The blogmaster understands from a reliable source, Mark Maloney (MAM2) has been seen driving a 2024 Ashton Martin DBX. If the blogmaster is incorrect an apology will be immediately tendered to MAM2. No harm no foul.

Like him or hate him there is grudging respect one has to give to MAM2. He knows what he wants and he relentlessly pursues. It seems his nephew Zane Maloney inherited the same characteristic. Zane won back to back F2 races last weekend, no mean feat given the elitist and affluent actors involved in that sport.

Repeat: no mean feat given the elitist and affluent actors involved in that sport.

The 2024 Ashton Martin – ultra luxury SUV that it is – has to cost at minimum $700, 000.00 on the road given our duty structure. Barbadians are aware MAM2 is a lover of high powered vehicles. What makes the news interesting, we recall the government at the time attracted criticism when former minister of finance Chris Sinckler reportedly approved a duty waiver on a Mercedes 250 GLA as part of the Hyatt deal. The Hyatt project has been in a 7 year abeyance although to be fair, significant delay was caused by a David Commisiong led court injunction – he fought for a judicial review of the approval process because of a missing EIA, followed by COVID 19 pandemic. It is relevant to state that political pundits believe Commisiong fought the project as a proxy for then opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

Earlier today during the 2024-2025 Estimates debate, Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne inquired about the status of the Hyatt project. You will recall MAM2 on the original Hyatt application is noted as an investor through Vision Development Inc. Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill delivered an incoherent and vague explanation before deflecting the matter to SENIOR Minister William Duguid who has responsibility for projects. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to quiz him on Savvy on the Bay as well.

On another blog Small black contractors ignored by government, we discussed how a few seem to be cornering major projects in Barbados. There will be a price to pay if greater effort is not made by #bigworks to ensure there is equitable distribution of wealth in tiny Barbados. It bears reminding the government this is taxpayers money being doled out even if a significant amount is borrowed.