Adrian Loveridge – Hotelier
So entirely contrary to all the heady rhetoric that the introduction of Sandals brand will drive additional airlift, from their closure on 1st April for major renovations, in fact the exact opposite will happen. At least until the re-opening slated for December 2014. Quoting their own projected occupancy of an average of 85 per cent with a typical stay of 7 nights and two persons per room, that’s almost 500 lost airline seats per week or a mind boggling 16,000 plus by the end of this year.
Will this further destabilise the remaining carriers that continue to service Barbados and lead to yet more airlines cutting routes or reducing capacity?
Tour operators, already unable to match demand with the high cost of doing business here are considering switching flights to other destinations where they can glean a profit. Once again citizens are left speculating whether our Government was aware and factored in the almost nine months closure with hundreds of hospitality employees being thrown on the unemployment pile, before granting unilateral extraordinary concessions to the group.
Perhaps, they calculated the NIS and income tax contributions collected from local construction workers hired for refurbishment would more than make up for this. Clearly the state is not going to collect other taxes like VAT and import duties from Sandals, as they have all been waived. Most materials used will also be imported, so a substantial percentage of the estimated US$65 million project will simply re-export foreign exchange (FX).
Several other issues also have to be considered. The lost revenue to our Direct Tourism Services with included package components like golf green fees, catamaran, diving etc. There is secondary spending on submarine excursions, taxis, car rental attractions, activities, shopping, the list goes on, that 16,000 plus extra visitors would have generated. Over $1 million will not be collected in airport departure taxes alone.
And of course, it does not end there. Sandals are now switch- selling clients who booked for Barbados to other resort locations, including our neighbours St. Lucia and Grenada, helping to reinforce and increase their airlift, to the detriment of ours. The Chairman’s comments and various travel trade press or general media releases that I have read, did not offer the option of transferring to another hotel on Barbados. But if a full refund is in fact being offered, then this may partially mitigate some of the damage.
From studying the TripAdvisor Barbados Forum comments it is also clear there is a risk that once switched we stand the chance that at least some may not consider us as a destination in the future.
In the real world there are always consequences equated with decisions and policies, but in this case it is difficult to comprehend that any Government would, at a stroke, create chaos in their single largest FX earning sector, without invoking a plan B. I am sure ultimately Barbados will end up with a substantially improved hotel at the former Casuarina/Couples. But at what cost to the entire tourism industry along the way?
‘I think you are out of order,” retorted Stewart, to loud applause from the business leaders present.”
What business leaders what. I keep positing on this forum that Barbados has no business leaders but a bunch of sophisticated speculators who buy and sell to the highest bidder (rich or poor) be it services, land or food. the loud applause coming from these leeches is a signal to the indomitable Butch that we ready and waiting to feed from the crumbs which fall from his table. a bunch of crooks they all are.
Sue their sorry asses Adrian for maliciously wounding you in the eyes of the public. These journalists are leeches as well not prepared to do their homework or research but just walking about looking for bread and fish news to capture the imagination of the gullible. give them a serious story to work on and they find all sorts of excuses.
Bush Tea | February 26, 2014 at 7:31 PM
..any normal decent country (including Jamaica) would have arrested Butch Stuart at the damn Airport for fcuking up Paradise Beach years ago….but instead…
Brass Bowl Barbados wined and dined him – and GAVE him an even bigger $500M project to fcuk up down north..
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In 1992 Stewart had bought one of the best beach-front properties in Barbados, the Paradise Beach Resort, from the Cunard Group, but he held it for 13 years and never developed it because of, among other things, certain fundamental issues with the Barbados Government at that time.
Stewart had acquired the Paradise Beach property as part of a deal that included the purchase of two other hotels in St Lucia from the Cunard group.
|In 1999 an American billionaire called William Everett Locke Jnr, took Stewart to court claiming that the Sandals hotel group defaulted on a deal to sell him the 30-acre hotel property in Barbados.
Locke had attempted to buy the property for US$19 million from one of Stewart’s companies called Billingdon Ltd. Under a letter of intent, Locke was to have placed US$100,000 in escrow as a good-faith gesture fee prior to a due diligence.
However, when Locke failed to meet the obligation, the deal collapsed and both the Barbados High Court and the Barbados Court of Appeal rejected his claim that the escrow fee was verbally waived by an official from Stewart’s organisation.
Locke then decided to take the matter to the London-based Privy Council after the Barbados appeal court ruled against him. With the legal cloud hanging over the property it could neither be sold to other interested parties nor developed.
In 2003, Locke abandoned his appeal to the Privy Council.
Looks like we have another Zoe, cut and paste. The reality of the Barbados situation is to ne able to determine if Barbadoe negotiated the best deal by giving the level of concessions it has. Butch has something Barbados and the other poor tourist dependent islands need, mafketing dollars.
cut and paste only when ignorance is posted on bu as fact,,,,,,,,there are facts and there is horse sh,,t and more often than not the sh,,t always make BU AND IS enshrined as Truth,,,,,,,,,,what i am doing u david should be doing,,,that is making correction if only to protect the integrity of BU then again as one who always preach about integrity and transparency U should not be insulting any approach or concept in an attempt to separating fact from fiction,,,,SHAME ON YOU David SHAME ON YOU,,,seems like your only interest is to protect mindless babble and half truths CUT and paste my foot ,,,what matters is TRUTH first rule of integrity,
@ac
How many on Wall Street and elsewhere were considered respectable until exposed? The issue of transparency and accoutability is a never ending process. Past accomplishments serve a purpose BUT should not preclude John Citizen’s right to ask question. As long as BU exisit it will be our purpose, ac or not.
Butch could only hold Caribbean governments to ransom because they continue to foolishly compete against each other rather than create a Caricom/Caribbean brand. Butch needs the islands far more than they need him after all his hotels can’t be built in the sky.
Ref Butch vs Adrian. Why is anyone in shock? It is obvious Butch was briefed.
so what is your problem then david (if) exposure is important,,what then is wrong with giving both sides be it ‘cut and paste or one’s open opinion ,,however truth should be the crucible …….it seems to me that u have offered a poor excuse one which is diametrically the opposite of what u ascribed,,,,,my only reasoning is one of protectionism for some…..however on the other hand i see it as a boldfaced and blatant attempt to intimidate and stifle the free flow of information when it does not fit into your plan of action
David wrote “The reality of the Barbados situation is to be able to determine if Barbados negotiated the best deal by giving the level of concessions it has.”
David It was not the best deal. It was the only deal. Ever wonder why no major Hotel Brand other than Hilton is in Barbados.
After all these years why is there no Marriott, Four Seasons Hotel or any recognizable major Brand in Barbados?
Barbados was not in a position of strength to negotiate with Sandals.
Now Sandals is here we should support it and hope for sweets from the “trickle down effect”.
Barbados is a beggar not a chooser…….until the people of Barbados decide to make radical changes and depend more on themselves and not the Government.
@Hants
You may recall BU supported the coming of Sandals hut we will not take our eye off the process.
Adrian Loveridge | February 27, 2014 at 5:21 AM |
Sad that Emmanuel Joseph had to sink to such levels of ‘journalism’.
I have requested a retraction from Kaymar Jordan and Emmanuel Joseph because it is entirely UNTRUE that I ‘immedialey left the room and disappeared’.
Therefore all else in the article is accurate. Loveridge don’t you have any shame. Why subject yourself and family if you have any to the constant barrage of insults thrown at you. Ninety nine percent of the time you ask to be embarrassed by attacking genuine initiatives that you should either support or remain silent. From urging tourists not to visit Barbados to lying on Sandals about not carrying Barbados rum you are doing yourself no favors. BU’s yard fowls egg you on for sinister political reasons leading you to think you are a respected voice in tourism. Loveridge you are not respected by false friend or foe. You are only fooling yourself. Something is wrong in your head. Go down to Jenkins and have a check up. You are incapable of running a tiny 15 room B&B but want to tell Butch Stewart a crass though spectacularly successful hotelier how to run his business. You deserve to be cursed.
@Hants
FYI, Marriott and Radisson both operate hotels in Barbados.
I share your hope for sweets from the “trickle down effect”; but fear that with the uneven playing field on which the rest of the industry have to compete against concessionized Sandals, it is more likely there will be a “sucking-up effect” as Sandals Beach suck up tourism dollars from the other hoteliers
DD,
and Hants should be aware of Fairmont plus Relais and Chateaux (Cobblers Cove)
@ Fair and Balanced | February 27, 2014 at 2:12 AM |
“….but her the idiot will be heard lecturing a man of much proven talent of running world class hotels what he Butch Stewart is doing wrong, if the Lord created one idiot it must be Loveridge and why he was thrust upon Barbadians only the Lord knows why he did that, maybe it was in the hope he would be educated by wise and educated and smart Barbadians, he can learn form Barbadians we Barbadians CANNOT learn for Loveridge, that is an impossibility. the education can only flow to Loveridge not flow from Loveridge.”
Here you go (just like your identical twin the Fan) with your jingoistic crap. Are you aware Butch Stewart is a Jamaican?
Yes, a so-called crass Jamaican that you “educated and smart Barbadians” like to cuss and feel superior to. Remember the barrage of insults and denials that were leveled at poor Ms Myrie and her Jamaican kith and kin?
If your Lord created the “idiot Loveridge “he also used the same mould to create 280,000 plus including you who ‘cannot learn from Loveridge.
If you Bajans are so ‘smart and educated’ why is it taking a Jamaican (living in a country with a useless currency compared to highflying Barbados) to save your sorry asses as you prostitute yourselves before “igrunt foreigners”?
Where are the Bajan hoteliers and entrepreneurs that the Lord made very special?
Butch Stewart should pay you guys the ultimate insult by hiring Ms Myrie as the Entertainment and Recreation Coordination at Sandals Barbados. Would you dare search her then, Lord-made idiot el numero uno!
I am more convince…the the bastardisation of BUTCH from those like Adrein is more of envy and jealousy and the opportunity by adrein to slam govt and country into a wall doom and gloom. just over a year ago the praises heaped on butch by adrein was glowing after butch had closed the deal with grenada..now the”aboutface” not surprising Butch was dismissive and snubbed adrein ..a person who shows signs of a “wolf in sheep,s clothing….
“the the bastardisation of BUTCH from those like Adrein is more of envy and jealousy and the opportunity by adrein to slam govt and country into a wall doom and gloom.”
You should be spouting this verbiage in the face of your own Dr Estwick who confirmed that there was indeed cause for doom and gloom. It was he and Mr Eversley who let the cat out of the bag not Mr Loveridge or Prodigal or Mr Miller
Further more the questiion was brutal and loaded any how wuh kiind of loaded question was that.. one would think by now that question should have been answered realising that butch has been established and working with govts through out the region for more than twenty years certainly they must have been a networth of business trust between all parties
@AC
Sandals is a great brand. It has previously avoided Barbados like the plague but stalwarts like Mr. Loveridge have spent a lifetime building the Barbados Brand. What is happening now for potential Barbados Sandals tourists is the old bait and switch trick.. When Sandals are really here and keep FX in Barbados for services provided in Barbados, we will be able to see the whole truth but there are absolutely no positives in the deal for the next 2 years.
@ Due Diligence | February 27, 2014 at 7:51 AM |
DD just a query to pick your brains.
Do you know if the offer of casino facilities is part of the sandals Brand?
Clearly Sandals must be expecting the GoB to change the law regarding ‘on-land’ casino gambling with regard to its Heywoods/Beaches project. And about time too.
Does Sandy Lane have a private members’ club equipped with black jack tables and roulette wheels.
Shut upn fool u comparing peachesand quiet to a Sandals with hotels and resorts across the region..wuh hell suffice it to say that loveridge did not do a helluva of job…….n stop talking foolish a comparing loveridge to an internation brand and conglomerate like Butch
Emanuel Joseph was the only media person that I had a bit of respect for and it is because he exposed the person involved in the bailing out of the Government when there were problems with the trade unions back in the early nineties. He lost his pick as a result. The Joseph that described Loveridge leaving the room only proves to me that even a good man can be transformed into a Jackass, a position from which there can be no return. What the fcuk was the point in it…? It also demonstrates the contempt that is spewed on the dumb downed public by these “faux significants”
I notice too a habit of hoisting Dennis Johnson on a pedestal … Good luck with that .. pussies
SITH as sensible as you come across you must also understand that there is an agency, maintained by tax payers and the proceeds of FDI to market the Barbados product. Stewert is Stewart and what ever that is works in the real world beyond these shores. In my mind, he is beyond criticism.
@ Miller
Sorry, I do not have any info on the Casino matter; but given that Government has contracted with Bernie Weatherhead to operate the “New” Almond Beach Village until April/May 2015, there is lots of time for Butch to “hammer out” that minor detail.
I am still waiting for my invitation to visit Sandy Lane, and its private members’ club.
@ac
Thank you for the link to the T&C Sun article BUTCH STEWART TO OWN AND OPERATE TWO HOTELS IN BARBADOS, which appears to include some misleading, inaccurate and untruthful statements
“Jamaican hotelier Gordon “Butch” Stewart has signed an agreement with the Barbados Government to own and operate two hotels, a Beaches Resort and a Sandals Hotel, in that country.
It has been confirmed to The SUN that Stewart’s investment of just over US$250million will lead to the creation of more than 1500 jobs in the 166-square-mile island of Barbados with a population of 290,000 and which is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.
Stewart will build a brand new Beaches Resort in St. Peter, the north western section of Barbados on a property that was once called the Almond Beach Village. In addition, he will own and operate a new Sandals Resort on a property in the southern parish of Christ Church that was once owned by one of his competitors, Couples Resort, which is a Jamaican hotel chain.”
According to the MOF, the GOB bought the Heywoods property and will build and own the new $500 million (US$250 million) plant, which will be managed by Butch as a Beaches Resort.
It is unclear what entity (GOB or SRI) bought the Casuarina property which Butch/SRI will operate as Sandals Barbados.
“The Almond Beach Village property, which was owned by the Barbados government many years ago, was closed in April 2012 after almost two decades in business, leaving over 500 persons out of work and impacting heavily on the country’s tourism industry.
Tourism Minister Richard Sealy had indicated earlier this year that buyers were “tripping over themselves” to get hold of the property.
“Almond will be in operation at some point in the near future because there is so much interest that is held in that property. It is a fundamentally unique piece of real estate,” Richard said at the time.”
Buyers were “tripping over themselves” to get hold of the property? Who were the other “buyers”; and why did GOB have to buy the fundamentally unique piece of real estate.”
Almond will be in operation at some point in the near future. Near future? According to reports Bernie Weatherhead has an agreement with GOB to operate the Heywoods property until April/May 2015. So, at best, it will be at least 2016/2017 before GOB can demolish the existing Heywoods plant and build the Beaches Resort.
The two resorts would bring an additional 800 rooms to the island’s hotel stock and could result in 130,000 more visitors coming to the island, Sealy said. 800 additional rooms? After it is Sandalized the Casuarina will still have 280 rooms, with which Couples apparently was having good occupancy results. The existing Almond Beach Village (395 rooms?) will be replaced with a 426 room Beaches Resort. By my math that adds up to 31 additional rooms.
Clearly Sealy (and Sinkler) are using the same spin doctors used by Butch.
Due Diligence
There are so many unanswered questions relating to this sell out to a Jamaican………..an unmannerly, uncouth one to boot. He comes over as a BULLY when ever he speaks.
Adrian Loveridge, my friend, as the young people would say……..dont dig nothing……….twine longer than twine.
It is amazing that these same so called business men who have been complaining bitterly about the wash pan of concessions given to Stewart could applaud him trying to belittle a fellow business man who share the same pain as them in this harsh economic climate brought about by this Destructive Lying Party…….a government whose policies they loathe.
Stewart was laughing at them and they did not even know…….educated men………he said the 25 year concessions would help his business to develop………..what about the same laughing jackasses’ businesses who are saddled with increased taxes from this idiotic bunch of clowns who is the government.
What a bunch of jokers!
I nominate BUTCH for Minister of Finance
This from Advocate coverage of the BCCI speach
Chairman of Sandals Resort, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, believes that countries should do their best to avoid having to go cap in hand to international institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and in the process giving up the flexibility that would help keep their economies out of trouble.
The business tycoon yesterday stated to a packed audience at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon (BCCI), “In terms of the IMF, it is simple – do not put yourself in a position you have to go and beg. The IMF is an intelligent organisation. When you get to a point you can’t do without them, there are a lot of academics in there that are structured in rules to run the biggest business that you have, which is the country. When you are mixed up in the IMF then you don’t have the room as a country to move… but that is the price you pay for spending too much money.”
Had GOB, of both adminstrations, conducted itself as Butch advises, it would not have had to go cap in hand to Butch
I am a faithful Barbados Today reader and I will always remain. However, I am disappointed with Mr. Joseph who seems to get his story wrong. The first was reporting the meeting with David Estwick where he destroy the subject matter when Estwick said that the cabinet only received his alternatives three days ago and he will wait until the cabinet assess the document. But he reported that David gave the cabinet three days to get back to him. Now again he try to be sensational by reporting that Loveridge leave immediately after Sandals bossmade the insulting remark. How can he determine if Loveridge leaving was planned or was the insult caused him to leave. That is poor journalism Joseph by a so-called senior journalist. Readers are not interested in this type of reporting.
Shite no man above or beyond crticism . …the fact is that there is plenty hypocrisy and petty jelousy driving the anti-Stewart sentiments…here is a man who haveopenly lend his support to our local tourism industry asking for a level playing field and endorsing most or all what the hotel industry has been asking of govt even as of yesterday in his speech.. Loveridge from day one has besmirched the man business approach which has now been played out at amongst his peers one that seems personnal
@ ac | February 27, 2014 at 1:38 PM |
What would you say if Butch Stewart were to put in a bid to run the GAIA? Would you support him too? After all, he is ‘all’ for privatization and would certainly show Bajans how to run profitable and efficient businesses.
If Butch Stuart got all this business savvy why did Air Jamaica fail under his watch.Stuart is an abrasive buy and sell salesman who could not fool the OSA administration with his bull on Paradise Beach and left it overrun with bush.I see his managers displaying the beach bum syndrome open neck
.Is this the image we want to display in our brand of tourism? with big gold chain display
AC
Thanks for that piece on the background to Butch start in business.
GP
I have always felt that AC is your old flame Jc.You see she is asking you about her,hint,hint lol.
Open neck with big gold chain display around their necks.I see nastiness in all this type of hype.A set of brash,uncouth,ill bred Jamaicans who will destroy Barbados tourism as we have come to know it.Soon we’ll have the casinos and the private beaches and the Negril type entertainment.Barbados look out!
@ Prodigal Son
Maybe if folks hear how Butch got his seed money his behavior would not surprise anyone. I’m told the 10 years concessions granted to him by the Jamaican govt can’t end a day too soon.
Miller,
From what I have read of Butch Stewart, Sandals and Beaches are his success stories. What happened to his much touted business acumen when it came to Air Jamaica? And to think the stupid Trinis took it off his hands instead of them investing in LIAT!
But wait, where is Warinka (is he/her a fly by night blogger who comes on for a few weeks and then disappears?) We need him to get his buddy Dr Estwick to ask his Arab friends……………Abdul Jaleel Abdulrahman Alblooki, Sheik Kalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan and Sheik Mohammed Bin Khaled Al-Nahayan to lead a delegation to Barbados to help bail out LIAT as Fumble and the Stinkliar do not want their money for Barbados but LIAT sure can use it!
@ac | February 26, 2014 at 11:47 PM |
How I Did It: Butch Stewart of Sandals Resorts
MUST U ALWAYS BE AN UTTER RETARD? U FORGOT OR PURPOSELY LEFT OUT THE WEALTH THAT IS COMING FROM THE DRUG TRADE…THAT’S U CLOWN IS HOW HE DID IT
We continue to allow politics to cloud our every judgement. Adrian’s question posed at the BCCI luncheon remains relevant. Foreign Exchange leakage is a big problem in our tourist industry, explaining his transaction flow from the point of sale whether Internet or hotel Butch should have willingly explain. The fact we had jackasses laughing at his responses sums it up.
Common sense is not common | February 27, 2014 at 2:12 PM |
RE
GP………….I have always felt that AC is your old flame Jc.You see she is asking you about her,hint,hint lol.
INTERESTING, BUT I DOUBT THAT MAN LOL
While I despise aidrian’s constant negativity I think Barbados and bajans owe Adrian a great debt for asking a very pertinent question which THE MEDIA should follow up and explore.
Name and shame must be the name of the game,but remember don’t stop at Butch if he is keeping all his earnings and profit overseas but look at the others hoteliers here in Barbados doing the same.
I am starting to feel not so NISE about bizzy and these business deals he gets the government of barbados in,that is both BLP and DLP.remember the abc highway with a well known international crookster and hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars without a contract.Then the said Bizzy raking in the millions with that deal with the BWA again under the BLP,now the Bees gone he Bizzy now got this questionable deal with this government and Butch stewart who should be pilloried for what he did to Paradise.
So when Prodigal Female try to spinm this as if this his favours for political funds she need to hang her head in shame because it is her party the BLP who sencouraged Bizzy THE MOST in this squadering of taxpayers dollars.
David | February 27, 2014 at 4:03 PM |
We continue to allow politics to cloud our every judgement. Adrian’s question posed at the BCCI luncheon remains relevant. Foreign Exchange leakage is a big problem in our tourist industry, explaining his transaction flow from the point of sale whether Internet or hotel Butch should have willingly explain. The fact we had jackasses laughing at his responses sums it up.
WE MUST AGREE WITH YOU HERE 100%
AS WELL AS
Common sense is not common | February 27, 2014 at 4:21 PM |
this what separate men from boys,,,,a visionary,,,,,
For those who listened to the BCCI talk by Butch and the exchanges after it is clear he was scripted to woo the audience. It is also obvious he was prepared in his hatchet job on Adrian. BU’s advice to Adrian is to stay away from public fora like this one was where he was limited in his responses.
@ ac
You may want to cut and paste some stiff from this site
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/weddings/sandals.html
I was working on a job for a millionaire, when the job was completed he asked the contractor how much it would be for a little bench for his sauna/whirl pool area the cost came in at 800 dollars, he went to the local lumber store priced the material and them to put it together and it was only 300 dollars With that fraction , 300/800 he was able to work back from the 1.2 million for the house to see how much he was being overcharged. the contractor yelled and cursed and how dare the owner question his integrity, I had to laugh because he was lying through his teeth and was making a killing on the job.. All this to say In Barbados I have rented and had to send money to US or Britain never to enter the island, on a little apt it doesn’t seem much, but it all adds up and when your dealing with a lot of bookings and money things can get murky. For those of you who are satisfied with puff and bluster instead of honest answers YOU are a bunch of Phucking scaredy cat morons. Afraid that Sandals may not happen if you ask too many questions The owner should welcome all inquiries as away to allay the fears of everyone who takes the time to attend. Who were the backers of Harlequin ? Does anyone think maybe a few more questions were warranted there
He could always wear an AC costume, one of those bobble heads that nods yes in the back window of your car.
‘Further more the questiion was brutal and loaded any how wuh kiind of loaded question was that”
Was the question anymore loaded than your repeated allegation that Mr Arthur stole a cheque of $75000.00 from his party.
@Gabriel
Open neck with big gold chain display around their necks.I see nastiness in all this type of hype.A set of brash,uncouth,ill bred Jamaicans who will destroy Barbados tourism as we have come to know it
+++++++++++
What a load of mindless drivel; an individual decides to invest some of his money in Barbados which will create jobs for some Bajans who want to work and you hate the present Gov’t so much that now “gold chains” is a problem.
Let me tell you about “gold chains”, there was a golf tournament sanctioned by the PGA at the Green Monkey golf course a few years ago. It was broadcast on NBC in North America and they interviewed the former Minister of Tourism during a break. The Minister appeared on TV resplendent in open neck Polo shirt wearing a rope like gold chain around his neck; a gold bracelet on his wrist and more rings on his fingers that a gypsy woman.
So which image is representative of tourism in Barbados a manager of a hotel or the Minister of Tourism?
Despite a personal appeal to the Editor in Chief, Kaymar Jordan, requesting a retraction and/or apology to the lies reported in the Barbados Today article ‘Sandals chairman rebuffs hotelier’ yesterday, no response or apology has been forthcoming. Perhaps the mission statement ‘ NEWS YOU CAN TRUST” should be revised.
Mr. Stewart at the end of Mr. Loveridge’s first question, did ask Mr. Loveridge to state who he was, and what he did for a living. When the answers were given it was then that the attitude changed. Stewart cracked a joke about a man who, on finding his wife in the bedroom with one of his friends proceeded to shoot the friend dead, to which the wife responded “if you keep doing this you would have no friends left”. The crowd roared. He then walked away from the mike and sat down while Loveridge was asking his question on FX collection. It was while he was seated that the chastising started. Clearly Stewart was briefed on Loveridge. But a segment of the group enjoyed hearing the “that is an impertinent question” thing and clapped, loudly. I did not see any of the Williams brothers or the Cave Shepherd people clapping. It came from the direction of the CIBC table and the back of the room, where by the way Min. Donville was seated.
adrien where was the lie…………what must the editor apologise for,,,,,,,,,did you not ask the question……….my oh my……..now your feelings are hurt and you want an apology,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, guess what ,,,,,we all at some time have had our feelings hurt and we chalked it up to one of those lemons that life throws at us and we move on,,,,,,,best for you to stop making a mountain out of an ant’s nest and move on ,,cause the stinging can only get worse,,,,,,,,the problem with you asking that question is that it carried a superficial connotation,,,,,had you been asking similar questions to some of your colleagues in presentation of articles that you write ,,,,,,you question would have seemed genuine and would have been applauded by all including me,,,,,,on this occasion it came off as vindictive and sour ,,,,mr butch realized and understood your premise hence the reaction,,,however if you were really interested in how butch handled his business affairs and how he spends his money and how much fx is returned to govts you could follow the money trail as he gives many such accounts to international news agencies like fox and financial times etc,,,however your endeavor to embarrassed resulted in your own embarrassment,,,,,,now go wipe the egg off your face and remember behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining…have a nice day sir
ac, your repeated posts with misinformation only reinforces what I had thought all along, that you cannot tell fact from fiction.
‘Dismissing the question of what money comes into Barbados does not diminish the significance of the question’.
@Adrian
You have been told and should be aware ac’s job is to spout party rhetoric and annoy you, why bother to respond? It is obvious to those with commonsense that you asked for a retraction around leaving the room after posing your question.
David,
Read and understood. Again, I have made it very clear my support of Sandals and Beaches in principal. I cannot think of a single other tourism partner or politician who has used their own money to sample the product on Barbados, to know first hand what the average guest experiences. It is sad that we do not have more probing journalists who want to expose the truth. Not one of them has questioned the various figures stated by Sandals over the total local spend during 16 weeks and compared it with projected turnover as a proportion.
I think it would be very difiucult to find any hotel not receiving the same extraordinary concessions as Sandals that only spent 13 per cent of their stated annual turnover locally and that includes any start-up/take-over costs they may have incurred.
re Adrian Loveridge | February 28, 2014 at 7:38 AM |
‘Dismissing the question of what money comes into Barbados does not diminish the significance of the question’.
makes sense to me-the question asked was more than pertinent except to mendicants and beggars seeking crumbs of butch’s table
Good mawning David FYI i do not support any party or organisation what ever i opion is all based on my own ideaologies or philosophsy whether u belive it or not .i have no ties to any party or organistaion be it church or groupings…the closest i have been a participator of any any group or organisation wasthat of being a ” BROWNIE” sorry to be dissmissive and (one not) to besmirch and dissapoint ur obvious raw sense of misinformation being dispense as FACT about me.
Wait a dogone minute … how many ac’s they got now …? I count three .. yah mean there could be more ..?
@Adrian
BU will address this issue in a blog to come.
I am confused. I heard Sandals boss stating that he spend US$2.1 million since taking over Almond three months ago. Up to now, no one on the blogs including my friend David of BU queried that cost factor. BTW, he took over a hotel that was operating up to the week prior to his take over. Was this cost connected to supplies purchased for his other operations using the wide tax write-offs that was granted by the one-sided concessions. How is it that Crane Hotel who is always upgrading and paying all taxes could not have spend that amount within two months. Who is fooling who. Again, we bajans always taking things for granted and fail to ask questions.
Georgie Porgie wrote “makes sense to me-the question asked was more than pertinent except to mendicants and beggars seeking crumbs of butch’s table”
@GP.
IT IS LIKELY STANDARD PRACTICE FOR FOREIGN HOTEL OWNERS TO MOVE AS MUCH PROFIT AS THEY CAN OFF SHORE WHERE THERE ARE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT ( STOCK MARKETS ETC.)
David you can address any issue you choose but I am still trying to understand how we are going to help save Barbados.
I will continue to play my extremely limited role by encouraging every Canadian I know personally to visit Barbados.
Like an upper management person who stayed at Almond in Heywoods with his family.
Told him he has an opportunity to go back now Bernie W is in charge and “Bernie is a good guy”.
Told 2 co workers who are going to Cuba today that Barbados is an option next time because they want to go to a Sandals next year.
The one thing about every Bajan I have encountered in Canada is that they always big up Barbados so I am no exception.
@Hants
The issues which have to be tackled are many. To focus on growth without casting a wide eye is myopic.
David that is why you must continue casting a wide eye but there are things that require focus.
Barbados needs MONEY. Bajans need jobs and opportunities to make money to buy food to eat.
Tourism is the “bird in the hand”. exploit it.
Yes we have cast wide eyes for better government etc. but some of the focus must be on the OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALIZE ON NORTH AMERICANS suffering from FREEZER BURN.
I have to go out into the ( -11c) but fortunately the heater in the car id working lol.
Will come back fuh mo licks later.
Hants here is a Canadian problem from Ottawa, no direct flights ….cuba, cancun,….Dominican….. leave at 8 on the beach around lunch, Barbados leave at 6 on the beach at 3 it makes a big difference.
‘DeLisle Worrell, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados has sided with tourism interests who say that incentives are being distrubuted to new industry entrants in a non transparent manner’. Read the whole story in the Jamaica Gleaner today (Frday 28th Feb). Thats the other Jamaica newspaper that Mr Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart does not own.
Sandals tax deal still rankles
Published: Friday | February 28, 2014 0 Comments
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p>Wayne Cummings, director of business processes and administration, Sandals International Resorts. – File
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p>Avia Collinder, Business Reporter
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p>DeLisle Worrell, governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, has sided with tourism interests who say that incentives are being distributed to new industry entrants in a non-transparent manner.
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p>”What we have is a regime which is not transparent, which is not known in advance, and it is in urgent need of reform,” said Worell at a central bank press event in Bridgetown.
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p>”I am not sufficiently expert on tourism to say what the pros and cons of the regime should be, but clearly what has caused this is the lack of transparency,” he said.
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p>The tax deal with Sandals Resorts International was specifically raised at the press event where local hotelier Adrian Loveridge charged that the incentives to the Jamaican-owned company had disrupted what, to then, was a level playing field.
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p>http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140228/business/business2.html
@fly on the wall | February 28, 2014 at 7:19 AM |
Mr. Stewart at the end of Mr. Loveridge’s first question, did ask Mr. Loveridge to state who he was, and what he did for a living. When the answers were given it was then that the attitude changed………… Clearly Stewart was briefed on Loveridge. But a segment of the group enjoyed hearing the “that is an impertinent question” thing and clapped, loudly. I did not see any of the Williams brothers or the Cave Shepherd people clapping. It came from the direction of the CIBC table and the back of the room, where by the way Min. Donville was seated………………………
Thanks for this report…..just goes to show you that you cannot trust this so called Chamber…..they are a closed door mafia. Cowards who cow tow!
I pray I will live to see the day when they begin again to complain about Butch behind his back as they are cowards……….because we all know that this bunch of jokers will do nothing about ‘leveling the playing field” to grant them the same wash pan of concessions this inept incompetent government gave to Stewart. This one of the reasons Stewart never did anything with Paradise because he could bring that foolish talk to OSA.
This Chamber is made up of ass lickers, back biters and cowards. In my circle, you would hear them complaining and cussing this government then the whimps would go and suck up to the same people to get favours. I heard Ronald Toppin saying at one of the assemblies that these business people would meet them and ask when are you going to do something to get rid of this rotten government but when he asked them are you ready to come out with us……….they dont want to, they want to stay in the shadows!
We are truly up the brown street! As for Pornville….time longer than twine. You think that when you are no longer a minister that these cowards will want to be friends with you? Like hell. They speak about you badly behind your back, sir!
Isn’t it good to have the Jamaica Gleaner keep Bajans informed
@hi prodigal nice info…thank you…..
@ Adrian: “It is sad that we do not have more probing journalists who want to expose the truth. ”
Totally agree. Probing journalists would have easily exposed both BHTA and BTA and the corporate and political corruption that has severely damaged the industry. They would have also looked at how and WHY beach vendors were victimised and marginalised by BLP, DLP, BHTA, BTA. They would have exposed racists hoteliers who tried their best to make beaches private; they would have investigated why some local hoteliers allowed white gigolos to go to their rooms with tourists women and did not allow black gigolos the same privilege; they would have exposed the mark up on locally produced food; they would have exposed the deliberate failure of some hoteliers to buy and or promote local industry; they would have exposed why entertainers had to change in toilets/restrooms; they would have exposed all those hoteliers who never paid in workers NIS contributions and so on. Yes Sir :” It is sad that we do not have more probing journalists who want to expose the truth.”
Mahogany Coconut Group
Talk yuh talk.Some people got convenient memories.What is good for Butch is good for all the rest of the hoteliers.They are fast becoming one of the most despised group in Barbados because of their greed and their open political partisanship which is not about putting Country first but putting the political party (BLP) which they give kickbacks to – back into government.