass Kellman and short ass Stephen Lashley are two of a kind.Add the BLP short ass Lynch and short ass,tie-tongue Hinkson plus short ass Payne and we have a cast for a Laff it Off comedy this coming season.None of them can see the medium to long term vision we need for Barbados.All short term jokers!
These are short crutch politicians Gabriel, not short asses. I have never seen and heard such shitiness until Kellman opens his mout!
Barbados has lost its top spot with the American World Clinics (AWC).
Four years after AWC approached Government about opening a medical tourism hospital here, its directors are now looking at alternative start-up locations because of the time it has taken to get the US$200 million project off the ground.
AWC president Robert Priddy told the SUNDAY SUN that because of the lengthy delay Barbados might no longer be the location for the flagship mega facility.
“We are in the process of evaluating opportunities including The Bahamas, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Tobago and Nicaragua,” he said.
“At this time we are in various stages of active negotiations at four of these sites. Operationally, we will have dedicated professional leadership for each site and are confident based on existing physician and nursing interest that we will have no problem staffing facilities in all of those locations.” http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/bumped/
Business facilitation is a mantra of the government. Coincidentally Minister Donville Inniss is the minister responsible for the transformation and was the former minister of health when the matter of the coming of this hospital was discussed through the years.
Slightly off topic but relevant:
It seems Rihanna is in serious PR doo doo in Thailand. She has incurred the wrath of the international environmentalists and the Thai authorities by taking photos snuggled up to a ‘highly protected’ animal and deemed to be a form of exploitation of a rare endangered species.
The international media are emphasizing on “the pop star from Barbados”.
She is not to blame but her managers. She knows no better since she comes from a country where abuse of animals is part of the culture.
David | September 22, 2013 at 6:30 AM |
Business facilitation is a mantra of the government. Coincidentally Minister Donville Inniss is the minister responsible for the transformation and was the former minister of health when the matter of the coming of this hospital was discussed through the years.
___________________________________-
In business, particularly when dealing with international, serious business people, one must be proactive, Inniss probably believed he was dealing with the people he usually does business with, real business people will leave you standing by the road when they have ascertained that you are on BS.
Let’s hope Kellman knows what he is talking about, Canadian investors do not have to go anywhere to source funds, right now investors are reluctant to put any money out there since Blackberry (RIM) just took a near billion dollar loss and have to lay off 40% of their work force, don’t these local ministers read the news and/or understand what is happening around the world.
Well Well
Canadian investors do not have to go anywhere to source funds,
Should read:
REAL Canadian investors do not have to go anywhere to source funds,
Are these the same Canadian “investors” behind the Pure Beach project?
This is from a January 2012 article in Business Barbados.
Barbados has recently launched an initiative to bring its emerging medical tourism sector onto the world stage. With the selection of American World Clinics – Barbados, Ltd. (AWC), for the development of an international healthcare complex at the St. Joseph’s Hospital property in St. Peter,
Barbados has once again demonstrated its commitment to quality and innovation.
AWC will develop the 21.5-acre St. Joseph’s parcel into a complete healthcare campus. The hub of the campus will be a 100,000 square feet,
This is from an August 2012 release from Winners Develops, LLC:
PHOENIX, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Winners Development, LLC, today announced a partnership with American World Clinics (AWC) to jointly develop an international medical center in the nation of Barbados.
The $100 million project will be located on a 21.5 acre site in St. Peters, Barbados and represents AWC’s first site in a global development program for the export of American medicine to the international community.
The centerpiece of the project, a surgical specialty hospital will consist of 12 operating rooms to serve both international medical travelers and local patients in the Caribbean region. It will feature 60 inpatient beds, ICU capabilities, 12 operating rooms, an interventional lab, and state of the art facilities for diagnostics and therapeutics. Multidisciplinary clinic space, including dental and concierge medicine, will be located adjacent to the hospital.
This is from an April 2013 report in a Bahamas
$200m medical tourism facility proposed for Bahamas
April 16, 2013
NASSAU, Bahamas — Executives from the global health care venture American World Clinics (AWC) are in The Bahamas this week to discuss the establishment of the country’s biggest medical tourism facility — a $200 million-plus venture to create over 200 jobs post construction.
President of AWC Robert Priddy will be meeting key officials in healthcare, tourism, finance and the business sector. The three-day schedule will include stops in New Providence at the Office of The Prime Minister, Tourism and Health Ministries as well as in Grand Bahama to the Port Authority and the Freeport Container Port, among other visits.
“No one is going to places with cold climates for medical tourism,” said Priddy. “We believe The Bahamas is a perfect location in this region and gives us an opportunity to provide the best of global health care to patients from around the world and here in The Bahamas.”
This is from an article in the September 22, edition of the Sunday Sun:
Bumped
BY MARIA BRADSHAW | SUN, SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 – 12:11 AM
Barbados has lost its top spot with the American World Clinics (AWC).
Four years after AWC approached Government about opening a medical tourism hospital here, its directors are now looking at alternative start-up locations because of the time it has taken to get the US$200 million project off the ground.
AWC president Robert Priddy told the SUNDAY SUN that because of the lengthy delay Barbados might no longer be the location for the flagship mega facility.
“We are in the process of evaluating opportunities including The Bahamas, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Tobago and Nicaragua,” he said.
“Lengthy delay” What are they talking about, it is only four years since they approached Barbados government.
Could it be that local builders/contractors – Jada, Williams Construction – lobbied against AWC partnering with Winners Development, LLC. to develop/build the hospital facility.
Now that this project appears to have been aborted, Minister Kellman can add this to the list of projects he is urging Barbadians not to “bad-mouth”
The Minister should understand that it is not the projects that people “bad mourh”; it is the politicians that people are “bad mouthing”.
Due Diligence sad:
REAL Canadian investors do not have to go anywhere to source funds,
Are these the same Canadian “investors” behind the Pure Beach project?
________________________________
Kellman is probably just making it up as he goes along while praying that it all falls into place.
As i said, if Inniss continued to act like he was dealing with his local buddies in this very lucrative venture for the island, those seasoned business people would see right through his BS and leave him standing right where he is right now, by the side of the road, unable to attract any real business to the island, word travels really fast in those North American circles……..that happens when you are not proactive.
“Let’s hope Kellman knows what he is talking about, ”
Tell me the honest truth has Mr Kellman ever sounded to you like he knows what he is talking about? Rambling here, there and everywhere like Robocop as he was aptly referred to by Mr Hoyos in his column today. My guess is that people who should know better only humor and tolerate Mr Kellman because he is a politician.
Balance said:
“My guess is that people who should know better only humor and tolerate Mr Kellman because he is a politician.”
_________________________
These people who should know better are tolerating Kellman at the taxpayers expense, just like themselves and should be ashamed.
However we in St. Lucy will always back Mr. Kellman unless the BLP sends a real man down here
However we in St. Lucy will always back Mr. Kellman unless the BLP sends a real man down here
I EMPHATISE WITH YOU
David, thanks immensely for your blog titled “Pickering Project Goes Boom!” I am fully aware of the probability that the following three ideas I am about to mention may have been suggested earlier and that you may have managed to find facts that negate or make obsolete my ‘two cents’ worth. I am taking a risk, because life without risks is not worth living. I read your piece and I was appalled by your disclosures surrounding the “belly-up” projects, the broken promises, the obvious improprieties and slackness of political leaders and government representatives that leave the Barbadian people at a loss for words.
I went to the references you cited. I am therefore certain that even the visually impaired can see and understand the sordid aura surrounding the Project.
Yesterday, 9/24/13 at about 5:30 AM. I woke up with the Pickering Housing & Town Center Development Project on my mind, but I could not compose a reply, because my thoughts were totally out-of-the-blue, pure speculation. Yet, after reading yesterday’s blog on the economy and learning that the MOF, the Governor of Central Banks, a PS and assistants were in London seeking investors, before heading to the US to do the same, I knew I had to say my peace. Criticize me if you will.
From my perspective, the visits are indicative of desperation- the same desperation that led the late Prime Minister, the Honorable David Thompson to embrace and launch the subsequent aborted Pickering Project-a project surrounded by scandal and threats of lawsuits to be levied against the developers (Bradshaw, Nation News 7/18/13).
1. Desperate Times Require Desperate Measures:
The Project was to generate 800 million dollars in revenue. It was to stimulate the social and economic development of the Northern section of Barbados. The late Prime Minister assessed this Project as having the potential ‘to bring economic benefits at a time when foreign investments are desperately needed. ‘The same desperation exists even now. However, has government learned anything from the mess it finds itself?
With the Pickering Project, 800 million dollars were to be generated, 600 people were to be employed, there was to be sustainable employment to support residential, and business features of development. It was to have brought in an estimated five hundred million US dollars in sales to non-residents. Imagine the joy the then Prime Minister and his party in the know might have felt knowing that all hands would be on deck, all sleeves rolled up to find investors to support their creative program. This was a desperate motley group of Dems working to ensure that they did their best to bring in investors that would help the Prime Minister and the Party realize their short and long-term goals, manage its impressions and be re-elected to another term.
Denham Jolly purportedly claimed that Reynold Austin, then (and still is) President of the DLP Canada broached him for a loan which was to enhance and secure the re-election of the Party. Whether Austin asked for a loan or had asked him to invest is obtuse-to me. A loan would have required collateral from the borrower who would have agreed to pay an interest to the lender. If the borrower defaulted on the loan, then lender would have the right to place a lien on some property legally owned by the borrower. From my simple approach to this drama that is unfolding, if Mr. Jolly, on the other hand, were an investor, then the contract would be very different. Austin and the Party were desperate, and their desperation probably called for desperate measures and too often short cuts are made when there is desperation. Often more trouble than profit.
Prime Minister Thompson transitioned and from where I observed, the spirit of the dreams for the nation appeared to have died with him at a time when the Barbadian and the world’s economies were and are still anemic. This was a time of uncertainty and pervasive desperation. It was remarkable that there were investors who could make investments of the magnitude required to develop the Pickering Project. The desperate times had intensified and continued- but there was HOPE, or so it seemed. What could have happened to make Pickering and other projects go BOOM? Was it poor planning? Poor management? Was it hindsight as opposed to foresight? On the other hand – was it no sight at all? Could someone or some entities have been behind a grand fraud to deliberately give nothing while appearing to give something, in order to get something of value for nothing?
2. Are Governments Exempted from International Scams
Thousands of individuals are scammed globally- daily. One needs only go to the Internet to discover the myriad frauds that occur in cyberspace. I had never considered government being naïve and capable of being scammed with equity until yesterday, five days after reading “Pickering Project Goes Boom!” The thought kept me awake and I could not go back to sleep. The threat of a lien on the 200,000 square feet of land by Jolly is troublesome. Is this part of a carefully thought out Confidence game? Is this a scam, or scams, that happened to a government desperate to prove itself and to attract foreign investments and investors to its shores. As the MOF and other members of Barbados’ delegation go a ’hunting for investors, have they taken time to learn the lessons associated with Pickering Project and others. Have they developed a mechanism to avoid a repeat performance?
Before one gives a loan or invests in anything of such magnitude as $750,000.0, does it not make common economic sense, and is it not prudent to investigate the party or parties involved? Similarly, if a government is directly involved, then should said government not conduct a thorough investigation of prospective investors and their teams, before placing its representative’s signature on any agreement? What’s more, would on site visits not be made to the prospective project headquarters?
In an era where fraud and inauthenticity appear pervasive, any public and private entity failing to be thorough is either incompetent, or consciously engaged in a brand of fraudulence of its own.
If Danny Martinez, the Cuban architect, based in Florida was the designated architect and developer responsible for this billion-dollar development, then I agree that a field visit should have been essential. That it was not done speaks to incompetence and slackness on one hand, and a willful plan of fraud on the other.
The Government and its affiliates were either willing or unwilling parties to a swindle culminating from desperation and possibly short cuts. If this is true, then how can it be avoided in the future and will the people of Barbados ever know what happened?
3. The Questions Presented-
I am going to examine the three questions you posed. Too asked:
1. Why isn’t there anything of substance about possibly one of the largest projects of its kind in the Caribbean to be found in the public domain?
This is a “helluva” good question. I too tried to find information on this project and you are not exaggerating. I can only conclude that there may be a very logical reason for this. It may not be found because, it is part of a CONFIDENCE game, and a major fraud played on the people of Barbados and the Caribbean.
2. Why did the President of the DLP Canada Branch solicit funds from a Canadian investor for the Project? Is this not a conflict of interest?
All Barbadians abroad are ambassadors of the country- that is the perspective I claim as my own. In my short term stint as Honorary Vice-Consul of Barbados to Boston, identifying prospective investors was part of the portfolio.
I believe that every Barbadian living abroad has a responsibility to not only contribute to tourism, but to identify people to invest in projects that are profitable to Barbados and its people. This should be done for love of country, but too often one does not have the time to research prospective investors-some of whom may not be paragons of virtue.
Unless the recruiter has worked with prospective investors, it is difficult to know the code of ethics under which the investor operates.
In Reynold Austin’s case, it is highly feasible that he, guided by ego to ensure the re-election of HIS Party was motivated to bring home the bacon. He could have succumbed easily to a Confidence game.
Could he have accepted a challenge from a prospective investor, to demonstrate his confidence in the Project by investing his own money? Could he, in good faith and expecting the project to soar, have found that he was in an ideal position to solicit more investors, simply because he was also one of them?
In this case, I do not consider this a conflict of interest. How can Barbadian expect others to use their money, when they refuse and are unable to invest in their own country?
David, you were able to locate a list with the name of the investors, but how much money did each investor make? How much did Austin lose and who received the receipts?
3. How can the Barbados High Commissioner be Director and an investor in a private sector…?
Again, he may have invested in something he believed in and agreed to serve, not only to protect his interest but that of everyone else involved. Barbadians should invest in Barbados. Is the HC not a Barbadian?
Additionally, if he was unwittingly part of an attempt to defraud – and had in fact invested his own or other people’s money. Is he culpable? Is he not as much a victim as the government and the people of Barbados?
In conclusion, it is unfortunate that the Pickering Project, the project of many identities, along with many other projects has gone and are going ‘belly-up”- the most to have occurred between the last three years. It is highly feasible that our leaders and we Barbadians have compromised our standards and methods of diligence required to recognize quality investment.
It is highly feasible that in this compromise, if hard monies were there to finance the project, we have unwittingly opened the country to scammers who may still seek to recover their monies by trying to extort valuable collateral.
It would be easy to blame Prime Minister Freundel Stewart for the economic woes of the country; it would be equally easy to affix blame to Minister Mia Mottley’s Opposition Party. However, from my perspective, blame cannot be the name of the game. Folk need to learn from the outcomes of desperation, that taking short cuts and political naïveté can be dangerous.
Standards of operation must be put into place and implemented- to ensure that people or organizations with whom Government and/or its representatives are considering to negotiate are investigated and approved by UWI Multi-disciplinary team of researchers.
I hope that by now there is a collaborational non-partisan mechanism between the University, Government and the corporate sectors to investigate potential investors targeted to meet national and regional developmental needs of these entities mentioned. I hope that by now there is a University Developmental Program Review Committee- a watchdog agency to look after Barbados and Regional interests.
I trust that the delegation comprising the Governor of the Central Bank, the MOF are successful in their quests for money, but I hope that they would have already checked out would-be investors and make sure that any incentives will not compromise the sovereignty of Barbados or bring on a more rapid devaluation of the Barbadian dollar. In other words, I hope they are not demonstrably desperate
FunmilayJones | September 25, 2013 at 6:46 PM |
It appears from your comments that you believe that there was some scamming going on with Pickering Court project, but it is not clear to me who you believe is the scamee and who is the scamer.
Here is some info I gleaned from internet searches.
Denham Jolly is a successful Jamaican Canadian businessman, and business associate of Reynold Austin, a Barbadian Canadian businessman. Given his long history in the business worlfd, i am sure Denham Jolly knows the difference between a loan and an equity investment.
In 1988, Milestone Radio Inc. was formed by Denham Jolly, Reynold Austin, Zanana Akande, Carl Redhead, and Tony Davy. Their goal was to obtain a broadcast licence to operate a Toronto radio station with an Urban format.
In 2000 Denham Jolly on behalf of Milestone Radio Inc. was granted a licence for a new FM station at Toronto, which became known as 93.5 The Flow FM. Milestone Radio Inc. was controlled by Foundco Inc. (70.1%), which was controlled by five individuals (Jolly, Austin, Akande, Redhead and Davey) with Mr. Denham Jolly being the major shareholder. Standard Radio Inc. was a minority shareholder in Milestone (29.9%).
See: http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-
history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/histories.php%3Fid%3D401%26historyID%3D329
In February 2011, CTV concluded the $27 million purchase of The New Flow 93.5 FM.
See: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2011/02/02/ctv_takes_over_flow_935_fm.html
In February 2011, Mr. Jolly, Mr. Austin and the other shareholders, then came into some serious cash. Assuming that as the major shareholder of Foundco, Mr. Jolly owned 50% of Foundco, his share of the $27 million would be about $9.5 million.
In addition to being a minority shareholder in Foundco/93.5 FM, Reynold Austin is the President of DLP Barbados (Canada) and Principal of Austin Global Insurance and Financial Services inc.
According the website http://reynoldaustin.com/austin_global.html
“Austin Global Insurance and Financial Services is a full-service advisory firm offering comprehensive and integrated financial services in the fields of investment management, financial planning, taxation, and risk management. We have guided individuals, families, businesses, estates, trusts and qualified retirement plans to reach their goals since 1971.
At Austin Global Insurance and Financial Services, our Advisors are experts in financial planning. Our experience has taught us to listen and learn, and then advise. We work hard to make our client partnerships successful.
Knowing which way to turn in a financial world in flux requires experience and creativity. We have the insight to choose the right course no matter where you’re heading.”
The above are the facts.
What follows is an attempt to connect the dots.
February 2011 Denham Jolly sells 93.5 Flow FM, and comes into a big chunk of cash, say $9.5 million. Reynold Austin says to his business associate, Denham Jolly, that his firm, Austin Global Insurance and Financial Services is is a full-service advisory firm offering comprehensive and integrated financial services in the fields of investment management, financial planning, taxation, and risk management. We have guided individuals, families, businesses, estates, trusts and qualified retirement plans to reach their goals since 1971. Can I help you invest your money. Mr Jolly agrees and Reynold Austin recommends an investment in the Pickering Court Project through the developer North Ridge Development Company Limited, which Austin assures Jolly it is a great investment because it was a centrepiece for the Government and the enhancement of their re-election.”
Mr Jolly agrees to invest $750,000.00 in Pickering the project through a $750,000.00 loan to developer North Ridge; based on the recommendation of his long time business associate and financial planner Reynold Austin..
Two years later (July 2013), Jolly claims he has received no principal or interest payments on the loan to North Ridge; so he contacts a local (Barbados) attorney to pursue a lawsuit against Pickering Court Development and North Ridge Development Company, in an effort to recover his $750,000.00,plus interest and fees.
In hindsight it is easy to say Mr. Jolly should have done his own due diligence rather than simply accepting the advice of his long-time business associate and financial planner.
So, assuming his claims are true, it appears that Denham Jolly was a scamee, not the scamer.; or at the very least was misled. That is up to the courts to decide. And there may be others.
As far as ever seeing his $750,000.00 again, Mr. Jolly should not hold his breath while the courts hear the case he is bringing against North Ridge. That should be resolved in 10 or 20 years or so,
David, I appreciate the time you have taken to respond to my lengthy comments, including my speculation re Pickering Project. You have re-stated and offered more facts for which I am genuinely grateful. . I would like to believe that the successful businessman Mr. Holly had to have known the difference between a loan and an investment. I was however unsure what it was. My comment was not intended to be contentious, nor was it questioning Holly’s business savvy or knowledge. Instead,, I am questioning what appears to be how this mess could have occurred. That there were short-cuts and betrayed confidence are clear. However, I would be irresponsible and reckless to speculate on the scammer and the scammee. You can appreciate that. Yet, the more I read, the more convinced I am that we have only touched a tip of the iceberg.
I do not get worked up over much these days, but believe me- there is something about this Pickering Project that troubles me deeply. If there is fraud associated with that, it seems doubtful that the monies will be recovered. Things are not always what they seem. So the question is, since we are living in a time where there is desperate need for foreign investments, and Barbados needs to put its people to work, what measures can be taken to avoid giving HOPE to the people, only to have it killed. How can you, BU, act to not only inform the people, but what can be done to mobilize Barbadians to act decisively? I am not referring to getting people to behave contentiously and confrontationally with each other – without any direction. What can be done? The idea that the issue (Jolly’s) may not possibly b resolved for another 10 to 20 years is troublesome. How might this impact on future investors to Barbados?
Thanks for the hard work you are doing. I appreciate your efforts. Let us know more about the projects that have gone BOOM.
@Jones
It is Due Diligence who you need to congratulate. BU also appreciates the hours which he does to the benefit of the BU family.
David
Thank you for you kind comment.
So the question is
Who is the scammer(s)
Pickering Court Develoment?
North Ridge Development Company Limited?
North Ridge Development Directors (According to a June 20, 2010, article in the Nation) Evelyn Greaves, Stanley Yearwood, Wayne Cumberbatch, Rayhana Rahim and (Chairman) Yussuf Mohamed?
Cuban American architect Danny Martinez?
Can someone help us to further connect the dots?
Pickering Project Goes BOOM! ,, more BOOMs to come,
no clear title , so it will go boom at some stage .
Plantation
When will PURE Beach go BOOM