Prime Minister Mia Mottley shows off a Kensington Oval ready for T20 World Cup
Blue Horizon Hotel

The average Barbadian is blissfully unaware about what goes on in the Barbados business underworld. Deals are made in smoke-filled rooms and the ordinary Barbadian is left to emit sounds of fury on the talk shows and on social media. How was Vision Development incorporated in the nick of time to land a deal to develop the Hyatt hotel? How come government was 100% receptive to Mark Maloney when he decided to import cement to force prices down in Barbados and he was able to secure the contentious site on Port Authority lands? Is it a coincidence this matter has been mired in legal rigmarole? How much foreign exchange is being spent anyway to import Rock Hard cement? How come Mark Maloney was able to secure a sweet heart deal with the government to plant the houses at Coverley? If BU is correct there was a plan to develop an area in Bushy Park similar to Coverley.

The latest question BU is asking.
Has the Blue Horizon hotel, the GEMS property been sold to Bjorn Bjerkham and Mark Maloney for 5 million dollars?
By our calculations this computes to less than $5,000 per room. The last valuation bandied about in public was 17 million dollars. The enduring legacy of the Stuart government will be the shroud of secrecy and more than a hint of corruption attached to transactions.
Will somebody SHOUT GROTTO and the use of the Housing Industrial Fund to pay Maloney?

274 responses to “Blue Horizon Sold to Bjerkham and Maloney?”

  1. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    More importantly if this is true, knowing how corrupt and secretive this government has been in giving away the people’s3 money…, did they give these two parasites the people’s money to buy any properties belonging to the people.


  2. This can’t be true. Not even this incompetent, brain dead government would do such a thing. This must be challenged in court. Was the sale advertised to a global market? If no, why not? Government has a responsibility to get the best return for taxpayers and selling Blue Horizon to a Scandinavian immigrant, who has amassed a fortune from obtaining government construction contracts seems to be to be reckless – or worse.
    There are better models for disposing of publicly-owned hotels than deals apparently in smoke-filed rooms.


  3. The worst excesses of this government will only be known when they are forced out.

    But this is a government some Bajans use to feel is bent towards Black people

    The truth is that this DLP was always a pack of cowards especially when it comes to issues of wealth distribution.

    Barrow himself determined back in the 70’s that FJS was a coward.

    Indeed, they are worse than the BLP when it comes to selling out to White people. And that is difficult to do.


  4. This PM and his govt are about staying in power……and that costs money!!!


  5. No government in the history of Barbados has transferred so much wealth from the poor to the wealthy than this bunch of jokers. How normal, sensible people could ever vote for this bunch again beats me.


  6. Here is a BU article by Adrian which is still relevant? 

     

    The Adrian Loveridge Column – GEMs a Lesson in Squandermania

    Adrian Loveridge

    Adrian Loveridge

    In an article carried by the midweek Nation on 24th February 2010 the declared value of the then three remaining GEMS hotels were stated at BDS$ 74 million plus an accumulated debt of $229 million. With a total of 244 rooms that values each room at $303,278 when averaging it across the Hotels and Resorts Ltd properties.

    Recently it was announced that a prominent private sector player had acquired Time Out for $7.5 million. With 76 rooms, this equates to well under $100,000 per room, less than a third of the valuation stated seven years ago or almost $16 million below book price.

     

    https://barbadosunderground.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/the-adrian-loveridge-column-gems-a-lesson-in-squandermania/


  7. Extracted from Adrian’s article, do the math!

    With a total of 244 rooms that values each room at $303,278 when averaging it across the Hotels and Resorts Ltd properties.


  8. It seems as if we can talk until the cows come home, these morons will do whatever the hell they like.

    One has to wonder if the property is valued at 17 million and only 5 million was paid how do they account for the 12 million dollars? Let me see???????

    One can hardly believe that a black government who for ions fooled balck people that they are the party for the small black man would sell out Barbados’ assets to rich white men.

    Does anyone think that these morons would do a deal like this for a black man? Who would believe that these morons would give away 40 years of tax concessions to Butch Stewart?

    Up to now Barbadians do not know how much or if Mark Maloney paid for the property on which he wants to build the Hyatt.

    Up to now Barbadians do not know how much or if Mark Maloney paid for Bushy Park.

    Only a forensic audit would be able to sift through these deals………..

    Can someone tell me why Bjorn Bjerkham is still on the board of our Central Bank!


  9. Election coming $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ needed urgently, we will sell $16mn+ property for $5mn but give us a cheque directly for $2mn ???????????????

    Here is a tot of rum and some corned beef on a very hard bread! We are for the Bajan in the street. hahahahahaha


  10. David et al,
    The whole GEMS fiasco has been discussed at length. It was recognized long ago that the history of the GEMS project was an attempt to rescue; (transfer), a debt that had been accumulated by a number of BARBADIANS who had invested in hotel and apartment properties that had run into financial difficulties. The idea behind the GEMS project was that government (BLP) would buy these properties and administer them under the name of GEMS. these properties; Savannah (owned by the Weatherheads), Time out in the Gap, Blue Horizon, Round Rock (owned by the St. Johns) the one near the former theatre in Hastings, now housing Cave Shepherd Hastings Branch, and sundry other apartments around the island. The GEMS project was exposed as a drain on the government coffers. (Anybody remember an election campaign where the acronmyn JAWS featured prominently, articulated by Clyde Mascoll?
    In answer to Hal, yes the sale of the properties in GEMS were advertised locally and globally. Some of them have already been sold off.. Time Out in the Gap was bought and renovated last year or the year before; I think Bernie Weatherhead bought it, and gave it a new name. If the Blue Horizon has been bought, what does it matter who bought it, it is a debt that government; BLP or DLP, is not saddled with. The property was becoming run down, needed urgent refurbishment and new management. Why do you people protest so much? You urge privitization of government assets, reduction of government debt, more private sector participation, and get upset at who buys the properties. Why do you try to exclude “white” participation, and yet the black people who have the funds refuse to participate. Blue Horizon has been sitting there for years; it is prime property, and yet locals (non white) have refused to put in offers, and sit and negotiate., the sale. Only last night on NBC I saw how Donald Trump negotiated with the New York establishment to obtain a 40 year tax concession on the property of the former Vanderbilts; the Commodore hotel. Any government in Barbados giving that type of concession would be booted out next day. It is time that those with archaic ideas of business development get rid of their biases and prejudices and get with the real programme. Government has to raise funds and by whatever legal means it can. Blue Horizon was a drain on the treasury. Who buys it is not important. Not in these days, and attempts to bar whites based on an idealistic, biased and racist agenda is doomed to failure. Rich blacks have to be entrepreneurs, risk takers, and progressive thinking.


  11. Prodigal,
    You said”….Up to now Barbadians do not know how much or if Mark Maloney paid for the property on which he wants to build the Hyatt.”
    The property for the proposed Hyatt, was owned by a group of BLACK business men. The conditions of the sale was a private sector deal. Government would not have been involved in that. Here again is an example of lack of vision. Couldn’t the former owners not have approached a prominent hotel chain and sought to have the same types of deals conducted and concluded? Another example of lack of vision and business acumen.


  12. Chuckle……Alvin C talking sense today.


  13. Money Brain,
    I see your prejudice and racism is still showing. But what can one expect from a “so-called white’ who is also trying to get away from his true heritage; a history of slavery(white) and so-called indentureship (white). Things that are equal to the same thing are equal to one another. A stinking missy, by any other name is still a stinking missy.

  14. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Idiot Alvin….which part of the black governments…both of them….do not give blacks the same concessions or fire sale prices they give to the thiefing minorities.

    Which part of that you can never get through ya thick skull.

    In white majority America, concessions will go to whites, blacks, yellow, orange and whoever has the money and all will be given the same concession or can holler for it, sue for it and get it.

    Ya black governments in Barbados believe and have for the last 50 years that concessions and low sales prices of taxpayer funded properties should only go to whites or minorities who have been bribing both governments.

    What is so hard about that for you to understand.


  15. I dont not as a rule answer Alvin Cummins………….the land on which the Hyatt is to be built is vested in the BTII. The BTII for your information is a state owned entity.

  16. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Vincent…ya just reduced ya self to the same category as Alvin…christ, at least he is consistent with his stupidity…lol

  17. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Mr Cummins
    I hope you noticed that Gov Haynes used the word “capacity” several times in his presentation. About 18 months ago when I used the same term on the GoB’s ability to take on more debt, you came unglued.
    Also notice the public salaries and wages have remained flat as a percentage of expenditures, while subsidies and transfers have grown significantly. While that does include bodies like the QEH, it also includes NGO’s and fat consulting contracts. I hope you got at least a micro-share of the action for all your years of devoted support. I also told you Barbados has “bought” a middle class, and this is where you find it. By not sending home the low end earners, they hid the large group of other higher income earners they are supporting.
    The unfortunate part is this group is spending out all that money on lifestyle, and personal debt, (consumables) and not investing in Bim.


  18. LOL… You expected honesty from a guy who cannot admit the islands are predominantly black. The chief of pelaus.


  19. They make a few people billionaires, make themselves millionaires and make the rest of us paupers.

    If they selected a few blacks and enriched them, the word racist would be flying through the air and the blacks would be all against cronyism.

    Perhaps the safest and less resistance path is to enrich Mahoney, Bjerkham and others

  20. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Vincent is beyond ridiculous with that crap.

    Black people tolerated centuries of evil from racist, greedy, selfish whites, when that is finally being understood by blacks…along comes the Vincents and the Bizzys with their nasty crap trying to rewrite, rearrange and assign a designation for black people and how they should view themselves…that nonsense should be banned and outlawed outright.

    Jail time is the only thing could stop such idiots.

  21. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    But that “less resistanc path” taken by black cowards in parliament misrepresenting themselves as leaders of the majority black population….will eventually get the island shut down and the cowards in government, paralyzed by that shutdown.


  22. Alvin

    Chuckle…..you could not keep it up could you……I said the same thing as MB in my…

    Vincent Haynes August 12, 2017 at 9:04 AM #

    This PM and his govt are about staying in power……and that costs money!!!
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    The only diff is that he likes to prolix……..and he is correct as his statement is based on actual happenings.


  23. Chuckle……for the comprehensionless ones on here who cannot even define black,which tribe they belong to,which region they are from and what is their language …..this unashamed Pelau agrees with the following from Alvin:

    Not in these days, and attempts to bar whites based on an idealistic, biased and racist agenda is doomed to failure. Rich blacks have to be entrepreneurs, risk takers, and progressive thinking.

    Couldn’t the former owners not have approached a prominent hotel chain and sought to have the same types of deals conducted and concluded? Another example of lack of vision and business acumen.
    ……………………………………………..

    Black should be Pelau…..for which some of the Hyatt investors qualify as.


  24. Alvin,
    U could not be directing your drivel at me.

    Firstly, not that it really matters but my DNA test showed absolutely NO West African whatsoever. I still like wunna however and appreciate I had no control over my DNA, like U.

    Talking about getting away, it is high time U got away from the DLP shackles and started thinking about the people of Bim.

    Alvin, I regret the absolute licking U are receiving from so many on here. HINT, time to give up the DLP line, few believe any of it now.

    MB cares more about BIM than the current CORRUPT “leaders”, he would do more for the people for sure. Open your eyes and become intellectually honest.

  25. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Vincent…try dealing with the reality of what has actually transpired on the island in the last 50 years as opposed to the fantasy ya trying to write…

    BTW…due to decades of disenfranchisement…that reality will be booted out eventually and your fantasies will never make it into reality.

    Remember…the majority rules, they just need to understand that they do, nothing can change that transformation….soon come.


  26. NorthernObserver

    Why would anybody invest in Bim when the government continues to grant competitive advantages to almost everybody else?

    This unfair competition can only make fools of the middle class people you referred to, not investing.

    We have long known that this is the way of capitalism. It pretends to be about competitive environments but always moves towards monopoly or oligopoly.

  27. Armando Rodriguez Avatar
    Armando Rodriguez

    Alvin Cummins

    You are BOLD FACED liar of the highest order. The lands upon which the Hyatt is to be built was NEVER EVER owned by that group of black business men. It was leased to them by the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII). Maloney got the BTII to take repossess the site from that group after they ran into financial difficulty and then sell/give it to him on the quiet and well below market price.

    STOP LYING AS ALL THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT IN THE PENDING ELECTIONS AC.


  28. Alvin,
    Where were the Gems hotels advertised and when. Certainly not in the leading financial publications; every time I see advertisements for property in Barbados I note them. In any case there are different models for the selling of hotels.
    More fundamentally, this government has consistently shifted wealth from the poor to the well to do: tax breaks, poor collection of national insurance contributions, income tax and VAT; the sale of public assets at favourable prices to a chosen set of people; NIS investments in private enterprises instead f allowing them to go to the money markets to raise their funding; Cost-U-Less, Sandals 40-yeqr deal; there are numerous examples, every one of which ends in the transfer of taxpayers’ money to a small protected group.
    The big examples, of course are the Bjerkhams, Williamses and other construction magnates who built their wealth on getting public sector contracts. Whatever happened to Barrack and Rayside?
    There sis a history to this: Rollock’s Five and Ten Model store, Simmonds bank, the Civic. Businesses have a natural life time, but part of this lack of black business acumen is the failure of our professional class; they all want to be employees, to have a regular monthly salary; they are not risk takers.
    It must be cultural, since we see the same thing in the UK: black professionals working mainly in the public sector, law, accountancy, while Asians and Africans are more willing to take risks.

  29. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Black risk takers in Barbados are ALWAYS marginalized by black governments.


  30. Alvin is probably referring to the Williams brothers who ran a failed restaurant at the site.


  31. Did I not read in an Antiguan paper that if the government goes to the IMF, a lot of the concessions that were given to Butch Stewart would have to be rolled back?

    If so, is this one of the reasons that the morons have flatly refused to go to the IMF even though they are killing us with drastic taxation. Of course, this would be a major problem for the Stinkliar as an outlet selling food was also given a washpan of concessions.

    This government is not serious as it may seem as if the people they are giving these concessions to are investors but the foreign exchange is not being brought into the country.

    And………the morons expect to tax the locals to smithereens……….


  32. We are too close to a general election for any new policies by this government to be effective. What we now want is a comprehensive audit of the assets oaf the Cabinet after the election. Any wealth they cannot account for should lead to charges of corruption in public office.
    In fact, I think corruption should be one of the offences that the International Criminal Court should have the power to charge politicians with.


  33. IMF and Sandals now starting to make sense as to why this govt refuses to save the people.


  34. Alvin is a yardfowl who parrots dlp talking points.

    I was on BU asking for months now how the land at Bay Street got into Mark Maloney’s hands. The land would have had to be given/sold (if so for how much) as he would hae had to produce title deeds when the plans were submitted to Town and Country Planning.

    And who is in charge of TCP?

    The Weston Fire Station was closed down without any consultation with the local reisdents and whom did they see peeping around Weston…………..you guess it, Mark Maloney.

    By the time these morons’ term is up, they would have given away most of Barbados to Mark Maloney and Bjorn Bjerkham.


  35. Alvin,If I have said anything remotely Racist it is because they are people on here that make statements like 100% or All White people are racist which is absolutely not the case.

    Alvin U really have to consider that your proclivity to back LOSERS is not helpful to the People of Bim or Canada.
    1 De Losing Party in Bim—U support.

    2 U back de Lessie Loser at Queens Park—the Provincial Libs

    3 U back Lil Justin who many are starting to comprehend is a Boss Loser.

    NONE of these people/ parties are of minimally acceptable calibre.

    Stop showing up yourself in this way afterall U claim to have conducted yourself admirably at Mt Sinai.

  36. Carson C Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C Cadogan

    DAVID

    Was this article written by Adrian Loveridge and given to you to write under your name?

    Next time you see Adrian ask whatever to the little child who drowned in his swimming pool.


  37. “The worst excesses of this government will only be known when they are forced out….
    Indeed, they are worse than the BLP when it comes to selling out to White people……..”

    Pach: In your assessment of the above, both governments are guilty. Can either one be classed as more guilty than the other?

    However, one should also take look at LAND distribution in Barbados and how it is obtained and owned.

    Hal: Have you seen an advertisement for large parcels (Plantations)of land for sale.

    I can recall a UTube video where, if BU David can post it here; where the interviewee stated how his mother or parents told him ”to buy land…”

    I was speaking to a friend just yesterday who told me he was visiting the North in recent days, when an odd tractor passed by with men at the back. When he asked some locals who they were, they replied that they were surveying land for a landowner. Who may that be?


  38. So what if the Hotel was sold to Maloney and Bjerkom is their any law on the books that forbids a Bar badian from buying property
    When last i check even blp yardfowls had that right.so do not understand the piss poor rakey drama being brought to bear on barbadian citizens who see it fit and a patriotic duty to invest in their country

  39. Armando Rodriguez Avatar
    Armando Rodriguez

    Angela

    Sold or stolen? I don’t recall see an advertisement for the sale of Blue Hozizon or ever for the BTII lands which Maloney, a Visionary man, now owns.


  40. Even that loser and traitor Herbert can buy property once he has the funding .i bet that if the anarchist had bought the Hotel all the blp yardfowls would say it was a worth while purchase
    Why dont you bell ringers just stop making a..holes of wunna self.
    A bajan buys a propertyand all hell break loose. Seems like the brier patch is filled with blp worms

  41. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Armando Rodriguez August 12, 2017 at 2:04 PM
    “Alvin Cummins
    You are BOLD FACED liar of the highest order. The lands upon which the Hyatt is to be built was NEVER EVER owned by that group of black business men. It was leased to them by the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII). Maloney got the BTII to take repossess the site from that group after they ran into financial difficulty and then sell/give it to him on the quiet and well below market price.”

    Don’t be surprised if the Baloney mulatto petrol head boy miraculously dumps the Hyatt project claiming to be a victim of envy and racism by the local opponents to his scam project.
    It’s time the local media do an in depth reporting into the current state of that project which was touted as the game changer to the Bajan economy and, in particular, the saviour of Bridgetown from decay.

    The question to be asked is if the non-existent foreign financial backers behind the Hyatt hotel imaginary white elephant with its massive erection is prepared to put money in the Blue Horizon or is it a vehicle to launder proceeds from the many housing scams like the Grotto from which millions were creamed off to make a mulatto boy a prince on the financial hill.

    Why not change the name “Blue Horizon” to the readymade “Hyatt Barbados” and leave the Bay Street window to the sea to be the nighttime playground for the rats living in the bond of filth next door?

    Ms Ram will not be a happy bunny to know her greedy begging palms will not be greased with any Blue Horizon kickbacks.


  42. Hmmmm…….what a web of lies we weave when we try to deceive…..An apt quote that springs to mind to describe these last 9 years.


  43. Armando question
    could you have bought it? .Then shut yuh clap trap and stop talking foolishness

  44. Well Well @ Consequences Observing Blogger Avatar
    Well Well @ Consequences Observing Blogger

    Carson…the amount Maloney et al milked from you dumb slaves of parliament, they will be happy to see the back of all of you…and move on to using the newer slaves of parliament while passing you rejects in the streets like they never met you before, just as you traitors deserve.

    ya can always go beg them for little jobs..at minimum wage, that is all any of you will be good for when the same people you neglected for 10 years, kick you out of parliament….

    ……………the head corner stone.

    i say, good riddance.

    and if Loveridge had the information yall keeping secret from the taxpayers, why should he not share yet, its taxpayers money, they should know.


  45. That Hyatt project was always a figment of Mark Maloney’s imagination and a way to get whatever he wanted from the idiot the MOF under the pretense that foreign exchange is coming in.

    I have maintained that no hotel with fifteen stories can fit on that piece of land. I read that Mark Maloney also has possession of the piece of land adjacent to the hotel where the government electrical department was/is.

    Now tell me how lands owned by the taxpayers of this country always end up in Mark Maloney’s hands:

    Coverley
    The Grotto
    Bushy Park
    Port Authority
    Bay Street
    and now Blue Horizon

    When will this madness ever end?

    We are going to need to appoint someone like the US Special Counsel to deal with these SOB’s.


  46. If each of the Gems rooms is valued at Bds$303000, a better sale model will be to sell leases on each room at the market valuation, put a management team in place and allow individual investors to earn an income from the sector. However, |I suspect that the hotels are over-valued: what is the annual revenue? Is this based on the business as a going concern, or as commercial property? What is the annual occupancy rate? There are lots of questions to be asked.

  47. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Prodigal Son August 12, 2017 at 5:10 PM

    The challenge which those well-meaning and loyally nationalistic people like you will be facing is whether if any incoming BLP administration would do the right thing and perform a thorough investigation into these underhand deals with the sole intention of bringing justice to the taxpayers of Barbados.

    How could such deals be undertaken without the purposely ‘known’ collusion of very senior public sector employees through a blatant disregard and disrespect of the laws of Barbados which demand that all transactions in excess of a certain ‘immaterial’ value must be put out to public tender; except under very extenuating circumstances which must be approved by the Cabinet and reported to Parliament?

    Should Ms Mottley become the PM (if there are free and fair elections within the Constitutionally-prescribed timeframe) she would be strongly advised to do the morally right thing and let justice to the taxpayers become her mission statement.

    If she fails in this just cause Karma will ensure she receives the same ‘justice’ as David Thompson.
    A word of warning to the wise is enough!

  48. Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger. Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences Observing Blogger.

    Miller…these politicians/ministers would all be to uppity and arrogant to see that Karma is hunting down each and everyone one of them for betraying the people for decades.

    They all think they are getting away with something.


  49. millertheanunnaki August 12, 2017 at 5:38 PM #

    Chuckle……Excellent question.


  50. @millertheanunnaki August 12, 2017 at 5:38 PM #

    “Should Ms Mottley become the PM (if there are free and fair elections within the Constitutionally-prescribed timeframe) she would be strongly advised to do the morally right thing and let justice to the taxpayers become her mission statement.

    If she fails in this just cause Karma will ensure she receives the same ‘justice’ as David Thompson.
    A word of warning to the wise is enough!’
    …………………………………………….

    I could not agree with you more, miller.

    If she fails to appoint someone to investigate all of this corruption that we have been hearing of since 2008, we would have to say that it is true that all politicians are the same.

    I have read her last address to her party’s conference and she did promise to set up a committee to look at reforming some laws especially those dealing with Parliament and she said that alleged corruption in the DLP will be investigated and they will be brought to justice.

    We can only have faith and hold her to her word. I certainly will be doing so on BU.

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