During the 30 plus years my wife and I have lived on Barbados we have tried to take at least a couple of short breaks within the region or locally each year.
Having chaired, and or sat, on various tourism committees over those three decades and being a frequent commentator on the sector, I have always felt obliged to know as much about our tourism offerings as possible. And frankly, despite our combined work experience, neither of us has ever had any illusions that we cannot learn from others in the business and during that process, improve our own product.
Sadly, taxation imposed by consecutive Governments has now made flying within the Caribbean almost inhibitive, except for those with deep pockets, or having their travel paid for by companies or the state via the taxpayer.
As someone who has championed intra-regional travel for nearly 40 years, even before our re-DISCOVER initiative was launched, shortly after the tragic events of 911, it is soul destroying, knowing that as a direct result on ‘sky high’ airfares it has dramatically and negatively impacted average hotel room occupancy, especially in the softer summer months.
The current policy thinking appears to build more and more hotels up to 15 floors high, when we cannot even finish the ones that have been started, but now lay idle. The quoted $84 million said to have been ploughed into Sam Lords Castle and the promised five diamond 450 room Wyndham Grand Resort are glaring examples.
Imagine, just for a moment if that figure of $84 million is vaguely creditable, what could have been achieved, if spent creatively and cost-effectively marketing Barbados and filling the thousands of empty rooms we have across the island currently.
Of course, if our politicians were spending their own monies, very few of these gross errors of ‘judgment’ would occur, but while a relentless pouring tap of taxpayers monies are easily available, the status quo seems unavoidable.
We do not have to travel far to see proof of this theory.
After that infamous statement ‘If we had to be perfectly honest, St. Lucia is at least 30 years behind Barbados, in terms of tourism – that’s the reality’, publicly uttered by someone who should have known the truth.
Yet in 2017, according to Statista (the recognized expert statistics portal), revenue generated by that country’s hospitality sector reached US$801 million. Putting that in perspective, St. Lucia, with less rooms and airlift, generated within one fifth of the total recorded by Barbados (US$1.08 billion) for the same year.
My hope is that either the tourism trade association (BHTA) or an independent and authoritative body will commission a study to evaluate what a 10 percent increase annually in average room occupancy would produce in terms of profitably and overall revenue collection for both the private and public (taxation) sector.
Adrian: Could you clarify your statistics . The numbers re: St Lucia are meaningless without actual numbers, How many rooms less percentage wise as Barbados . I do not think you need a study to determine the profitably of what a 10% increase in room occupancy would produce but rather a study on how to accomplish.
Robert, do not miss the point. The fact is that we do not know how many lettable rooms we have on either Barbados or St. Lucia due to the large number of non-licensed accommodation options (Airbnb, Where to Stay etc). For a country where our previous Minister of Tourism stated that was 30 years behind Barbados in terms of Tourism, then with less rooms (the ones we know about) and less airlift they are within US$207 million in total revenue for a given recent year.
As important is the fact successive governments have not addressed the quantum of foreign exchange leakage by the sector. Several scholarly papers have been written.
@ Adrian Loveridge
De ole man is surprised and I will tell you why
You said AND HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS TYPE OF THING FOR A WHILD, and I quote
“…As someone who has championed intra-regional travel for nearly 40 years, even before our re-DISCOVER initiative was launched, shortly after the tragic events of 911, it is soul destroying, knowing that as a direct result on ‘sky high’ airfares it has dramatically and negatively impacted average hotel room occupancy, especially in the softer summer months…”
If any of the current team of dissenters like WARU, MILLLER THE ANNUNAKI, OR MY DEAREST SSS OR BROTHER HANTS, OR COMMANDER THEOPHILLUS GAZERTS OR BAJE, OR NORTHERN OBSERVER OR MR HAL AUSTIN OR T INNISS OR all the others whose names de ole man can remember now, were to say what you said, all of Mugabe’s poochlickers would be here cussing them!
So why is that Loveridge?
Is it the fashioning of your remark about their patented incompetence?
Is it the fact that you said that they have effed away $84 million dollars AND UNLIKE BAJAN FREE PARTY OR WARU, you did not repeat this teiffing statistic with every single blog you submit?
Is is the fact that LIKE WARU SAYS, you are a white man AND THAT WHITE IS RIGHT LOVERIDGE?
There are two experts here whom the ole man watches in awe.
Mr Vincent Codrington THE ECONOMIST’S ECONOMIST and Artaxerxes the Superlative Archiver WHO HAVE VARIOUSLY PROSECUTED FINSNCIAL AND ECONOMIC SUBJECTS all over this blog, on this, AND HUNDREDS MORE EQUALLY, OR MORE IMPORTANT TOPICS, and they get cussed by the Rented donkeys Hee Hee and Hee Haw
Why is it YOU HAVE KDVELLED A SIMILAR STATEMENT ABOUT DE TEIFING INCOMPETENT BLP GOVERNMENT of 15 months and NOT A FELLER DOES DOAN PICK DEM TEETS AT YOU LOVERIDGE?
And the answer is….you is a white man and we black people can bring down we own all the time, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THINGS but we afraid uh wunna Loveridge but we hate our own with a passion.
This is why the country is suffering through this item below Loveridge
http://imgur.com/qYNltuP
Nonsense!
There is nobody who has had more abuse directed at them as Adrian Loveridge. It was that time VOB forced Adrian to sit in a separate studio because Barney Lynch appeared to prefer it. In fact one of the reasons BU was born. There was the time Butch Stewart made fun of a question Adrian asked at a BCCI luncheon that provoked laughter by many businessmen in attendance. Let them laugh now. He was fired from the BTA board with Richard Sealy supporting the decision with a lie because of his no nonsense approach. The blogmaster can go on and on.
Some of you need to make your points and stop the nuisance commentary.
THE ADRIAN LOVERIDGE COLUMN – POLITICIANS KILLING THE TOURISM GOOSE
100percent correct
the dunderheads in office are clueless as to how to market the tourism product , First thing PM did in office is to raise taxes on the tourism product
how many tourist when comparing the cost of visiting barbados to other countries would choose barbados
there is nothing in barbados that would be of great importance or added incentive to propel tourist to visit our shores in large numbers but then we have a PM whose new found initiative can be found in a marketing strategy called WE GATHERING
ADRIAN LOVERIDGE has been faithful and stadfast, and fair and logical in his comments on these matters always.
He has given sound advice–doctrine that can not be refuted, which ought not to be condemned.
What would be more enlightening is to compare the average spend of a St Lucian visitor to that of a Barbadian one.
Based on Adrian’s gross revenue figure being within 20% of ours one can assume the average spend is higher in St Lucia. If so why is that?
100% correct in the statement re high travel costs in region!! Me & wife only two people but we now do not fly within the region due to high costs…… previously, at least once or twice a year we would ‘go to another island’ for a short holiday…. not now!!! Can even reach Toronto for less than Vincy or St. Lucia!!!
@ Piece
You are correct. Don’t touch race in Bimshire; they will kill you. Speaking metaphorically of course.
While Loveridge attacks the governments, he deliberately refuses to acknowledge that the hoteliers themselves have been uncreative and downright selfish.
His piece today is another serious indictment of the Duopoly. However , as Piece correctly says , we can expect little response from the apologists and kool aid drinkers. They never look at the message but like to discredit the messenger, especially messengers who look like them.
Piece yuh right right right. Get a bullet proof vest.
Even if the average spend is the same we must then look at the total value of their tourism investment and compare it to ours to get a true picture.
For Instance suppose their total investment in hotels etc is $6b and ours is $10b, then if their average spend is the same they are doing way better than us. The reason being they are extracting from each visitor the same as us but doing so on a smaller investment base. This means their ROI is going to be better there for investors in that sector.
This information is what is missing when ministers stand up and make statements like ” we had a good year arrivals were up 3%”.
Really and what does that mean in terms of the larger picture pray tell?
@ John A
That’s how we get muddled . Here Loveridge is castigating successive governments for destroying the industry he has been involved with for forty years. Are we assuming that he made no profit in those forty years? Are we assuming that he has not lived comfortably off the shortcomings of the same governments? Are we assuming that these hoteliers never benefited from successive governments? Have these same hoteliers not indulged in trying to systematically wipe out beach vendors and other small business people in the industry?
Leave St Lucia out of this . Let us deal with why after sixty plus years these cry babies hate Butch Stewart but yet have not come up with one product that can match Sandals.
I am told that all the old paintings silver and valuables out of Sam Lord’s Castle were once stored at Todds, another CLICO adventure.
We watch what happened at Fort George and wonder where the land and the stone has gone.
At Andrews Factory all the machinery was “recycled”!!
Have we gone entirely mad?
@ William
Take a look at 2 hotels there. Ladera Resort and Jade Mountain.
These are like nothing we have here. Jade for example has rooms with only 3 walls and the entire front open to The Pitons. What I noticed there is that they don’t depend solely on beach front to make a statement, but have more dialled into the natural environment. Also both the hotels I mentioned are not cheap but enjoy good year round occupancy.
That is why I am totally against building more bird box room hotels here when we can’t even get a decent annual occupancy with the ones we have.
@John A
Had a ‘view’ of the abandoned Sam Lord hotel buildings over the weekend…… ya right, a stack of bird boxes…. what a lack of creativity by the architects & planners…… can someone tell me … whose $84M was spent???? Us … the taxpayers???
Are any steps being taken to ensure that Sam Lords Castle, the proposed hotel in Bay Street and the other monstrosity of an imposition that is threatening Accra Beach will not be abandoned mid-construction, leaving another blot on the landscape? Don’t forget thar Paradise is no longer available to anyone and is another massive festering eyesore to all and sundry.
This government should insist that Paradise be completed before Hyatt is granted. All we are doing is selling the same people more of a limited asset when they are doing nothing with what they already have.
@ KS
And you can bet Hyatt will be no different because the developers are the same people who manufacture the bird box slabs in a precast form.
My bad. Look how quickly we stray away from the main topic of the article. Nary a word on the prohibitive cost of flying within the Caribbean and the negative impact it is having on inter-regional tourism.
Instead, we are flying the color flag (again), and attacking Adrian. As David said in an earlier post, probably no one else has ever been attacked by both parties while they were in power, like Adrian has. Like Dr Lucas, he persists in calling a spade a spade when he sees one, and that’s not popular in this here country.
@John A, re bird boxes – good point. Is there a single hotel in Barbados that would pass the litmus test of being an architectural wonder? Further, besides Sandy Lane Hotel, which of them will be remembered with pride and fondness twenty years from now. One does not think of bird boxes in the way.
@ John A
I have made it a point to show up the non creativity of those who manage the industry. We have embarked on a senseless model of development in both the government and private sectors, trying to copy models of so-called developed countries.
Butch Stewart took a 99 room hotel , with all the noise coming from planes because it was near the airport and turned it into an international brand.
You would note that these people will build an exclusive reserve for the rich and then the government will lend them money to build the clubhouse. It’s all about fleecing governments in exchange for jobs.
These people allow properties to become run down; they like the governments are poor at maintenance. The industry lucks creativity and innovation.
But what can we seriously expect. I repeat : We are perhaps the only country that diversified the economy and ended up with one industry.
Please note that the local manufacturers are now feeling the pressure because the school uniforms are cheaper to import ready made. Here we go again. Give them all the tax breaks they want but they remain unpatriotic.
@William
If the hoteliers are not working hard enough as you opine to product differentiate and create a competitive edge for the sector, should you continue to blame the hoteliers or the authorities that continue to prop up the industry?
Asking for a friend.
@ John A September 2, 2019 8:46 AM
“Even if the average spend is the same we must then look at the total value of their tourism investment and compare it to ours to get a true picture.
For Instance suppose their total investment in hotels etc is $6b and ours is $10b, then if their average spend is the same they are doing way better than us. The reason being they are extracting from each visitor the same as us but doing so on a smaller investment base. This means their ROI is going to be better there for investors in that sector.
This information is what is missing when ministers stand up and make statements like ” we had a good year arrivals were up 3%”.
Really and what does that mean in terms of the larger picture pray tell?”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Excellent analysis there, “John A”!
You have proven yourself to be more informed and analytically convincing than any one of the surfeit of book-learnt so-called economists overpopulating Barbados; including the most recent governors of the Central Banks.
It is precisely because of your insightful analysis that you ought to reject out of hand the thought of the Hyatt hotel ever coming on stream.
Which ‘rational-thinking investors (foreign or local with Apes Hill or Four Seasons in mind) would sink their money in such a large hotel project in Barbados situated in a dying ghetto-type fast growing into a classic shanty town?
Why should any ‘would-be’ tourist book a hotel for 7 days in a garbage-overrun, rat-infested Bridgetown when they can get far much value for money in other more environmentally welcoming regional destinations or even more aesthetically-appealing local hotels?
The mere fact that duty-free concessions on a luxury vehicle have already been granted to a non-existent Sales Director working at an imaginary hotel says a lot about what the Hyatt hotel project is all about.
Just a pig in a poke or a nig*e**r in a woodpile being sold to the naïve Bajan people.
“O what a tangled web we do weave when others we try to deceive.”
@ Miller
First thank you. My concern with this talk about hotels from hither to thither is what is the ROI going to be like here as compared with other islands. Remember money can go wherever it wants.
Adrian’s figures show what St Lucia is extracting from their industry on a much lower investment base. If that is the case and our hotels struggle to get a decent occupancy year around, what will more rooms mean? Is it going to be a case of older hotels losing to the newer ones? Yes we know why certain people want to build them and then past the headache of running them onto other foreign operators who may be interested. The question is when those operators run their numbers will the ROI based on our cost be attractive to bring them?
I have serious reservations on hanging our hopes on this one legged approach to economic recovery.
@ William
Sounds like an illness we suffer from on the island. But you are right that we look to blame anything for our own shortsightedness. I saw the uniform manufacturers now complaining about competition from caricom. What are they proposing as a result of their not being able to compete, that we do a Brexitcom?
It goes back to the same issue though in that one can operator a hotel or garment factory cheaper in other islands than here.
Piece the Legend
If we’re being fair and honest, Adrian Loveridge found himself pilloried by members of both mainstream political parties and their supporters. I also recall the incidents David BU mentioned.
So far, during the Mottley led administration’s tenure, Loveridge has not written many provocative topics on tourism, similarly to this one. Hence, “the Mugabe poochlickers,” or “koolaid drinkers.” (as you like to call BLP supporters), have not had any reason to vilify him………. as yet.
Therefore, taking the above into consideration and the fact that, as I write, there are only 22 responses to this post so far, I believe you are being a bit premature (or presumptuous) in your comments. The day is yet young…… give it time.
However, on the other hand, and lest you forgot, during the DLP’s ten year, three month tenure, on occasion Loveridge has written on what some may consider “soft topics,” while on other occasions he was fearless in his criticisms of the former administration’s tourism policies.
During that time, Astor B. Watts was probably serving his famous extra strong rum punch at George Street, because there were none in this forum critical of Loveridge’s columns more so than ac/Angela Cox/Angela Skeete/Coxable/Mariposa, with help on occasion from Fractured BLP.
I’ll bet you, now that Loveridge is being critical of this BLP administration, Mariposa will suddenly find him as an able ally and agree with everything he writes, while forgetting those times when, in her drunken rum punch stupor, how much she pilloried him on behalf of George Street………. similarly to how she now conveniently forgets what occurred between January 15, 2008 and May 24, 2018.
As Mr. Skinner opines…. “the duopoly rules.”
@Artax
Note William in his critique avoided the issues raised in defense of Adrian as a persistent social commentator on the many issues. It serves his agenda to pick up on colour. We have to be fair and balanced in our critiques.
@ John A
The ROI is not the concern of the operators. They get a fixed percentage of gross revenues. They decide up front whether the flow of traffic is large enough and if the quality of accommodation deserve their brand names. It is the investor in the real estate that has to worry about his rate of return on the investment.
@ Vincent
From the real estate standpoint yes the investor gets his return but the operator still has to seek his return based on operating cost and occupancy.
It is also easier for an operator to walk away than an investor.
Well i’ll be damned
Why is Mariposa being linked to others who might have been in disagreement with loveridges columns on past govt tourism policy
The above being said this govt have not done anything by way of a clear and precise marketing strategy to ensure that our tourism industry performs at its optimum
The last i heard from govt as a presentation towards a marketing strategy was a smoke and mirror policy called WE GATHERING
Also i also recalled Mia rubbing recently shoulders at a gathering of well known notables to receive some kind of honour
Dont know in what way these interventions by Mia can be considered marketing strategy
@Vincent
Based on what was said in the press by the developers their plan is to build the hotel then lease the property over to Hyatt. Hyatt then would be responsible for the staffing, management and fitting out of property etc.
If what was stated is true the capital cost of outfitting the rooms etc and other related costs involved in opening the doors to the tourist would be at the Hyatt. While they would not have the construction cost to finance, along with the annual lease they will still have a sizeable investment to make.
I don’t think this is a case of a lease of a trading name with the developers then running and being responsible for the day to day operations of the property as is sometimes done.
Then again this is Bim and things change daily so who knows.
@John A
You are aware the cost base for St. Lucia is at a different level to Barbados?
Mr. Skinner
I have to agree with you that after years of bellyaching to successive BLP and DLP administrations for concessions, local hoteliers have been unable to establish a Barbadian brand similar to that of Sandals.
On the other hand, I’m not in favour of the generous 40-year tax free concessions granted to Butch Stewart’s Sandals for a number of reasons. Firstly, Sandals is an all-inclusive brand, from which Barbados only gains in terms of tourist arrivals and a few short-term jobs. What about local manufacturing and agricultural sectors? Because of duty free concessions, Sandals can import whatever they like without buying local. They can push the argument they sell food and beverages that is synonymous to the Sandals’ brand, which appeals to a specific target market segmentation……. and such products cannot be either grown, produced or sourced locally.
Another concern is locally produced rum. I have read comments on TripAdvisor, in which several tourists expressed concerns about not being offered locally produced rum as a first-choice alcoholic beverage. In September 2012, Sandals International and Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum signed a deal which brought the rum exclusively to all Sandals and Beaches properties throughout the Caribbean. This means Sandals would obviously push Appleton at the expense of locally produced exotic rums and ordinary brands, such as Old Brigand, ESAF, Mount Gay or Foursquare.
Mr. Skinner, Successive BLP and DLP administrations have so far resisted attempts to privatize beaches in Barbados. However, management of locally and foreign owned hotels and beach-front residences have been making it extremely difficult for Barbadians to access beaches.
I’ve seen you often make references to local hoteliers that “indulged in trying to systematically wipe out beach vendors and other small business people in the industry.” We have seen the systematic disappearance of the aloe, black coral and jewelry craft, T-shirt vendors, hair braiders and beach chair vendors. Also, there seems to be a renewed concerted effort to rid the beaches of water-sport operators.
I’m sure you recall during March last year, we heard of the disturbing news that Crane Beach Hotel owner, Paul Doyle, ordered his security officers to confiscate beach chairs from vendors and lock them in a storage container, thereby depriving them of earning a living for several days. Doyle’s defense was the section of beach upon which they were plying their trade, belong to him.
Customers of the Boat Yard on Bay Street, are given wrist bands upon paying and entering the premises. As recent as last month, some visitors to that establishment went swimming after buying food and beverages from the bar. Some decided they want to ride on a “glass bottom” boat. Upon they arrival on shore, the Boat Yard’s security confiscated the wrists bands and ordered them to leave the establishment.
What do Hyatt, Four Seasons, Merricks and Sam Lords have in common?
They all have (or had) substantial buildings that need to be built on swiss cheese.
In today’s world, engineers are not going to sign off on foundations that do not meet or exceed the standards of their profession!!
It is now mandatory to do geotechnical studies.
No engineer is going to take a risk as the technology shows up the imperfections in the coral rock well and there is no excuse of ignorance.
An engineer in the 60’s designing Hilton and Grand Barbados did not have the information to inform his/her design and followed best practice.
Blowing up Hilton and rebuilding it was financed by the GOB as far as I know, a milch cow that has now dried up!!
… and Sandals, … all sorts of GOB concessions had to be made before it was built.
At Apes Hill, a civil engineer tells me that any person building a house has to build two, one above ground and the other underground.
Arch Cot brought forcibly to the fore what can happen and forced the need for geotechnical studies.
Maybe we need to think small where new buildings are concerned as it is easy to break the bank meeting specifications.
Face reality!!
Caves are constantly being formed and expand as their roofs collapse.
The promoters of these projects can talk and waste our time but ultimately, they may never be built because they are just too expensive.
Barbados is not unique, Florida has the same issues but there is a huge difference!!
The cost of the scale of the undertaking can be met by the traffic flow and it makes practical sense.
We just need to scale back the delusions of grandeur we have to a point where they are practical.
…. ie, we have to cut our costs!!
$84 million on Sam Lords … sheer lunacy!!
@ David
Yes that’s my point that whether it be a hotel or garment factory, the cost of operating there is cheaper than here. Having said that this is the same issue the USA faces say with Chinese imports vs home made products, so it’s now a problem unique to us.
Where does all this leave Tom Grant, the last owner of Sam Lord’s?
There is another issue.
Much of the “development” that has taken place in Barbados is not much more than money laundering!!
Barbados is on watch so a lot of the funds will have dried up.
GOB’s credit rating has fallen through the floor so its credit has evaporated.
Plus, we have defaulted on loans.
We actually have to face reality in the projects we choose to allow!!
“The above being said this govt have not done anything by way of a clear and precise marketing strategy to ensure that our tourism industry performs at its optimum. The last i heard from govt as a presentation towards a marketing strategy was a smoke and mirror policy called WE GATHERING. Also i also recalled Mia rubbing recently shoulders at a gathering of well known notables to receive some kind of honour. Dont know in what way these interventions by Mia can be considered marketing strategy.”
Hmmmmm…..
How did you arrive at the “We Gathering” folly is a “tourism marketing strategy?”
Shiite…… You drunk already?………Astor B. Watts’ extra strong rum punch seems to have been over-flowing in George Street early this morning…… and one or two characters may have imbibed far too many glasses of it.
This “We Gathering” thing isn’t anything other than a new version of your DLP’s year long 50th anniversary Independence celebrations. The CONCEPTS are SIMILAR.
The only difference here is, whereas Mottley’s “we gathering” is inviting Barbadians living the diaspora to Barbados to INVEST, your celebrations were for the purpose of inviting Barbadians living the diaspora here to “PARTY.”
You were at the forefront in this forum supporting your celebrations and the $700M cost attached to it and DID NOT view it as a “tourism marketing strategy.”
Hal Austin
September 2, 2019 1:16 PM
Where does all this leave Tom Grant, the last owner of Sam Lord’s?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I thought it was CLICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with small and practical is that it wont suit the money launderers who want bigger ticket items … or the Government Ministers whose source of funds will be reduced!!
Donville was the tip of the iceberg!!
The politicians are killing not only Tourism, but everything else!!
Did Clico buy it from Grant?
Artax you got yoyr Version or interpretation of WE GATHERING and i got mine
Needless to say the 50th anniversary celebration was not a gimmick or a figment of govt imagination
Go figure and tell me what purpose or significance does WE GATHERING have in the barbados landscape
@ Artax
Well put. It’s extremely unfortunate that our rum products are not on Sandals shelves. I don’t think that the jobs are short term. You would recall that the standards at the Barbados Hilton were so high that almost any Barbadian who worked there found employment in that franchise overseas. I think that the standards at Sandals would benefit their workers. Working with top brands has benefits.
In terms of the Boat yard , access to beaches and so on it is grounded in racism. I know many Black American tourists feel they are discriminated against. I know personally how great efforts were made to destroy the beach vendors and other small players.
@ David
In any discussion of business in our country race and color can pop up. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.
In terms of propping up the tourist industry , it’s no different from how we propped up the agricultural / sugar industry.
Don’t you see we put 24 million in a Club house for COW. ? Your friend should be able to figure out these things. They follow a particular pattern.
Another interesting development in our tourism industry is that politicians and officials seem to believe Barbados must have a Hilton, Wyndham, Harlequin, Hyatt, Four Seasons or other international brands to increase tourist arrivals.
We’re proposing to build all these fancy hotels for visitors to lie on the beach all day, but without any attractions at night or for those who opt to do other things during the day. Harrison’s Cave is shrouded in controversy, Welchman Hall gully seems to a thing of the past, the “much touted” David Estwick’s Sugar Museum seems to be a monumental waste of taxpayers’ money.
It is interesting to note that these brand name hotels were either abandoned or ended in controversy. Harlequin Hotels & Resorts halted operations owing employees two months’ salary, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) about $80 000 and several local businesses and contractors in excess of $3M. The Chinese “secretly abandoned Wyndham after $84M was spent. Hyatt remains in controversy.
But Four Seasons “takes the cake.” In January 2010, the government of Barbados agreed to guarantee 18 month bridging finance loan of US$60 from ANSA Merchant Bank for Four Seasons, in return for a 20% in the project. And there was a US$30M investment by the NIS.
After millions of investments and several promises of restarting that project, the environs remain dilapidated.
This should provide an excessive amount of incentive for local hoteliers to establish a Barbadian brand hotel that identifies with Barbados……. similar to how Sandals is synonymous with Jamaica.
On another note, as a youngster, I heard the older guys talked about their time working at Paradise Hotel and other hotels or guest houses. I worked in the Human Resources Department of a hotel, which made me realize there has not been any significant improvements in the mind-set of hotel employees. They operate similarly as they predecessors did from as far back as the 1960s.
My experience was, to many hotel employees (and people in general), tourists generally means “white people.” Black people are not usually regarded as tourists. Males are often seen as “beach bums” and females as “hookers.” That’s why blacks experience problems with hotel employees, especially security guards. A black man/woman could not walk through the hotel, go to their room, sit in the restaurant or by the pool without his/her status being questioned.
This attitude extends to black employees. Certain employees, both black and white, had the privilege to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner in the restaurants, at the expense of the hotel. The restaurant staff seemed to believed that right should be reserved for the whites. I went to work one Sunday and ordered lunch from the restaurant. A lady told me there wasn’t anyone there to bring it to my office. I told her it wasn’t a problem. When I went into the restaurant, I saw both waiters and waitresses “busy” talking with each other, as guests were not there. But they suddenly found someone to deliver food to a white manager. On another occasion, I had to work late two nights straight. On the second night I went to dinner, the white chef approached me and said, “This is becoming a habit.” When I asked him what he meant, his response was, “You ate here last night and now tonight.” Anyone who knows me will testify I’m not fond of using abusive language, some would say they have never heard me use it. I almost cussed him out, but opted to tell “you better move your joh****s from ’round me.”
Black mangers have to wait for service much longer than white managers. Security searched the cars of all black employees, while the whites were allowed to go through the gates unsearched. I could go on.
And I thought that was a thing of the past.
@ Artax
You’re right again. Add this one: White Bajan gigolos were allowed in the rooms with the tourists women.
Black gigolos were not.
@ David
You see- Artax talked about color too. We can’t sweep everything under the carpet.
“One day coming soon the people will rise up…..”. ( That’s Gabby)
@William
Continue to be disingenuous on the matter. You made a direct attack on Adrian by referencing his colour – he has been an advocate for his sector like any other interest group/person will advocate. If we had 5 Black advocates who were as diligent holding governments accountable it would be a lot easier.
Carry on smartly.
@
Artax
Professor Persuad was hired by the Duopoly to rescue the Four Seasons Project. He went in the press and boldly stated that the project had attracted financing and would become a reality. Never happened. I wonder what his cheque looked like.
The same Persuad is now employed again by the Duopoly as a highly paid consultant / adviser to the PM.
The Duopoly Rules
“Needless to say the 50th anniversary celebration was not a gimmick or a figment of govt imagination.”
Mariposa
I’m aware you would obviously have your POLITICAL interpretation of “We Gathering, 2020.” But. Please be reminded, others would seek to be fair and reasonable.
Put down the rum punch and let’s examine and analyse both celebrations as reasonably and rationally as we can.
This is the theme of Freundel’s 50th Anniversary celebrations throughout 2016:
The year 2016 signals a significant landmark in the history of Barbados, with November 30, 2016 representing 50 years of Independence for this small aspiring nation. The year of celebration officially started on January 6, 2016 with the Launch “Barbados We Come From” at Independence Square and will culminate on November 30th, 2016, with activities being held in Barbados and across the global diaspora.
On Wednesday, January 6, 2016, while delivering an address at the launch of the “50th Anniversary of Independence” in Independence Square; under then theme: “Barbados We Come From,” then PM Freundel Stuart urged Barbadians at home and abroad to RECOMMIT themselves to the development of this nation.
Throughout 2016, there’s a variety of Independence-themed activities every month to reflect and celebrate Barbados’ past, present and future.
The major Anniversary celebrations are organised by the 50th Anniversary of Independence Secretariat however various other local community groups have also put together extra events, not to mention all the usual Crop Over action from June to August; especially themed ‘Barbados at 50: Celebrating our Culture, Showcasing our Pride!’
During this year (2016), you can enjoy Independence activities like public walks/runs, historical lectures, open days, art exhibitions, theatre productions, fundraising dances, song writing contests, music concerts, cricket matches, and motor sport events, just to name a few!
Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence is bound to be celebrated with style, sophistication, and of course lots of Bajan fun! Organised by individuals, schools, church groups, service clubs and businesses.
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Now, let’s examine Mottley’s “We Gathering, 2020.”
Vision 2020: We Gatherin’ is a 12-month global celebration of Barbadian excellence and a recommitment to this country’s successful future and core values that have defined us as a people. 2020 has been designated as the year for Barbadians and those who love this country to come home, reconnect with family and friends, and invest in the rebuilding and development of Barbados.
Purposeful Pursuit of Barbadian Excellence is the theme of the year-long celebrations, which is an initiative of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. It is designed to reinforce Government’s mantra of building the best Barbados together.
Vision 2020: We Gatherin’ will comprise structured events at the national level, which will be coordinated by Government with input from its social partners. However, community groups, churches, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and regional and international persons with Barbadian connections, among others, will be encouraged to produce other events.
The initiative will begin in the north of the island in January 2020, and move southward every month, allowing each designated parish to showcase its icons, social life and the food for which it is renowned. The parish celebrations will culminate in St. Michael in November, and Vision 2020: We Gatherin’ will climax in December with a Christmas extravaganza for all Barbadians – at home and abroad.
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Could you please HIGHLIGHT the SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE between Freundel’s “50th Anniversary Celebrations and Mia’s “We Gathering, 2020?”
In summary, both events called for Barbadians home and abroad to recommit themselves to the rebuilding and redevelopment of Barbados.
If, in your opinion, “We Gathering” is “a gimmick and figment of government imagination,” then surely you must agree that, under circumstances where there aren’t any significant differences between both year-long events, the “50th Anniversary Celebrations” was a “gimmick and figment of government imagination” and did not had any “purpose or significance in the Barbados landscape” as well.
The only DIFFERENCE in my opinion, is that Mia criticized your celebrations along with its $700M price tag, yet she is prepared to embark upon organizing a similar venture.
Mariposa, all the rum punch and nonsense about “spot on” and “you’re correct” seem to be overwhelming you, thereby preventing you from THINKING before you comment.
@ Hal Austin
Did Clico buy it from Grant?
YES after it went into Bankruptcy and was closed for a while.
Thanks. Another example of Clico’s reckless spending of annuitants’ money. Where was the regulator?
@ Mariposa
I like the fact that you are not overwhelmed by a number of pompous idiots on this BU blog who constantly try to attack you on your perceived political party affiliation.
You are entitled to give your opinion irregardless who likes it.
Whilst I don’t support either party as a Bajan you have a right to speak on any issue same as @WARU.
@ Adrian Loveridge a brilliant article. Keep up the good work. You are an asset to Barbados anyone referring to colour in your case is ignorant as you have been seeking for a very long time to make the island more prosperous in this sector through your local endeavors and overseas experiences. Unlike most I know you firsthand professionally from Peach and Quiet Hotel for several years and know that you are a cut above the rest in your industry in regards to giving back to the island that has given you a lot.
My experience was, to many hotel employees (and people in general), tourists generally means “white people.” Black people are not usually regarded as tourists. Males are often seen as “beach bums” and females as “hookers.” That’s why blacks experience problems with hotel employees, especially security guards. A black man/woman could not walk through the hotel, go to their room, sit in the restaurant or by the pool without his/her status being questioned.
Not just you. This is how black bajan brass bowls ( credit: Bushie) view the world.
Billions spent on “education”;
half a century of ” independence” ;
control of “political power”; etc.
yet totally soporific in thinking and outlook.
Your main aim seems to be coming here with a vendetta to be offensive to certain contributors and not offering anything of substance.
Are Enuff or Lorenzo not entitled to give their opinion irregardless of YOU liking it or not?
Don’t you attack those two and verbally abuse them on their perceived political affiliation also?
As Bajans, Enuff and Lorenzo don’t have the RIGHT to speak on any issue the same as you, WARU or Mariposa?
What makes Enuff and Lorenzo different from Mariposa? Don’t they deserve the same treatment or is Mariposa special?
Now you calling people pompous idiots for DOING to Mariposa the SAME THING you constantly DO to Enuff and Lorenzo.
This makes you a pompous idiot and a hypocrite too.
Artax all i conclude from your brilliant and spot on analysis is that Mia took an idea which she crticized and lambasted past govt stole it wrapped it in glitz and glamour and marketed it in the gullible minds of the diaspora as a symbol of patriotism
Hence the brain child of a warped imagination by Mia gave birth to a gimmick called WE GATHERING
Stuart plan / idea was one to bring home barbadians at a special time of celebration a once in a lifetime celebration to celebrate their country 50th year of Independence
A simple and well thought invitation having nothing to do with gimmicks or smoke and mirrors
Most are awaiting the day when Mia would have a sustainable growth plan void of empty promises and placing hands in citizens pockets
All and sundry knows that Mia stolen idea is another one of her adventures to hoodwink the diaspora out of their savings
But then again empty vessels make nuff noise
@ Mariposa
I like the fact that you are not overwhelmed by a number of pompous idiots on this BU blog who constantly try to attack you on your perceived political party affiliation.
You are entitled to give your opinion irregardless who likes it.
Whilst I don’t support either party as a Bajan you have a right to speak on any issue same as @WARU. (Quote)
All we have to do is replace @ Mariposa with @ Enuff and Lorenzo, and it will mean the same thing.
You can’t be one-sided. If it applies to Mariposa, it has to apply to everyone who is perceived to be affiliated to some political party.
Robert Goren i am not overwhelmed that is a fact
Could not care one way or another what anyone think of my postings
Yes i am SPECIAL
One can easily guess that if a list of tax waivers and vat taxes (given) to businesses was published the hotel industry would top the list
Reason being that a trip through the auditor general report for past years has listed the hotel industry as notorious vampires sucking off the nipples of govt /taxpayers
Loans going unpaid for years
@ Robert Goren
When I first came on BU I never attacked anyone just spoke what I knew to be facts.
Your two friends @Enuff and @Lorenzo in a tagteam effort choose to attack myself when I started criticizing what was in the BLP 2018 Manifesto to mislead the Public of Barbados to get votes and win a landslide election.
In both of their initial attack on several topics commented on I was called a DEM to marginalized and some unsavory words after agreeing with several other bloggers.
I was also attacked by @piece initially because he thought I was a BLP poochlicker.
It was after these initial ongoing unwarranted personal attacks I then choose to retaliate by describing them as Beavis and Butthead.
So you can take your shite talk somewhere else Jackass.
Again not to deviate from the topic @Adrian Loveridge continue to do great work to help uplift the island including pointing out the errors of our ways holding back the island from truly punching above its weight.
“Artax all i conclude from your brilliant and spot on analysis is that Mia took an idea which she crticized and lambasted past govt stole it wrapped it in glitz and glamour and marketed it in the gullible minds of the diaspora as a symbol of patriotism.”
Hmmmmm…… this is either one of the many Mariposas…… or this one is sober.
If you read my comments in their entirety, you would have noticed I arrived at a SIMILAR conclusion. But, knowing you, you could not resist in putting your political spin on the issue.
Wuh everbody knows that the colour problem have exited in the hotel industry for years.
Nothing new or surprising
I remember when the Hilton first opened and was hiring blacks were giving the complimentary sound bite
That vacancy was filled meanwhile the job opening was running in the paper for weeks
But then who could these applicants complain back then
Baje dont pay them no mind
Artax tells me i am sober
Well i must conclude he must be stone drunk
He adress me as “one of many Mariposas
Boy i tell yuh LMAOFF
Can we discuss the topic for crissakes?
So you can take your shite talk somewhere else Jackass. (Quote)
First off, Enuff and Lorenzo are not my friends.
Next, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Your rants are irrelevant. The fact remains Mariposa attack people on their perceived political party affiliation and people do the same to her. You do the same to Enuff and Lorenzo and they respond likewise.
You proved Austin right. If I may borrow a phrase from him, I noticed your retreat into a cavalcade of vulgarities and swearing. That is a sign that you can no longer articulate a point. Learning by rote means an inability to offer a critical analysis of another’s views.
You always go into the gutter.
It’s what he calls the Barbados Condition.
We are annoyed about Sandals carrying Jamaican rum and not bajan rums but whose fault is that? Before you cuss me read on!
When we negotiated with Sandals for all their tax exemptions etc, did we not stop and include in the said negotiations what we wanted to ensure for our own people?
I would bet money that no where in that agreement and long list of exemptions does it state that all food and beverages manufactured locally must be carried at sandals resorts as their primary source of supply. This does not mean other Jamaican brands can not be present but understand “we one first Butch!”
So if we send people to negotiate and on our behalf they give away the kitchen sink and fridge and in turn guarantee us nothing who should we blame? That is why the PM did the right thing with Heywoods when she told them enough is enough.
Billions spent on “education”; half a century of ” independence”; control of “political power”; etc. Yet totally soporific in thinking and outlook.”
The above comments come in line with the fact that several of these hotels in Barbados find to employ local chefs that are qualified enough to cook Barbadian cuisine. After advertising vacancies for executive and sous chefs, engineers, food and beverage managers or any other managerial position, they conveniently did not receive suitable applications and would seek a work permit to bring a non-national for the job.
And this work permit is granted without protest from Barbadians, and more importantly, the government. The hotel owners seem to have members of successive political administrations “by the balls.”
From my experience, many of these white expatriates do not bring anything of significance to the hotels, other than to verbally abuse staff. Although they receive generous salaries and perks not offered to locals, if you analyse the situation, you would realise, for example, the turnover rate for executive and sous chefs are very high. They do not stay with the hotels very long. Most of them would resign after a few months and go on to a different hotel or leave the island. This is evidenced by the fact that hotels often advertise vacancies for these positions.
I worked at a 5 diamond hotel for about 2 years, during which time there were approximately 6 different chefs. One was from France, while the others were from the UK, US and Europe (can’t remember which country). The sous chefs were Barbadians who had the fil the avoid when a chef was needed. but they were not good enough in management eyes to be appointed executive chef.
What also happens is, if the hotel is foreign owed and part of a group, A chef who was interviewed overseas would be sent here to work. After a few months, management would follow the procedure of advertising the job and apply for the work permit.
I know of a case where a Sandy Lane employed a Puerto Rican engineer. After a few months the job was advertised and one of the qualifying requirements was the prospective candidate must be able to speak Spanish fluently.
@ Mr William Skinner
You see how dese people is?
All I do is say dat I notice dat Hee Hee and Hee Haw NEVER EVER COME TO Adrian Loveridge articles and say a pang bout Loveridge DVDN THOUGH HE IS INSULTING BOTH INGRUNT GOVERNMENTS.
And I ask why dat?
And the version of GHE BU BORG Blogmaster who was on duty, BECAUSE DIS ONE IS NOT LIKE DADDY completely misunderstood my tangent of thought and talking all sorts of put.
Den a next illiterate saying dat I attacking Loveridge!
All de old man said is dat he gets a free pass by Mugabe apologists AND DAT DEY NEVER EVER ATTACK HE, LIKE HOW DEM ATTACK YOU AND ME!
Looka how you throw some real lashes in he ass when you said
“…Butch Stewart took a 99 room hotel , with all the noise coming from planes because it was near the airport and turned it into an international brand.
You would note that these people will build an exclusive reserve for the rich and then the government will lend them money to build the clubhouse.
It’s all about fleecing governments in exchange for jobs.
These people allow properties to become run down; they like the governments are poor at maintenance.
The industry lucks creativity and innovation…”
You got go go easy pun dem Mr Skinner.
Dem love de white people ass real bad.
And when you point out dat de people is parasites who do buffing for tourism and give nothing to the cuntry YOU DUN KNIW DAT DEM GJNE HATE YOU GUT, SLMOST AS BAD AS DEM HATE MINE cause I support the People’s Party for Democracy and Development
Heheheheh
John A
I believe you’re missing the underlying point being made.
Yes, (I can only speak for myself) I’m annoyed that Appleton is the first choice rum instead of a local brand and of course I know Butch is not to be blamed.
What is more annoying is the fact that a government could offer 40 years of generous tax concessions, at the expense of our local manufacturing and agricultural sectors, while ignoring certain obligations.
I don’t want to speak on behalf of Mr. Skinner, but I believe that was what he meant as well.
@ David
Where in my post did I attack anybody’s color ? I merely agreed with Piece. You would not be the first or last to brand me a racist.
We can attack : Stuart Mottley Gibson Atherley Depeiza the Governor General Governor of the Central Bank the Commissioner of Pollice Barely disagree with a white person and just so it’s fire and brimstone.
You really don’t know me, Sir.
@ Artaxerxes the Superlative Archiver
I read your submission and nodded frequently at your customary level headed fairness.
It caused me to go back to mine and read what I had said this morning to Loveridge
In part I said
“…Why is it YOU HAVE LEVELLED A SIMILAR STATEMENT (similar to what he has said about the BLP) ABOUT DE TEIFING INCOMPETENT BLP GOVERNMENT of 15 months and NOT A FELLER DOES DOAN PICK DEM TEETS AT YOU LOVERIDGE?…”
I guess that what I did not say clearly was that I agree with him that both of these governments ARE INCOMPETENT and are incapable of managing the Tourism Sector.
I also agree with Mr. William Skinner when he says that Loveridge and the rest of them are not really innovative.
De ole man is more innovative in my big toe dan any one of them!!!
All I was and am saying is that he has cast a major comment about BLP and DLP administrations BUT, AS FAR AS THIS SITE IS CONCERNED, barring Mr William Skinner liking he up with that comment about Butch stuart and his Innovation.
Not a BLP nor DLP apologist SAYS A WORD!
@ Piece
I have seen this movie directed by David over and over. It’s pathetic.
@ Artax
Yes I see your point but that is because we did not stipulate in our agreement for the waivers we stated they were conditions for the waivers.
Had this been done we could of insisted on local suppliers, training of local chefs etc.
Our negotiators were too concerned with getting sandals in here and hence the agreement was too one sided. Yes Butch has a great product but we are a great upmarket location, we are no Dominican Republic mass discount market.
Basically we undervalued ourselves in that going down.
The truth is by this stage of our development we should have a clearly defined document that outlines concessions based on investment. What I mean is this.
Fifty million USD to 100 million USD you get this and we in turn expect the following.
From 100 million to 200 million you get this and that and we expect the following etc
In other words regardless of whether you are a local or foreign investor these are your concessions and our expectations.
If we negotiate with no clearly defined schedule we will be treated accordingly.
@John A
Are you not tired of asking for documents? We have a problem with execution and a lack of innovation. The current state flows from the people. The political class and others were selected from among us. Our lethargy as a people feeds the stasis we find ourselves.
Excellent discussion. What is really confusing is that we can have such enlightening discourse on BU while those entrusted with managing the industry appear unaware.
@ the Honourable Blogmaster
I posted thus already but…
@ 5.12 PM you asked if we could discuss the topic
I am going to say that WE CANNOT!
The first person who CANNOT DISCUSS THE TOPIC IS ADRIAN.
And why do I say so
I will tell you why.
Ask Adrisn to give you the name of 40 products that he has introduced over the 40 years of his service to tourism.
Ok ask him go produce, 30, none? 30 then, none 10 then? Still no deliverables? 5 then.
What can he show as 5 products which have enhanced go local tourism plant?
Are you feeling me yet?
Disney has been innovating every single year.
Adrian Loveridge AND THD OTHER HOTELIERS sell a product in a well painted, sometimes well staffed hotel.
Which does nothing regarding product innovation?
And that’s why Airbnb is going to kick their asses right out the market place.
Innovate OR DIE!
I guess now you and the rest of your chosen ones going run and hide from de ole man BUT DAT IS WUNNA STYLING.
TEIF PEOPLE IDEAS AND, CAUSE DE SHY$E ENT YOURS, FVUCK IT UP and den de two uh wunna scvjnt complaing bout who RH idea it is!
Hilarious!!!
@ Robert Goren
You proved Austin right. If I may borrow a phrase from him, I noticed your retreat into a cavalcade of vulgarities and swearing. That is a sign that you can no longer articulate a point. Learning by rote means an inability to offer a critical analysis of another’s views.
You always go into the gutter.
It’s what he calls the Barbados Condition.
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Wait you have joined the hee hee and haw haw as @piece describes them?
I have a Masters Degree and Bachelor degree outside of Barbados after leaving on a Scholarship and taught at UWI briefly and you want to talk about a Bajan condition.
You also want to bring in @Hal Austin to justify your nonsensical argument which Hal and I I never been disrespectful to each other.
I have lived and operated successfully professionally in the US, UK and Barbados professionally for over 30 years.
Whatever narrative you have you need to look in the mirror.
I am one of the very few people contributing on this blog who have employed hundreds of people in the US, UK and Barbados combined whilst giving meaningful employment and training in the technology field.
Take the plank out of your eye before trying to do so from mine.
This however will be my last comment to you as I don’t want to take away from the Topic of the Blog which should be important to ALL Bajans.
Apology for repeat of some words seems my keyboard has a mind of its own.
I keep saying that this blog is permeated with the worse kind of duplicitous hypocrites I have ever encountered. Imagine Tin Foil aka Piece trying to give the impression that some people do not challenge Mr.Loveridge because he’s white? A boldfaced lie and an attempt to play the race card to try to discredit certain bloggers. How cretinous! Go to Loveridge’s piece on concrete and coastlines and I am sure I had a lot to say in opposition to what AL wrote and the position taken by the white residents who flocked to the meeting. Earlier today I was laughing at Scott Weatherhead pop kites. Contrary to belief, I oppose lies and nonsense not reasoned, robust comments; and I certainly don’t challenge comments simply because they oppose the government. This article is about high taxes and their impact on intra-regional travel–about the 100th time AL has written on this topic. Evahbody knows it to be the a fact, and I deal wid facts. Once again you Piece have been exposed and the more you come at me, the more I am going to evaginate yuh because I enjoy runnin wunna bout the blog. Too damn wicked. Rhetoric, innuendo, fake lawn bombings, disinformation and pure lies are no match for me.
Then we have a Mr.Skinner with his incessant refrain “the Duopoly rules”. Yet he lives in a country ruled by a duopoly for yeeears and at present is governed by a dummy who dislikes people who looks like him and countries like the one of his birth. But is he leaving? No suh!! Instead he up in Amurka and knows every economic and social policy solution for Barbados; but ask him when last he set foot bout dey. Y’all mad, stay mad.🤣🤣
Now Baje bragging bout degrees but straaaggling “bigly” with subject verb agreement. Anyhow, Donald Trump graduated from Wharton tuh! Man this blog too RH sweet🤣🤣
@ Enuff aka Beavis
Now Baje bragging bout degrees but straaaggling “bigly” with subject verb agreement. Anyhow, Donald Trump graduated from Wharton tuh! Man this blog too RH sweet🤣🤣
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What does this say about UWI Cavehill since I have been a part time Lecturer there, and earlier attended one of the top high schools on the island before leaving on a Scholarship?
You way too ignorant, always on the attack as it relates to the BLP.
You and your BLP cronies must be feeling the heat.
When I comment on any topic on BU Blog I speak my mind; I don’t need a grammar Policeman for anyone reading to comprehend.
Mr. Trickster and conman.
@ Enuffat 8:37 PM
The subject verb agreement is not Baje’s fault .The algorithm selects the noun preceding the verb as the subject. It happens very often. Robotics!
@ Vincent Codrington
@ Enuffat 8:37 PM
The subject verb agreement is not Baje’s fault .The algorithm selects the noun preceding the verb as the subject. It happens very often. Robotics!
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I have both https://www.grammarly.com and Microsoft Office Word 2010 Spell Checker and Grammar.
However when I comment on BU Blog I speak my mind.
I was not aware that I was in a classroom being judged and graded..
This Beavis as normal Bajan political custom would like to attack to discredit.
I am not one of the fools on the island who voted for either BLP or DLP poison and I lead a very comfortable life.
I comment for others on the island who are not fortunate like myself and for many others who are not part of the koolaid drinkers.
I may not always agree with @Piece but ANY other Political Party is way better than these two poisoned criminal animals masquerading as BLP and DLP.
@Enuff
You doth protest too much, the blog is still the same as it always was. Here is what has changed, prior to May 24th, 2018 “Piece” was proclaiming “not one RH seat for the Dems” and he was Mariposa’s bête noire while the BLP supporters sung his praises, now the worm has turned and he is cussing the BLP.
“Piece” in the eyes of some has gone from hero to zero, I gwine watch from the cheap seats.
Time is against de ole man but.. I again ask Adrian Loveridge to produce 5 product that demonstrate innovation in the Tourism space.
And as usual THERE IS NO ANSWER BECAUSE ALL WUNNA DOES IS BUILD CHICKEN COOPS and consider THIS “A TOURISM EXPERIENCE”!!!
What wunna does call it?
Barbados, beyond your imagination!!!
Such idiocy.
Let me underscore their idiocy with this product below
http://imgur.com/CVnJLtn
Imagine you are bring people home to garbage and pot holes and 34 deaths
35 if you include NC. Just 15 short of de ole man’s prediction
So having shown you the Blp/DLP shy$e de ole man going show wunna Innovation.
I heard that CARICOM visitors made up anywhere between 18-25% of our stayover visitors. If this is true, then the issue of prohibitive intra-regional traveling cost is relevant. Imagine if we had a better competetive logistic step up in the region, certainly it could help to smooth out our off-peak occupy rate.
However, this problem has been discussed to death at various CARICOM meetings with no policy framework in sight. Not to mention the few private start-up carriers that failed along the way. The problem is an intractable one.
Now let me show you Loveridge what is Innovation
http://imgur.com/YP9a6QV
Here is the idea of the Sage Sage Annunaki which is Supreme Marketing.
This would be a precursor to another innovation which I am going to post for you to show you how real BRANDING WORKS and not how selling rooms at Peace and Quiet for the benefit of Peace and Quiet
What Mr. Skinner is saying AND I AGREE WITH IS THAT THE PARASITISM that your lot has practiced for all these years has been for personal benefit AND THAT ALL WUNNA IS LIKE REMORA EELS AND PIRANHAS AND ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS!!
please provide the information about 5 things
@ David.
Yes you are correct we deserve what we get simply because we do not demand better. Just read this blog and one can see why our rulers treat us the way they do. As a people we spend too much time caught up in politics, as opposed to focusing on the issues. The politicians know this only too well and hence pull the strings accordingly and in so doing can deflect from having to answer the hard questions.
In pursuing our political pettiness we therefore serve their purpose perfectly while ensuring they can continue doing the same year after year unchallenged.
@John A
It is why cold dispassionate analysis and perspectives from persons like yourself in priceless.
Is our tourism model conceptualized around the idea of : Build it and they will come strategy? If so, then a big maketing budget along with airline seats guarantee subsidy is crucial for success. Or do we do a demand study?
@fortyacresandamule
We have two issues to resolve:
1. the tourism industry is responsible for generating the largest slice to GDP and 2. the industry suffers from heavy foreign exchange haemorrhaging not unlike the BWA water pipes.
There is a thing that is rampant in this Mugabe regime.
People from the rank and file ARE NOT KEEN IN SHARING with this administration
And onw has to ask one self why is that?
Why is there no grassroots endorsements for Mugabe
And the answer is that MUGABE IS NOT TRUSTED.
If there was trust of The Sea Manatee, it would translate into a visible respect, where people would be out there supporting her naturally.
Here is another facilitator and Innovation WHICH IF THERE WAS REAL VENUES IN THE TOURISM PLANT WOULD BE USEFUL
http://imgur.com/1ZSk1Qc
The thing is that we can expect a bastardised version of the above idea soon to hit the streets.
A real FVUCK up version too heheheheh
But the point that de ole makes is that true innovation and invention is not resident in this stock of hoteliers and governments
And we are unwilling to choose better candidates and representatives
Most of the comments on this thread are far too pessimistic. Two examples:
Artax
“Because of duty free concessions Sandals can import whatever they like without buying local”
In Jamaica, Butch Stewart has pioneered initiatives to improve the links between farmers and the hotel industry. For example, Sandals has provided Irish potato seedlings to peasant farms and purchased their entire output. If the Barbados Ministry of Tourism asked Butch to do the same thing here, he would not likely refuse.
William Skinner
“White Bajan gigolos were allowed in the rooms with tourist women. Black gigolos were not.”
I’m sure nearly every Bajan would agree with WS that this is “racism”. I’m not so sure. Consider the marketing impact on a hotel if there is a sexual complaint from a guest, and race is a factor. The Jamaican tourist industry has taken big hits in North American media when a white female tourist complains of bedroom harassment by a local black men. These stories do not attract international attention when the male harasser is also white.
I have a Masters Degree and Bachelor degree outside of Barbados after leaving on a Scholarship and taught at UWI briefly and you want to talk about a Bajan condition. (Quote)
You’re an idiot. I never said Austin and you were ever disrespectful to each other.
All I’m saying is that as the argument prolongs, you are being a good example of what he talks about.
Hal Austin also said when backed in a corner, people will tell you about their qualifications. It’s the Barbados Condition.
You have proved him right again.
If he is honest, he will verify what I’m saying.
Keep going. You’re a good example of what he says.
@ Robert Goren
Unfortunately for you despite my Baje moniker, I hold several citizenships and residences in US, UK and Barbados, and my life has pretty much been spread out across all three so feel free to attack my Bajan condition.
I am not @WARU that will tolerate your ignorance.
Hal Austin is a man I have the upmost respect for and is free to provide any input or feedback he chooses to make, you I don’t have any respect for,
Enjoy your night mate.
@ Baje
This guy Robert Goren is a real real ass.
Ignore him, Enuff and Lorenzo in your contributions.
I join in also encouraging @Adrian Loveridge to keep up the good work locally despite opposition.
@David. Your BWA analogy is very hilarious but right on point. The high leakage in the industry is why we struggled to maintain adequate forex reserve.
fortyacresandamule
September 3, 2019 2:27 AM
@David. Your BWA analogy is very hilarious but right on point. The high leakage in the industry is why we struggled to maintain adequate forex reserve.
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It has been a while since I saw a water leak on the roads I drive and I rarely see a BWA crew fixing a water leak.
Could mean that there are no leaks to fix!!!
Probably means leaks that exist produce water that dissipates underground and never gets to the surface.
Last time I saw a BWA crew fixing a leak I was amazed because I had been passing and repassing and saw no evidence of water on the road!!
How did they know there was a leak and how did they know where to look?
A few days later, I saw a piece of electronic equipment attached to a customer service fed from the main.
Looks like the BWA has fixed all leaks that appear on the surface of the roads and “listen” electronically to the sound of flowing water in mains where they suspect leaks exist.
The equipment I saw was probably a data logger listening for a constant flow in the early morning when there is small demand.
I am going to consume water in a few minutes time before I go back to sleep and it they are listening in they will detect an increased water flow for the seconds I have the tap on.
Don’t think their listening techniques for detecting water leaks can be applied to money but maybe there is hope!!
In all years of reading Loveridge articles i have yet to come across an article where Loveridge chastised the Hotel industry those who owes loans negotiated by govt on their behalf for nonpayment
Some of these loans go as far back as 2009
Taking a look at the 2017 auditor general report show these loans total 1,110,646,643 owed up to 31st March 2017
These loans include advance payments made to Clearwater Bay with respect to the FourSeasons project
Barbados Tourism Investment owes141,500,000 plus additional loans in smaller amounts
The loans that these entities have received and nonpayments received after many years is mindblowing
Baje
It says nuff people have “bachelors” and “masters” degrees and BU now knows one that taught at UWI notwithstanding his/her straaggles with subject-verb agreement. Ah lie??? Just in case you’re missing the point, degrees don’t mean yuh argument logical or robust. Ask Hal Austin, he says this repeatedly 🤣🤣. The govt’s failure to increase minimum wage in 6months as promised does not simply mean it lied. I would expect more from someone with a “bachelors” and “masters” from overseas and a scholarship recipient.🤔
Every time i read the fake news about the Hyatt
I saw lord have merci on them bold faced liars
After my saying time and time again that govt cannot draw plans for the Hyatt project
The fake news about Hyatt continues
Now this is 2019
This govt decides that they know what is best for Hyatt
Big heads not brains
Lol
Ewart Archer
Perhaps our understanding of being pessimistic differs.
The reality is Sandals can import whatever they choose because of the duty free concessions. That is a FACT.
You go on to introduce what initiatives Stewart pioneered in Jamaica and then “say” if our tourism ministry ask him “to do the same thing here, he would not likely refuse.”
Don’t you think you’re being a bit presumptuous or reading Stewart’s mind?
Let me ask you three simple questions.
Sandals has resorts located in Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia. Other than Jamaica, what other Caribbean island has Stewart pioneered similar initiatives?
Why could he have not made a similar proposal to government, rather than they having to ask him?
Sandals CEO, Adam Stewart said they purchased $3M worth of Irish potato seeds and distributed them to Jamaican farmers. According to him, “this equates to 1,300 bags, capable of planting 40 to 50 acres and expected to yield 700,000 pounds of potatoes,” that “can be stored for up to one year.” The first reaping is estimated to be 10 to 15 weeks from planting.
700,000 lbs of Irish potatoes, every 10 to 15 weeks that could be stored up to one year. Do you really believe these potatoes are meant to supply Sandals resorts in Jamaica only?
The same ole rethread warmed over comments about sandals
Didnt the blp promised to go through Sandals concessions with a fine tooth comb
Gaston Browne throw out a similar sprat when he wanted to win the election
Plenty long talk then when rubber hit the road and Sandals met him toe to toe he simmered down
Havent heard much from him on this issue of recent
Mottley she made an attempt but have stalled.
“These loans include advance payments made to Clearwater Bay with respect to the Four Seasons project.”
Although your information is true, you cannot blame Loveridge for Clearwater Bay.
I’m sure if you had actually read the Auditor General’s 2017 report, you would have realised Clearwater Bay is a company established by government sometime in 2009 and was used as a guarantor for a bridging loan of US$60M from ANSA Merchant Bank for the Four Seasons project.
“An amount of $124 million was advanced to a GOVERNMENT OWNED COMPANY, Clearwater Bay, to settle a loan guarantee made in respect of the Four Seasons project a number of years ago. This advance was not from an appropriation as required by law. It should however be noted that there is uncertainty as to what securities are owned by the Government to cover this loan. In addition, due to the deterioration of the premises it would be quite doubtful whether the full value of this loan could be realized and the carrying value of this „asset‟ may need to be adjusted in the books of the Treasury.” [Item (e) pages 24/25 Auditor General’s Report: 2017]
The Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. is also a state owned enterprise.
@ Mariposa September 3, 2019 8:31 AM
“Every time i read the fake news about the Hyatt
I saw lord have merci on them bold faced liars
After my saying time and time again that govt cannot draw plans for the Hyatt project..”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So you have finally succumbed to the ‘reality’ that Hyatt is a ‘fake’ project?
You knew all along that Hyatt was just a ‘pretend project’ hiding behind a facade of a scam to extract taxpayers’ money via the BTII as happened with other projects (Pierhead marina redesign, Sugar Point cruise ships terminal, Four Seasons restart, etc) under your corrupt DLP.
Why didn’t you, then, raise a stink when Stinkliar awarded duty-free concessions on a luxury vehicle to be driven around by a ghost called Sales Director hired by the same imaginary Hyatt Hotel?
Where else in the world (where there is proper accountability) can you find a Sales Director driving around like a spook and working at a non-existent hotel?
Is Hyatt now the Bajan equivalent of “Hotel California”?
It is ‘crooked’ matters like this and the White Oak hoax that the likes of you and your BU false f***uk buddy Hal Austin ought to be pursuing instead of arguing over whether MAM is a meteorologist or a muff diver.